(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
5. The Doomsday Defense I & II—Dallas Cowboys
From 1966 to 1983, Tom Landry had two versions of the "Doomsday Defense," and both were outstanding.
During that time, the Cowboys put together one of the greatest runs of success in sports history—"America's Team" made the playoffs in 17 of 18 seasons, including five Super Bowl appearances and two Super Bowl championships (1971, 1977).
Doomsday I featured two Hall of Fame inductees: DT Bob Lilly, and CB Mel Renfro. Other standouts were DT Jethro Pugh and linebackers Lee Roy Jordan and Chuck Howley.
Doomsday II was led by Hall of Fame DT Randy White, while defensive ends Harvey Martin and Ed Jones and defensive backs Charlie Waters and Cliff Harris were perennial All-Pro selections.
4. The Fearsome Foursome I & II—Los Angeles Rams
"The Fearsome Foursome" was a name given to the defensive line of version one, but it later encompassed the whole defensive unit of version two.
The original foursome was comprised of Deacon Jones and Lamar Lundy at end, with Rosey Grier and Merlin Olsen at defensive tackle. Jones and Olsen are in the Hall of Fame; Roger Brown would replace Grier, and the Rams had major success with George Allen in the late 1960s. Jones and Olsen were voted to the NFL's All-Time team in 1994.
The second foursome was made up of Olsen, defensive ends Jack Youngblood and Fred Dryer, and DT Larry Brooks. But there was more to this unit than just the line.
From 1973-80, the Rams won seven consecutive NFC West titles, secured a Super Bowl berth in 1979, and finished in the top 10 in total defense in seven of those eight seasons.
In 1975, the defense surrendered just 9.6 points per game, third-best in NFL history. MLB Isiah Robertson and safeties Dave Elmendorf and Nolan Cromwell were All-Pros.
3. Green Bay Packers 1960s
There's no fancy nickname for Vince Lombardi's guys—just a powerful, intimidating defense.
The Packer defense of the 1960s produced five world championships—including the first two Super Bowl titles—and a record five Hall of Famers: DT Henry Jordan, DE Willie Davis, MLB Ray Nitschke, CB Herb Adderley, and S Willie Wood.
The 1962 team gave up just 10.8 points per game and posted three shutouts while holding opposing quarterbacks to a 43.5 rating.
2. The Purple People Eaters—Minnesota Vikings
This is the greatest defense not to win the big one.
"The Purple People Eaters" were dominant with a capital D. From 1969-76, the Vikings captured four NFC championships and seven divisional crowns. Minnesota was ranked in the top three in total defense for seven of those eight seasons.
The defense was led by Hall of Famers Alan Page (DT), Carl Eller (DE), and Paul Krause (FS). Other top performers were DT Gary Larsen, DE Jim Marshall, SS Bobby Bryant, and LB Wally Hilgenberg.
"The Purple People Eaters" held their 1971 opponents to only 9.9 points per game, capping what might be the best three-year defensive run in NFL history (in 1970, they gave up 10.2 ppg, and in 1969 9.5, the seventh and second-lowest totals in history; the 1971 team was fourth).
1. The Steel Curtain—Pittsburgh Steelers
Is there anybody else you'd put here?
"The Steel Curtain" was the most dominant, awe-inspiring, feared defense in the history of the game. No team could stop it, and many didn't even want to go up against it.
The Steelers defense of the 1970s had arguably the greatest front seven ever assembled on one team.
Joe Greene (DE), L.C. Greenwood (DE), Dwight White (DT), and Ernie Holmes (DT) made up the front four, while Jack Lambert manned the middle linebacker slot, with Jack Ham and Andy Russell patrolling the outside.
A record 10 Steeler defenders made the Pro Bowl during the '70s: Greene, Greenwood, White, Lambert, Ham, Russell, Mel Blount (CB), J.T. Thomas (CB), Glen Edwards (FS), and Mike Wagner (SS).
Greene, Blount, Ham, and Lambert are enshrined in Canton, second only to the Packers for most defenders on one team in the Hall.
In 1976, after a 1-4 start, the Steelers' defense surrendered only 28 points in the final nine games. Eight Steeler defenders made the Pro Bowl that season. Between 1973-78, opposing quarterbacks had only a 45.0 passer rating.
Pittsburgh won four Super Bowls in six seasons and owned the 1970s, thanks to the greatest defense to ever put on a uniform.
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