The Top 15 Best “Turnover-Producing Linebackers” in NFL History:
15. Isiah Robertson, Los Angeles Rams: 43 TPPs
14. Joe Schmidt, Detroit Lions: 44 TPPs
13. Ted Hendricks, Baltimore Colts/Oakland Raiders: 46 TPPs
11. Bill Bergey, Cincinnati Bengals/Philadelphia Eagles: 48 TPPs
11. Sam Huff, New York Giants/Washington: 48 TPPs
7. Chuck Howley, Dallas Cowboys: 49 TPPs
7. Don Shinnick, Baltimore Colts: 49 TPPs
7. Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers: 49 TPPs
7. Dick Butkus, Chicago Bears: 49 TPPs
5. Stan White, Baltimore Colts: 50 TPPs
5. Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs: 50 TPPs
4. Ray Nitschke, Green Bay Packers: 51 TPPs
2. Lee Roy Jordan, Dallas Cowboys: 54 TPPs
2. Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens: 54 TPPs
1. Jack Ham, Pittsburgh Steelers: 61 TPPs
Listed with each player is their team, or primary team. A few exceptions apply where a player had enough success with two franchises so they’re awarded two primary teams.
The Timeless Defensive Stat:
What is striking to us is how players separated by decades are right next to each other atop the list for TPPs.
It is quite amazing that this stat literally transcends eras, which is incredibly rare for an NFL statistic. In the top-4 alone you have the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s each represented.
It truly doesn’t matter what era you play in; you can be fairly judged using this metric in regard to how well you took the ball away from the offense at the linebacker position. It’s not about when you played, but simply how well you produced.
There’s something refreshing about such a stat.
If you looked at career passing touchdowns nearly every leader would be from the 1990s-Present (Manning, Favre, Brady, Brees and Marino).
This TPP stat reaches as far back as the 1950s and is still just as relevant today.
The game of football changes over time, but this metric remains. Even seven of the top eight career rushing leaders played in the 1990s or later (exception being Walter Payton, who played until 1987). Which is crazy because how much teams ran the ball back in the day.
But the leaders in TPPs are from all eras!
What’s even more interesting to think about is the fact that they played less games back in the 50s, 60s and most of the 70s (14 game regular seasons and less postseason games). Yet these linebackers still put up such astonishing statistics. But Ray Lewis’ position proves that a great player can still equal them in TPPs in today’s game.
True, linebackers play less downs in today’s NFL, but there are also more plays ran in today’s NFL than ever before. Yes, there are more head injuries diagnosed today, so players miss more games, but a knee injury in 1965 could easily end your career, unlike today. So all things really are pretty much equal.
Here is the breakdown of the top performing franchises in this stat:
Chicago Bears: Five LBs made the list; unsurprisingly they come in first.
Baltimore Colts: Four LBs made the list; although the city as a whole boasts five when the Ravens’ Ray Lewis is included. This was not expected.
Green Bay Packers: Four LBs made the list.
Philadelphia Eagles: Four LBs made the list.
Washington: Three LBs made the list.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Surprisingly, just two LBs made the list, but both were in the Top 10, including the top spot on the ranking.
It’s clear that the franchises listed above have hoarded much of this type of linebacker success in the NFL from 1950 to the present day.
Other Observations:
Only 23 linebackers all-time are in the “40 Turnover-Producing Club”, just six are in the “50 TPP Club”, and one man alone is in the “60 TPP Club” — Jack Ham.
No linebacker has ever been better at producing turnovers than Ham (61 TPPs) for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1971-1982. He was one of the best players on one of the NFL’s best ever teams, which we have written about.
Dick Butkus has the highest Turnover-Producing Plays per game in NFL history (minimum 100 games) with 0.411 TPPs per game. His statistics live up to his legend.
Ray Lewis, tied for second most TPPs all-time, is the only player to play in this millennium ranked in the Top 20 all-time. Urlacher was the next highest that played in Lewis’ era.
The Baltimore Colts had three linebackers in the top 15 (the most of any team), which is even more impressive because the team hasn’t existed since 1983. The Indianapolis Colts haven’t added to the mystique at all in this metric.
The four Packers to make the list are Ray Nitschke, Dave Robinson, John Anderson and Bill Forester. The former two are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame; the latter two may surprise some by making the all-time NFL list.
Regarding Nitschke’s Ranking:
It’s interesting that Nitschke is remembered mostly for his hostile play, brutal hits, and intimidation of opponents. But what this study indicates is that he was actually one of the most productive defensive playmakers in NFL history — fourth all-time for linebackers.
He got his hands on the ball more than most ever have.
His legacy should undoubtedly include this nuanced, skilled side of his game, too. Perhaps now it will.
This is the other half of Ray Nitschke, just as real as his unforgivingly-primal side. Packers fans need to acknowledge this fact as he’s remembered moving into the next 100 years of Packers history.
Nitschke’s ranking is particularly interesting to us because, as previously discussed, this stat undoubtedly transcends eras. So No. 66 really was one of the all-time greats, not just at hitting, but at taking the ball away.
Notable Omissions from the Top 30 All-Time:
Tom Jackson (34 TPPs)
Karlos Dansby (34 TPPs)
Kevin Greene (32 TPPs), PFHOF
Derrick Brooks (32 TPPs), PFHOF
Hardy Nickerson (27 TPPs)
Zack Thomas (26 TPPs)
Mike Singletary (22 TPPs), PFHOF
Lawrence Taylor (22 TPPs), PFHOF
Derrick Thomas (20 TPPs), PFHOF
James Harrison (18 TPPs)
Active NFL Linebackers not in Top 30:
Luke Kuechly (29 TPPs) (likely future PFHOF)
Terrell Suggs (24 TPPs) (likely future PFHOF)
Bobby Wagner (19 TPPs)
Clay Matthews (15 TPPs)
C.J. Mosley (16 TPPs)
Von Miller (12 TPPs) (likely future PFHOF)
*These statistics are up-to-date as of 5:30 PM EST, September 9, 2019.
Other Notable Green Bay Packers LBs:
Bob Forte (34 TPPs), is in the Top 50 all-time
Mike Douglas (27 TPPs)
Johnny Holland (24 TPPs)
Lee Roy Caffey (23 TPPs)
Fred Carr (23 TPPs)
Nick Barnett (20 TPPs)
Dan Currie (19 TPPs)
Tony Bennett (19 TPPs)
Clay Matthews (15 TPPs)*
Bryce Paup (14 TPPs)
AJ Hawk (14 TPPs)
Brian Noble (14 TPPs)
Roger Zatkoff (13 TPPs)
George Koonce (13 TPPs)
Tim Harris (8 TPPs)
*Blake Martinez (4 TPPs)
*Active Players.
Charley Brock, a two-way center and linebacker, played for the Packers from 1939-1947 and registered 33 TPPs. However the record keeping in those days was questionable at best, thus he not eligible for this list (1950-Present Day). But we still figured he should be mentioned.
In all, only 23 linebackers all-time have ever registered 40 or more Turnover-Producing Plays and three of them are Packers, a team known more for its quarterbacks than anything else. Not bad.
For any Cheeseheads that are wondering, five Green Bay Packers Linebackers cracked the top 50 all-time. It seems as though Green Bay should be known a bit more for their success all-time at the linebacker position. But we can’t be too greedy.
Well, that’s it. Many thanks for going down this road of the history of NFL linebackers, and the turnover they created, with us.
We think it’s safe to say that Jack Ham’s record of 61 TPPs won’t be challenged anytime soon. Leave it to Pittsburgh to be on top of a linebacker list. Just like Chicago and Dick Butkus’ NFL record of 0.411 TPPs per game (for linebackers, minimum 100 games).
How about a little more credit for the city of Baltimore? They’re the only city with at least three linebackers in the top 15 – and they have four! Three played for the Colts and one, Ray Lewis, played for the Ravens.
But dammit, Ray Nitschke sure was simply amazing, wasn’t he?
His record of 51 TPPs for linebackers in Green Bay will also likely never fall. I guess that’s why his number 66 is retired and there’s a practice field outside of Lambeau Field named after him.
Everyone knew about his brutal side, but we hope you enjoyed learning more about his other, equally impressive, side.
Until next time Packer Nation!
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