2 min read • November 20, 2022
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From opposing quarterbacks to defending the deep ball and stopping runs, the best safeties of all time have had a lot of responsibilities in leading a team’s defense. They are the deepest players and the last line of defense on the defensive scheme. Let’s review the best safeties of all time.
Throughout NFL history, numerous daring players have led the defense as safeties at various periods of their NFL careers. However, some have stood out for their extraordinary sporting feats, so here are the best safeties in NFL history:
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Dawkins in the second round -61st overall- of the 1996 NFL Draft. He started 13 of 14 games in his first year, becoming a crucial defensive player for the Eagles.
He led the Eagles in interceptions in subsequent years and earned himself a team tackle title in 2002. In 2004, he also led Philadelphia’s defense to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC championship. Dawkins made his only Super Bowl appearance when Philadelphia faced the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. However, he never had a Super Bowl win in his career, unlike Steve Atwater, with two.
After 13 seasons with the Eagles and a tied record for the most career interceptions, Dawkins signed with the Denver Broncos as a free agent in 2008. He played 224 career games with the Eagles and the Broncos, indicating a longer career than Steve Atwater.
Dawkins was named All-Pro and All-NFC five times, NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 2000s, the Eagles 75th Anniversary team, and is a nine-time Pro-Bowler. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.
The Detroit Lions fans remember Lary in several different ways. From being a superb right safety to one of the greatest punters in NFL history, the multi-talented defensive player was exceptional throughout his 11 seasons with the Lions.
Lary played the center-field position and was a key member of Detroit’s defense in the 1950s and 1960s, where he did much to make them a championship team. At the end of his NFL career, he had made 50 career interceptions, 26 over Steve Atwater's, which remained an NFL record until his retirement in 1964. However, he never won a Super Bowl.
Yale Lary’s average of 44.3 yards on 503 punts puts him among the best NFL defensive players. He won 9 Pro Bowls, just like Brian Dawkins, 3 NFL punting titles, made the All-Pro Team 9 times, and the 1950s NFL All-Decade Team. He was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979. Lary’s tremendous accomplishments set a standard for the safety position.
Although Steve Atwater might have had a shorter career than most NFL defensive players, his influence was intensely felt by the Denver Broncos. The Broncos selected him in the first round -20th overall- of the 1989 NFL draft, after which he became a starting safety for the team.
In his second year, Atwater had established himself as one of the best safeties in the league, leading the Broncos’ defense to win 2 consecutive Super Bowls, the only player on our list to do so. Atwater left the Broncos in 1998 and played the 1999 season with the New York Jets before retiring from the NFL.
An assertive and intuitive safety, Atwater appeared in 167 games and recorded over 1,000 tackles, 24 career interceptions, 1 touchdown, and five sacks during his 11-season career. He is an 8-time Pro Bowler, one less than the two other players on our list, a 2-time Super Bowl champion, a 3-time All-Pro team member, and a 1990s NFL All-Decade team member.
He was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020, joining the ranks of the two other players on our list.
Emlen Tunnell is arguably the best safety of all time. In 1948, Tunnell entered pro football after signing with the New York Giants as a free agent. This made him the first African-American to play for the Giants. He appeared in 10 games and intercepted 7 passes, including one that returned 43 yards for a touchdown in his first year.
During the 1950s, he was a key element in the Giants' famed "umbrella defense" and, in doing so, was regarded as the team’s “offense on defense.” He later went on to play for the Green Bay Packers in 1959. Although Tunnell saw reduced playing time, he brought experience to the Packers’ defense and helped to develop young team players.
He appeared in 13 games for the 1961 Packers team that won the NFL championship. His 79 career interceptions, an NFL record then, now rank second in NFL history. Tunnell was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1960 and was the first African American to be inducted.He had 9 Pro Bowls, 2 NFL championships, and made the All-Pro Team 4 times and the 1950s NFL All-Decade team.
The top 5 safeties of all time are:
Emlen Tunnell (1924 - 1974) had 9 Pro Bowls, 4 First-Team All-Pro selections, and 2 NFL Championships.
Ken Houston (1944 - date) had 12 Pro Bowls and 2 First-Team All-Pro selections.
Ronnie Lott (1959 - date) had 10 Pro Bowls, 6 First-Team All-Pro selections, and 4 Super Bowl Championships.
Ed Reed (1978 - date) had 9 Pro Bowls, 5 First-Team All-Pro selections, and 1 Super Bowl Championship.
Brian Dawkins (1973 - date) had 9 Pro Bowls and 4 First-Team All-Pro selections.
The San Francisco 49ers selected Ronnie Lott in the first round -8th overall- of the 1981 NFL Draft. In his first season, he led a young secondary that helped the 49ers to win Super Bowl XVI and became the second rookie in NFL history to return three interceptions for touchdowns.
During his 14-year career with the 49ers (1981-1990), Los Angeles Raiders (1991-1992), and the New York Jets (1993-1994), Lott recorded 63 career interceptions and led the league twice. The versatile defensive player also earned 10 Pro Bowl invitations in three positions. However, it was at free safety he was most influential, becoming the most decorated safety ever.
Ronnie Lott was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He has 10 Pro Bowls, and 4 Super Bowls and was named All-Pro 8 times, All-NFC 6 Times, All-AFC once, NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, 1980s All-Decade Team, and 1990s All-Decade Team.
Safeties are an important inclusion in a team’s defense. However, an exceptional safety position's influence on the defensive scheme should never be underestimated. Just as the best safeties of all time have done before, safety should possess instincts, tackling and coverage abilities, and speed.
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