In addition to having Ray Lewis, the greatest linebacker of all time, the Ravens have had several terrific linebackers during the last 20 years. The Ravens have a long history of being a defensive-minded squad.
Lewis was the franchise’s face and the driving force behind the team’s defensive prowess. Not only was Ray Lewis a tremendous linebacker, but there was a lot more excellence at the position.
Let’s take a look at the top five Baltimore Ravens linebackers of all time. This list is likely to make you nostalgic for all of the great Ravens defenses of the past. We’ll start counting down from 5 because it’s very evident who’s at the top of the list.
Jarrett Johnson, No. 5
Johnson was not the tremendous pass rusher that the next four players on this list are. He was an all-around player, though, with sacks and a knack for stopping the run. Johnson was one of the Ravens’ most dependable players in their history. You never had any doubts about his capacity to do the task.
Johnson deserves to be enshrined into the Ravens’ Hall of Fame. He devoted everything he had to the Ravens and the game of football. Johnson is a gentleman who deserves to be regarded as one of the all-time great Ravens.
Elvis Dumervil, No. 4
We owe Elvis Dumervil’s capacity to sign documents to a fax machine. Dumervil might not have played for the Ravens if it hadn’t been for that out-of-date piece of technology. Dumervil is one of the NFL’s most productive pass rushers. Dumervil tied for his career-high of 17 sacks in 2014. Dumervil is four bags away from reaching the century mark.
He is one of the Ravens’ top playmakers right now. Dumervil is an enthrallingly explosive player who makes offensive tackles’ lives a living hell.
Peter Boulware, no. 3
In a career cut short by injury, he totaled 403 tackles and 70 sacks. Boulware may have put up some record numbers if it hadn’t been for injuries in the second portion of his career. He has three seasons in which he had at least ten sacks. His career-high came in 2001 when he had 15 sacks. He was a dominant player until 2003 when injuries finally caught up with him.
Terrell Suggs, No. 2
Suggs has provided some historical data. He has a total of 106.5 sacks in his career. When you consider Suggs’ 728 tackles and seven interceptions, you can realize how influential he is historical. In six different seasons, Suggs has racked up double-digit sacks. With the exception of two seasons when he was out for practically the whole season due to injury, he has only had 4.5 sacks in a single season.
Ray Lewis, no. 1
Lewis racked up fantastic stats. He racked up 1,336 tackles, 41.5 sacks, 31 interceptions, and 17 forced fumbles during his career. Ray Lewis had 13 seasons with at least 100 tackles. Except for 2002, he got at least one sack in every season.
This was self-evident, given that Lewis is widely regarded as the greatest football player of all time. Without a question, he is the greatest Ravens player of all time.
