Notre Dame Football: Fighting Irish All-Time NFL Defensive Unit

Which Notre Dame Fighting Irish defenders were the best when they played in the NFL? 

The Notre Dame Irish have undoubtedly pumped a plethora of players into the NFL.  They are second all-time, behind USC, with 469 players drafted to play professional football (USC has 472).

Every Notre Dame die-hard fan knows the Joe Montana, Ricky Watters, Paul Hornung, Tim Brown and Jerome Bettis stories because of their offensive production.

Offense steals the spotlight.

Who, though, are the bruising Notre Dame defenders that played best at the next level?

I’m not talking about great players in college—let’s look at the studs that went on to have all-pro careers in the NFL after their playing days at Notre Dame passed them by.

Defensive End: Bryant Young

Although young played both defensive end and tackle, he rushed the passer like a defensive end.  Like a bat out-of-hell.

Young's illustrious 14-year NFL career included four Pro Bowl appearances, 89.5 sacks, 512 tackles and a place on the NFL's 1990's All-Decade Team.

He ranks third all-time in sacks for the San Francisco 49ers franchise.

Defensive Tackle: Art Donovan

Art Donovan was an anchor in the middle of the 1958 and 1959 Baltimore Colts championship teams.

From 1954 to 1958, he was voted to five consecutive Pro Bowl's for his dominance in the middle of their stout defensive front.

Donovan was also inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1968.

Defensive Tackle: Alan Page

Alan Page is the best player on this list and many other lists of this kind.  According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, his 16-year career has been the fourth most productive of any player since 1950.

Page was a fixture on the vaunted Minnesota Vikings "Purple People Eaters" defense that dominated the 1970s.  He recorded an astounding 108.5 sacks during 12 seasons with the Vikings and 40 more in his final four seasons with the Chicago Bears.  His dominance led to nine consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1968 to 1976.

In 1971, Page was named the NFL's most valuable player—the first defensive player to earn that honor.

He was enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in 1988.

Defensive End: Justin Tuck

To you, the reader, Justin Tuck needs no introduction.

Tuck has only been starting in New York since 2008 and already has three seasons with 10 sacks or more.  Since then he's been elected to two Pro Bowl teams and one all-pro team.

The future will tell the tale of Justin Tuck.  It's scary to think that with Tuck, the best is yet to come.

Outside Linebacker: Jim Lynch

Jim Lynch may not have been a perennial Pro Bowler, but he played like one.  He anchored a stout Chief's line-backing corps that dominated opposing offense.

Lynch's efforts led to one Pro Bowl appearance, 17 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries and an induction into the Chiefs' Hall of Fame in 1990.

The Chiefs also won Super Bowl IV with Lynch as their starting linebacker.

Middle Linebacker: Nick Buoniconti

Like Alan Page, Nick Buoniconti is a no-brainer.

He was elected to eight Pro Bowl/AFL All-Star teams in his dominant NFL career.

Also, he was the cornerstone of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins defense.  That team went to three consecutive Super Bowls in the early 1970s.

Buoniconti was enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in 2001.

Outside Linebacker: George Connor

According to the NFL Hall of Fame, George Connor was the first of a new class of linebackers in the NFL.  He was big, quick and most of all, instinctive.  His ability to diagnose plays and then react and make the play put him in a league of his own during his time.

He was also a two-way player throughout his entire career.

Connor played in four Pro Bowl/All-Star games and was a four time all-pro.

He was enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame in 1975.

Cornerback: Dave Waymer

Dave Waymer was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 1980 NFL draft.  

Throughout his 13-year career, Waymer was a solid cornerback.  He recorded 48 interceptions during that time-span, maxing out at nine in 1986.

He appeared in one Pro Bowl.

Strong Safety: Dave Duerson

Dave Duerson won two NFL Super Bowls; one with the Chicago Bears in 1985 and another with the New York Giants in 1990.

During his 10-year career, he was voted to four Pro Bowl teams.  He recorded 20 interceptions, 16 sacks and recovered five fumbles.

Until 2005, Duerson held the record of most sacks in a season by a defensive back (seven in 1986).

Free Safety: Dick Lynch

Dick Lynch was an excellent defensive back for the Washington Redskins and later for the New York Giants.

He led the NFL in interceptions twice (1961 and 1963) and was elected to his only Pro Bowl appearance in 1963.

During his nine-year career he totaled 37 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries and five touchdowns.  Remarkably, he also amassed 592 yards during interception returns leading to four touchdowns.

Cornerback: Todd Lyght

Todd Lyght was a solid cornerback during his 12-year NFL career.

While he was only elected to one Pro Bowl appearance, Lyght made it count.  In 1999, the year of Lyght's lone Pro Bowl selection, the St. Louis Rams went on to win Super Bowl XXXIV.

Lyght played a key role in that Super Bowl victory.  To begin the second-half the Rams led 9-0.  The Titans drove to the Rams 29 but their offense stalled.  Lyght blocked the ensuing field goal and the Rams marched down the field to score to take a commanding 16-0 lead.