The Best Tackler on Every NFL Team

Most of the best tacklers in the NFL come from the linebacker position.

Patrick Willis, Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher are just three names that most likely invoke fear in opposing running backs, wide receivers coming across the middle and QBs taking off to scramble.

Other strong tacklers come from the defensive line position. Would anyone want Minnesota Vikings' defensive end Jared Allen chasing them down?

Then there's the league's relentless hitting safeties, who if you don't keep your head will send you home with a concussion.

These tacklers are not necessarily their team's leading tacklers but they are sure to be on the highlight reels.

Arizona Cardinals: Daryl Washington

If you asked who the best tackler on the Arizona Cardinals was last season, the answer would have been hard-hitting safety Adrian Wilson.

Wilson is now 32 and winding down making way for the new kid, linebacker Daryl Washington.

Washington, who is only in his second season, has a total of 65 tackles and three sacks along with eight tackles for a loss. 

Atlanta Falcons: Sean Weatherspoon

Atlanta Falcons' linebacker Sean Weatherspoon is only in his second season in the league but already leads his team in solo tackles this year.

Weatherspoon has 63 solo tackles, three sacks and eight tackles for a loss.

Dunta Robinson could have been another choice here because of his vicious hits on unsuspecting receivers. 

Baltimore Ravens: Terrell Suggs

It's hard to believe that after 16 seasons in the league Ray Lewis is still leading the Baltimore Ravens in tackles.

While Lewis remains very productive, I would take Terrell Suggs over him.

Suggs leads the Ravens in sacks with nine and tackles for loss with six, he also has three forced fumbles.

Buffalo Bills: Nick Barnett

The Buffalo Bills spent wisely on free agent linebacker Nick Barnett this offseason.

Barnett leads the Bills in tackles, is second in sacks while having the most tackles for loss this season.

Carolina Panthers: James Anderson

Carolina Panthers' linebacker James Anderson ranks seventh in the league with 97 total tackles.

Anderson has at least ten tackles in six of his last seven games.

He also has one sack and five tackles for a loss.

Chicago Bears: Lance Briggs

It was hard to choose this one. The Chicago Bears have three outstanding tacklers in Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman.

Have to go with Briggs. Briggs leads the Bears in tackles and tackles for loss. He also has two forced fumbles on the season.

Cincinnati Bengals: Reggie Nelson

Reggie Nelson is a hard-hitting safety out of the University of Florida.

Nelson is second in total tackles on the Cincinnati Bengals with 60, along with one tackle for a loss and two forced fumbles.

Cleveland Browns: D'Qwell Jackson

D'Qwell Jackson seems to be in on every tackle the defense makes. Jackson's been in on 100 tackles through the first 11 games.

He also has 2.5 sacks, seven tackles for a loss and one forced fumble.

Dallas Cowboys: DeMarcus Ware

DeMarcus Ware only has 39 total tackles, which ranks fifth on the Dallas Cowboys.

He does however have 14 sacks, five tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.

Once Ware gets someone in his grasp, especially a QB, they're done.

Denver Broncos: Von Miller

Denver Broncos' rookie Von Miller has been very impressive and should be able to win the defensive rookie of the year award.

Miller is second on the Broncos in tackles with 58 while leading his team in sacks with 10.5, tackles for losses with seven and forced fumbles.

While most are paying all their attention to Tim Tebow, they have been overlooking Miller.

Detroit Lions: DeAndre Levy

While a lot of people might say Ndamukong Suh is the best tackler on the Detroit Lions, I would argue DeAndre Levy is.

Levy leads the Lions in total tackles and tackles for loss.

Green Bay Packers: Clay Matthews

Clay Matthews only has 34 total tackles this season, which is eighth on the Green Bay Packers.

Matthews does have five sacks and four tackles for loss, both tie the Packers' team leader, Desmond Bishop.

While Bishop is putting up the better numbers, Matthews is the more feared tackler.

Houston Texans: Brian Cushing

Brian Cushing has been in beast-mode this season, leading the Houston Texans league's best defense in tackles.

Cushing has a total of 76 tackles, four of them for losses.

Rookie J.J. Watt has also been impressive with 39 total tackles, 2.5 sacks and five tackles for losses.

Indianapolis Colts: Pat Angerer

Just don't get him angry? Pat Angerer leads the league in tackles with 112 total.

Could he have inflated numbers because he's one of the only decent players on the league's 29th ranked defense?

Maybe and maybe not, but if he continues to produce the way he has, he'll be on his way to a decent contract. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: Paul Posluszny

Paul Posluszny was a tackling machine at Penn State that translated right into the NFL. I have no idea why the Buffalo Bills let him go in the first place.

This season, Posluszny leads the Jacksonville Jaguars in tackles with 84, two sacks and five tackles for loss.

He also leads the league in biggest neck.

Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Johnson

Derrick Johnson has been in the league for seven seasons so far, and he's been productive every year except for one.

Last season was his best, as he recorded 121 total tackles. This season, through 11 games, Johnson already has 92 tackles.

If he keeps this pace up, he will surpass his totals from last year.

Miami Dolphins: Karlos Dansby

This was a tough one. The Miami Dolphins have two dynamic tacklers in Yeremiah Bell and Karlos Dansby.

Bell leads the team in tackles with Dansby just six behind.

Dansby also has two sacks and five tackles for a loss, which rank second on the Dolphins.

Minnesota Vikings: Jared Allen

Chad Greenway leads the Minnesota Vikings in total tackles but Jared Allen is the more intimidating of the two.

Allen has 48 total tackles and is second in the league in sacks with 13.5.

QBs probably fear him the most.

New England Patriots: Rob Ninkovich

Rob Ninkovich is fifth on the New England Patriots in total tackles. The first three tacklers are from their awful secondary that ranks last in the league.

Ninkovich is the Patriots' best linebacker. He has 51 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.

New Orleans Saints: Roman Harper

Roman Harper has the mentality of a linebacker but plays safety.

Harper is the New Orleans Saints' leading tackler while also leading the team in sacks with 6.5.

He also has two forced fumbles and two tackles for loss.

New York Giants: Mathias Kiwanuka

Mathias Kiwanuka does not get a lot of recognition but he has quietly become the New York Giants most productive linebacker this season. 

Kiwanuka leads all Giants linebackers with 63 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.

He also leads the team with seven tackles for loss. 

New York Jets: David Harris

While safety Eric Smith leads the New York Jets in total tackles, linebacker David Harris is their best tackler.

You might not hear about Harris too much because he is just a quiet guy who goes about his work.

In his rookie season, Harris recorded 127 total tackles. He also had 127 total tackles in his third season.

This year, Harris is on pace to break a 100 total tackles again without anybody really knowing about it.

Oakland Raiders: Tyvon Branch

Tyvon Branch is another hard-hitting safety who plays similar to New Orleans Saints' Roman Harper.

In his fourth year out of the not-football powerhouse University of Connecticut, Branch leads the Oakland Raiders with 84 total tackles.

The next closest to him is linebacker Rolando McClain with 57 total tackles.

Philadelphia Eagles: Jamar Chaney

With all of the publicity going to their free-agent acquisitions, second-year linebacker Jamar Chaney is the Philadelphia Eagles' most consistent defensive weapon.

Chaney is Philly's leading tackler, possibly getting freed up with opposing teams concentrating on the bigger-name players.

Soon, Chaney will be recognized. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Troy Polamalu

Was it even a question? Troy Polamalu is the best safety in the league when healthy.

He's a freak with his tackles, sometimes diving from five feet away.

Polamalu puts some extra power into his tackles and hardly anybody gets by him.

It's funny how he is not even the leading tackler on the Pittsburgh Steelers. That honor goes to Ryan Clark.

San Diego Chargers: Takeo Spikes

In his 14th season, Takeo Spikes is the best/leading tackler for the San Diego Chargers.

Is Spikes still this good in his old age or has the Chargers defense reverted this much?

In his last game, against the Denver Broncos, Spikes had a total of 14 tackles.

Just how long will he last? 

San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Willis

Believe it or not, one of the league's best linebackers, Patrick Willis, doesn't lead his own team in total tackles.

Willis wears the No. 52 and models his game around Ray Lewis'.

Since his rookie season, he has gone well over 100 tackles each year.

With 93 total tackles already, Willis is sure to hit his usual unbelievable numbers again.

Seattle Seahawks: Earl Thomas

Earl Thomas made an easy transition into the NFL. He just continues to put up big numbers just like he did at the University of Texas.

In his rookie season, Thomas finished with 76 tackles.

This season, he already has 73 tackles after only 11 games.

St. Louis Rams: James Laurinaitis

Yet another very productive linebacker to come out of Penn State University.

James Laurinaitis leads the St. Louis Rams with 90 total tackles. The next closest Ram, Quintin Mikell, has 61 total tackles.

Laurinaitis also has two sacks and four tackles for loss.

You would not want him running you down.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sean Jones

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers do not have a lot of good tacklers to choose from.

Their second leading tackler is 15-year veteran Ronde Barber.

Their leading tackler by default is Sean Jones, a safety with 66 tackles and one sack.

Tennessee Titans: Jordan Babineaux

Jordan Babineaux is an overlooked good safety and I don't know why. His tackling totals are even or better than the elite safeties in the league.

Babineaux ranks sixth among defensive backs in the league with 73 tackles.

He is the Tennessee Titans second leading tackler, only behind CB Jason McCourty, who I refused to put up here because everyone knows CBs don't tackle.

Washington Redskins: LaRon Landry

LaRon Landry ranks just sixth in tackles on the Washington Redskins. He has been bothered by a hamstring this season though.

Landry is one of the league's hardest hitters and when healthy, one of the best safeties in the game.

The problem is, Landry has not really been healthy since his rookie season, where he recorded 95 tackles.

He does show flashes with every big hit he delivers.

An easy choice here would have been linebacker London Fletcher, who already has 107 tackles on the season.