The NFL's Top Core Special Team Players Ever

OPINION

By John Turney

Dedicated special teams players in a relatively new phenomenon in the NFL. It's thought that Alex Hawkins may have been the first to do it but we doubt that's 100% right, but he certainly is the first to be a team captain. We covered the year-by-year stop special teams HERE and here we are giving a treatment to the top players over a career. As you may suspect there a lot of overlap.

We've posted tackles totals for the sake of completeness. Tackles can give some information but as always they have to be looked at in context. In 1994, when kickoffs were moved from the 35-yard line to the 30, more kickers were returned and therefore more opportunities for tackles.

These days, if you are a gunner for a team with a really good punter he will kick them high and get good hang time while not sacrificing much distance won't give you a chance for a lot of tackles. And kickoffs are now limited due to the kickoff line being moved forward, a much smaller percentage of kicks are returned and therefore tackles on kick returns are down.

But, since we'd collected totals over the years we thought some readers would like seeing them. 

Note: These are tackle totals from gamebooks and not coaching totals. Some teams compiled tackles kept by coaches, others didn't so it was impossible to compare across teams. We use gamebooks (play-by-plays) for everyone so the totals you see for these players come from the more official and consistent source—NFL gamebooks (1998 and before) and NFLGSIS (post-1998).

Thus, we're aware of Steve Tasker's 204-tackle total (from coaches tally, including playoffs) and others but we cannot compare those totals to someone who played for a team that did not publish coaches tackle tallies. So the accurate way was to use the gamebooks. 

We've spoken to some coaches and executives and also rely on our own research and viewing of players to compose this list. And as always we could have extended the list beyond what you see here. We tried to pick those who made the most impact while also recognizing some lesser-known names. Yes, we have a bunch of guys tied at 50. Oh well.

And again, the guys ranked at say, 22-23-24 and not necessarily better than those ranked at 44-45-46. It's just a list. However, we do think the guys in the top ten had more significant careers than say the scores of guys we have tied for 50th.

1. Steve Tasker

Tasker played in 169 games, starting just ten. When he played on offense he was a decent enough receiver but what he was great at doing was being a gunner and also an edge rusher on punt block teams.

He totaled 111 tackles and forced five fumbles and recovered six and blocked six kicks in his career (17 'impact plays'). In 1987 he blocked one kick and deflected three others.

He was a five-time All-Pro and a seven-time Pro Bowler and five times was an NFL/AFC Special Team of the Year award winner (given by the NFLPA and NFL Alumni).

Not to quibble but he likely didn't deserve to be All-Pro/Pro Bowl in 1993 when he had just five tackles, but he was at an All-Pro level in 1988 and 1989 when he was not awarded so it kind of evens out. In 1993 Michael Bates should have been the All-Pro special teams selection in our view.

There has been talk of Tasker being the first pure coverage special teamer to be voted to the Hall of Fame. We are not sure that will happen but if it does he would be one of the 4-5 that are worthy.

2. Hank Bauer

Bauer played just six years, but he was extremely effective in all of them. He played before there were All-Pro slots for special teamers but he was highly rated by NFL scouting firms and also won the NFL Alumni Special Team Player of the Year in 1982, the first year the award existed.

In his six years, he totaled 148 tackles, including an astounding 52 in 1981 -- however, original Chargers media releases showed 51 tackles that year. Which is right? Does it matter? Probably not. In either case, it's a lot of tackles.

He didn't block kicks, he was more of a coverage guy (busting up wedges) and a blocker on the wedges and punt teams.

3. Michael Bates

Bates was a fine kickoff returner gaining over 9,000 yards and five touchdowns and leading the NFL in yards per return twice and in touchdowns once. However, as elite as he was as a returner, his greatest skill was as a gunner and kick blocker.

He played 145 games and has 102 tackles and he forced nine fumbles on special teams (recovered three) and blocked four kicks. The 16 'impact plays' is impressive.

As a special teamer and returner, he was All-Pro three times and a Pro Bowler five times and was the NFLPA NFC  Special Teams Player of the Year three times.

4. Ivory Sully

Sully played nine seasons and the last years in Tampa and Detroit he played less as a gunner, but some. But the Rams traded him to Tampa in 1985 because John Robinson felt it was fair to give him a shot to start for another team since the Rams were loaded at safety and Sully would never get a shot there. So, Sully moved to Tampa. There, he blocked the first punt in franchise history, the fourth he blocked in his career. 

Before that, he was a good dime back for Robinson and also played as a linebacker in the Rams 'Dollar defense' when they went to seven defensive backs.

In 124 games in his career, he made 82 tackles, but more impressively he blocked seven kicks (four punts and three placekicks) and forced seven fumbles and recovered for a total of 18 'impact plays'.

While going through our notes on the play-by-plays we made while watching it was great to see "nice hit" or "big hit" next to his name on a special teams tackle. He could smack some people.

5. Bill Bates

Bates was a safety by trade but his biggest role on defense was as a linebacker in the nickel/dime packages of the Cowboys where he could cover a back of blitz. But his biggest contributions to the team were as a core special teamer.

Bates player 15 years and in all of them he was running down on kicks and punts and making tackles. In 1983 and 1984 he was the NFL Alumni Special Teams Player of the Year and in 1984 he went to the Pro Bowl (the first season the NFL had a slot for special teamers on the squad). He was the NFLPA NFC  Special Teams Player of the Year in 1984 as well.

He played 217 games and totaled 176 tackles on special teams. The only negative is he wasn't a kick blocker and does lack a lot of forced fumbles and other 'impact plays'.

6t. Brendon Ayanbadejo

A ten-year NFL player, Ayanbadejo was a two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, making 144 tackles in 142 games. He forced four fumbles and recovered right for 12 'impact plays'.

6t. Kassim Osgood

Osgood played 179 games and like Ayanbadejo was a two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler. He totaled 139 tackles and forced four fumbles, recovered three and blocked a pair of kicks.

8. Larry Izzo

Larry Izzo was a fine core special teamer for the Dolphins, Patriots, and Jets. He was an All-Pro once and Pro Bowler three times and totaled 204 tackles in 200 games. He also successfully completed two fake punts in his career as an upback.

9. Matthew Slater

Slater is a four-time All-Pro and a six-time Pro Bowler and had totaled 131 tackles in his career. Oddly, he has no forced fumbles and no blocked kicks, but he's sure made his bones as a cover guy.

10. Mosi Tatupu

Tatupu played 199 games and made 170 tackles he was All-Pro in 1986 and a Pro Bowler and AFC Special Teams Player of the Year and was just as effective in 1985.

11. Reyna Thompson

Thompson played eight seasons but made an impact of special teams making 85 tackles in 116 games. In 1990 he was All-Pro, made the Pro Bowl, was All-AFC and was voted the NFLPA NFC  Special Teams Player of the Year for the Giants. And 1989 may have been a better season for him.

12. Alex Hawkins

Hawkins played ten years and was a special teams captain for the Colts. He won an Associated Press Player of the Week award for his special teams play and also a late catch when he was filling in on offense. We've seen him play, even a few full games and he does show up when the ball is going downfield.

But we admit, we include him based on anecdotal evidence that he stood out on special teams in his era. One piece of that was that he was mentioned in George Allen's 1985 book on special teams as a member of his personal "Special Teams Hall of Fame". That endorsement goes a long way in our view.

13. Rusty Tillman

Always good, named by Dan Daley as the 1970 Special Teamer on his All-Decade team in the Pro Football Chronicle. In 1974 Tillman had 15 tackles and 42 successful blocks on potential tackles and scored an 88.8 grade by George Allen. In 1975 he graded even higher with a 90.6 with 10 tackles and 55 blocks.

14. Justin Bethel

A three-time Pro Bowler, Bethel made 102 tackles in 110 games. He forced four fumbles, recovered three and blocked four punts for a total of 11 'impact plays'. Still young and could really pad those totals over the next few seasons and challenge guys like Bates and Sully and Tasker in the impact play column. Call him 'thirteenth with a bullet'.

15. Bennie Thompson

Thompson played 152 games and made 162 tackles, he was All-Pro once and a Pro Bowler twice. He forced a pair of fumbles, recovered five and blocked a field goal.

16. Keith Burns

Burns played 197 games and made 203 tackles. He also made 14 'impact' plays with eight forced fumbles, five recoveries and a blocked kick. Oddly, in 13 seasons, he was never a Pro Bowler or All-pro or even All-AFC as a special teamer. He doesn't even get mentions for the "best ever" posts you see from time to time even though his production is up there with Bill Bates and Larry Izzo. Well, that stops now. 

17. Josh Cribbs

One of the best kick returners and overall returners in NFL history, Cribbs was also a great core special teamer. He was an All-Pro once and a Pro Bowler three times, but those were based on returns.

He made 110 tackles in 136 games in his career including two seasons of over 20.

18. Ron Wolfley

Wolfley was a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro once and was a Special Teams Player of the Year twice. He blocked a kick and made 71 tackles and was like Bauer in that we wasn't a speed guy, a gunner, but was a great blocker on the wedge and was a great wedge buster.

19. Elbert Shelley

One hundred eleven tackles, four Pro Bowls, and one NFC Special Teams Player of the Year award. he finished with 2 forced fumbles and recovered one as well.

20. Larry Whigham

In 136 games Whigham recorded 114 tackles, blocked a kick, forced four fumbles and recovered a pair. He was All-Pro in 2001 and was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Year in 1997 and was a Pro Bowler in both years.

21. Greg Manusky 

Manusky deserves a place on this list for long and meritorious service. He was a special teams ace for Washington, Minnesota, and the Chiefs. He was a part-time starter for Washington for part of 1989 and 90 (starting 15 games total) but only started six the rest of his career with the rest of his time as a backup and on special teams. He was an All-Madden selection one season and was a wedge buster and played on the wedge and was a classic interior core special teams player. 

He ended his career with 168 tackles and seven fumbles recovered on special teams—the proverbial 'nose for the football' guy.

22. Eugene Seale

A dominant special teamer who played just six seasons and in 79 games made 89 tackles and blocked two kicks, and his blocked kicks resulted in points, either touchdowns or safeties. He was All-AFC in 1988.

23. Fred McAfee

McAfee is quite a physical freak to take the pounding he did. A fullback by trade and played sixteen seasons and played on special teams in all of them. He played 194 games and made 178 tackles and was a Pro Bowler in 2002. He scored a touchdown on a blocked punt in 1998 for the Steelers.

24. Steve Gleason

Gleason played seven seasons before he was felled by illness. In that time he played 83 games made 63 tackles and blocked four kicks and recovered a pair of fumbles on special teams.

25. David Tyree

Tyree played six seasons and was called the best special teams player by Ernie Accorsi. he made 74 tackles in 83 games and blocked a punt in 2005 (and was voted to the Pro Bowl that year). On kickoffs he was a wedge-buster R-1, L-1 (R-5, L-5 in Giants terminology) which is next to the kicker and runs downfield and takes on the blockers lined up four across in front of the kick returner. Oh, and made a pretty good catch in a Super Bowl, too.

26. Travis Jervey

An All-Pro in 1997 (and a Pro Bowler), Jervey was more in the Wolfley mold, not a gunner but ran down the middle on coverages. As a result, he didn't have the tackles numbers as some of the others. But many say he was as good as any core special teamer. 

27. Steve Hendrickson

A lesser-known player but very effective. In the Bauer, Jervey, and Wolfley mode but did make 60 tackles in 100 games.

28. Fredd Young

Young was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Year award winner in 1984 and 1985. In 1984 he had 19 tackles a forced fumble and blocked two kicks.

29. Montell Owens

Owens was a Pro Bowler as a  fullback once and as a special teamer another season, he made 74 tackles in 111 games and forced three fumbles on special teams and recovered three.

30. Sean Morey

Morey totaled 95 tackles in 112 games he also blocked a kick in 2008 and went to the Pro Bowl that year. He was Paul Zimmerman's top special teams player in 2003 citing that Morey was the top graded special teamer on the Eagles in a system that included blocks as well as tackles.

Also, part of the dark side of football and Morey is suffering from CTE-type symptoms and was from a very young age. 

31. Sam Anno

A one-time NFC Special Teams Player of the Year (1989) and was credited with over 80 tackles in his career, high for a long snapper.

32. Jeff Barnes

Listed by George Allen was one of the best in the business in the late-1970s he was a smaller linebacker who could run. Could make tackles on coverage and block punts. Was mentioned in George Allen's book as a member of his "Special Teams Hall of Fame".

33. Rich Saul

He was a top, top special teams player from 1970 to 1974 before he became a full-time starter and center. He was a long snapper and was a wedge buster on kickoffs and on the front wall on returns. The Rams special teams in his era were the best, even including the Redskins, who got more ink, and Saul was a major reason. Who were his special teams coaches from 1970-74? Marv Levy, Rich Brooks, Dick Vermeil, and Elijah Pitts, not a bad group.

34. Jim Jensen

"Crash" was the leader of the Dolphins special teams of the 1980s. He usually was the long snapper on punts and ended his career with 97 tackles. He was also a fine third-down receiver on offense.

35. Ceasar Belser

Was likely the AFL's best special team player from 1968-70. Belser, in 1968 he had 21 special teams tackles and blocked a punt and a blocked PAT and busted plenty of wedges. In 1969 he had 17 tackles and 16 more in in 1970.

36. Rufus Porter

A two-time Pro Bowler and the AFC Special Teams Player of the Year, Porter was a fine right end in the Seahawk nickel defense at 210 pounds. He was a demon on special teams for two years and then was a starter in the base defense and didn't run down on kicks anymore,

37. Henry Schmidt

Schmidt is a crib from Paul Zimmerman's All-Time Team. Said Dr. Z, "He was the greatest hot man, or wedge-buster, that I’d ever seen. I had watched him in his rookie year with the 49ers in 1959. He was inordinately fast coming down the field, for a guy 6’4”, 254 pounds. The Niners fans loved him, but when he’d hit the wedge and splinter it like kindling, it would draw a gasp . . . usually, the ball carrier would be part of the mob that Henry took down on his wild attacks".

How can a guy like that not be included? Schmidt played from 1959-66.

38. Hardy Brown

Dan Daly named Brown his special teams ace for the 1950s All-Decade Team in his Pro Football Chronicles book and has drawn mention from Hall of Fame writer Rick Gosselin, "(Brown) was a stalker on special teams. He was one of the most feared hitters in the game’s history, mastering the right shoulder shiver into the face of ball carriers. His tackles were often knockout blows."

39. Vince Papale

He only played three years (he was hurt one) but he was legit, not some fairy tale. Had there been a slot for a Pro Bowl special teamer he would have likely gotten it at least once. Would be higher if he played longer.

40. Heath Farwell

Farwell was a Pro Bowler in 2009 after missing the 2008 season with an ACL injury. One of the few players that averaged over one special teams tackle per game. 

41. Mark Pike

A defensive end by trade, Mark Pike made 159 tackles in 173 games and forced three fumbles, recovered one and blocked a kick.

42. Corey Graham

The tackle tally for Graham was 105 tackles and two forced fumbles in 157 games and he was voted a Pro Bowler in 2011.

43. Derrick Jensen

In '80 Jenson had 15 tackles and blocked a punt and in 1984 he made 17 tackles and forced a fumble. He was, for years (like Bankston and Barnes) a core special teams player.

44. Ike Reese

A Pro Bowl special teamer for the Eagles was particularly dominant in 2001-03.

45. Gary Stills

A one-time Pro Bowler and totaled over 140 special teams tackles.

46. Jim Schwantz

A one-time Pro Bowler, he was solid in coverage for the Cowboys and 49ers. Another player who played more in the middle of the coverage teams and as such didn't make as many tackles as some others but was still very effective.

47. Warren Bankston

One of the best special teams demons of the 1970s. He was one of those players who played on all seven (kick, punt, kick return, punt return, onside, kickoff and kickoff return).

48. Brian Baschnagel

Made a lot of tackles and was always graded high by scouts. Was also an excellent holder for placekicks.

49. Alvin Haymond

Led the Rams "Haymond's Headhunters" with the Rams from 1969-71. He also returned kicks and punts and did a good job. He was also a great special teamer with the Colts and Eagles prior to joining the Rams.

50t. Jimbo Elrod

Called by John Madden one of the best special teams coverage guys he'd ever seen, Elrod was the proverbial Wild-and-Wooly type. He was an undersized (6-0, 209-pound),  linebacker with average speed (5.0 in the forty) who, in 1976, started at middle linebacker ahead of Willie Lanier after a poor performance by the future Hall of Famer.

In his second year he got bigger, to about 220 pounds or so, and even improved his forty time to 4.8 and for the next two years was a beast for the Chiefs. His special teams tackle numbers were not as high as some others but he played inside, as a wedge buster and as a blocker more than as a gunner-type player. Still, he was the epitome of the NFL wildman special teamer with a "suicidal reputation", according to the AP.

Only a short career keeps him from being a big higher on our list.

50t. Quintin Mikell 

ESPN named Quintin Mikell to the 2000s All-Decade team, posting this quote from Eagles special teams coach John Harbaugh who said, "Quintin Mikell might be the best guy I've coached. He's not a gunner-type guy, but he was the best all-purpose guy. Quintin Mikell is just a really good player."

Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman chose Mikell as his special teams player on the Sports Illustrated All-Pro team and commented, "(W)ho not only busts wedges but is also a terrific blocker on kickoffs."

Mikell averaged just under 20 tackles a season from 2004-06 and forced a trio of fumbles and blocked a punt. After he became a starting safety he played far fewer snaps covering kicks and punts but in his first four years he was special. 

50t. Ray Nitschke

It took Ray Nitschke until his fourth season to secure a full-time starting MLB job, in the first 3 years and change he was a dominant special teams player according to the literature of the time and in his two biographies. It was an era that called the coverage units the 'bomb squads'.

50t. Dave Meggyesy

Meggyesy makes the list based mostly on anecdotal evidence, he reports on his speial teams work in his book and also was named by Dan Daly to his 1960s All-Decade team in his book The Pro Football Chronicles. 

50t. Pete Banaszak

Often among the league leaders (based on our research) in special teams tackles.

50t. Benny Barnes

Before becoming a starter Barnes was the Cowboys special teams demon in the early 1970s

50t. Charlie Scales

Listed on the recommendation of John Wooten who was a teammate and who was a longtime NFL scout.

50t. Marty Schottenheimer

Never able to secure a starting job for long Schottenheimer just bore down and played where he could and learned the game,

50t. Bill Cowher

Why not throw in Bill Cowher in next to his coaching mentor?  Cowher only played four years (he missed 1981 with an injury) but was the top special teams for both the Browns and Eagles when he was with them. 

50t. Chris Maragos

Recently cut, Maragos was a key factor in a few wins for the Eagles and there isn't much more you can ask of a special teamer—to help you win a close game.

50t. Ken Rose

Rose was a good blitzer in the 1988 Jets nickel defense he also was an excellent coverage guy on kicks as well.

50t. Michael Thomas

A current player who has a chance to really move up. A fun player to watch run down and make tackles.

50t. Lou Piccone

Piccone was an adequate return guy and third wide receiver. However his "thing" was on coverage teams. He was a special teams ace for the Jets and the Bills. 

50t. Louie Giamona 

After Vince Paple was no longer around Little Louie became the Eagles top cover guy, though they did have several others. The 5'9 180-pound running back once teamed with Lou Piccone on the Jets as good, but diminutive, special teams aces.

He is the nephew of former NFL coach, Dick Vermeil. He made 19 special teams tackles in 1980. 

50t. Sanders Shiver

In the late 1970s, Shiver was among the best special teams demons in the league. Had there been a Pro Bowl slot in that era, Shiver would have been considered.

50t. Cory Littleton

Only has three seasons in but has blocked four punts and deflected one and had one near, near-miss. Now that he's a starter he may not cover kicks and punts anymore (he didn't in 2018) so he may be a guy that was dominant then never really returned to coverage may be similar to Nitschke.

50t. Anthony Dickerson

Dickerson played a year in Canada and then was out of football for a year before signing with the Cowboys in 1980. There he was voted the Cowboys top special teams player in 1980 and 1981 and was still excellent in 1982 as well before winning the weak side linebacker starting job in 1983 and 1984. He went to the Bills in 1985 and played well for their coverage units. 

50t. Godwin Turk 

Turk played just four seasons but he was a dynamo. As a rookie in 1975 he was a starter, perhaps could have been considered a poor man's Hollywood Henderson. He blocked a punt and also forced a punter to throw an incomplete pass (same, really as a punt block) and when he was a starter made his fair share of big plays as well.

He went to Denver in 1976 and was part of their special teams unit that returned four punts for scores and was also stellar in coverage. He would have been on the shortlist for special teams player of the year. He was strong his last two seasons as well (blocking a Ray Guy punt in 1978).

50t. Tony Guillory

The top special teams player in the NFL in 1967 was Guillory. He blocked two punts and also tackled a punter, which, in a way should be recognized as a block, but that is a different discussion for a different day. He was the Rams special teams captain and that '67 season was capped off by a punt Guillory blocked against Green Bay that set up the winning score and allowed the Rams to win the NFL's Coastal Division. 

He would rank higher if he had played longer—he missed the 1966 season due to an injury but was very impactful in 1967 and 1968 on Gorge Allen's special teams units. Traded to Philadelphia in 1969 he started most of the year as a linebacker but was still a major part of the Eagles special teams. 

You could see Guillory as an R1 or L2 (wedge buster) on kickoffs and on the wedge on the return unit as well as playing on the punt coverage and protection teams—the proverbial core special teams player. 

50t. Bob Stein

Stein was featured in an early 1970s NFL Films segment on the bomb squad the then nickname for coverage units. He was a backup linebacker (two career starts in 89 career games) and was a good core special teams player for the Chiefs. He was traded to the Rams after four seasons in Kansas City and he continued to excel on coverage units.

In the NFL Films feature, Stein stated that playing specialty teams and doing it well "becomes a matter of pride and accomplishment."

50t. Blake Costanzo

Short career, played at a Pro Bowl level on special teams in 2008 and 2009.

50t. Alex Bannister

Bannister had three really terrific seasons then three injury-plagued seasons.

50t. Reggie Rivers

Rivers played six seasons and five he was a core special teams guy. Had a stellar year in 1993 and was almost as good in 1994.

50t. Leonard Thompson

A starter for the six seasons after five years as a backup wide receiver and special teams demon. Known for big hits. In the late 1970s he was one of the best core special teams players in the NFL. 

50t. Maurice Douglass 

A standout special teamer with the Bears, Douglass finished up with the Giants. Was All-Madden in 1994 as a special teams player. Was a classic hustle-type who spend a few seasons as an extra back in nickel packages and some seasons as a part-time starting safety. 

50t. Ty Allert 

Allert played for four teams in five seasons and made All-Madden once. He was a guy who played on all the special teams and found work in the NFL solely on that basis.

50t. Paul Butcher 

Butcher played eleven seasons for five teams—appearing in 134 games with just five starts. Special teams were his calling card. He was often his team's special team captain and was a Pro Bowl alternate in 1987 and All-Madden in 1986. 

50t. Detron Smith 

A Pro Bowler and All-NFC selection in 1999, Smith blocked a punt against the Raiders that season. In 2002 he was a Pro Bowl alternate for the Colts. Smith also returned a few kickoffs in his career and was a well-built lead blocker who punished potential tacklers.

50t. Chad Cascadden

Called the heart and soul of the Jets coverage units, Cascadden was Second-team All-Pro according to Football Digest in 1998. He was All-Rookie in 1995 and that year he was the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Week 13. 

50t. Rabih Abdullah 

Abdullah was particularly strong in 2001 and 2002 when he should have been in consideration for the Pro Bowl as a special teamer though he was picked for Sports Illustrated's Peter King for his personal All-Pro team.

 In 2004 he was picked up by the Patriots, cut, then resigned and earned himself a Super Bowl ring.

50t. Jared Sowell

Sowell was one tackle short of the century mark. After he became a starter for the Jets his tackle totals dropped but averaged 17 a season from 1999-03. In 2002 Sports Illustrated's legendary writer Paul Zimmerman picked him as an All-Pro on his personal team writing, "(A) guided missile as a blocker on the wedge and a big reason why New York has the AFC leaders in kick and punt returns."

50t. Lee Flowers

Only played three years on special teams but was excellent, turning in what was one of the best-ever seasons for a special teamer in Steelers history with 30 tackles. In 1998 he earned a starting position at safety and didn't play on coverage teams after that.

50t. Chase Blackburn 

He led or was second on the Giants in special teams tackles in each of his six seasons totaling 86 tackles in that span. In 2008 he was a Pro Bowl first alternate.

50t. John Wendling

A 2010 Pro Bowl alternate, Wendling was a tackling machine leading the NFL in total special teams tackles with 24 and he also led the previous year with 26.

50t. Bryan Braman

Braman had a short career but was impactful. We think he should have been All-Pro in 2012.

50t. Jim Jodat

Jodat, a running back from Carthage with 4.35 speed, was exceptional on kick coverage and could also return kicks decently. He was a superior worker and a self-made player. In 1979 was the Rams captain on special teams. That year he scored a touchdown on a punt blocked by Nolan Cromwell.

50t. Eric Lane

Lane was a running back out of BYU who started twelve games at that position for the Seattle Seahawks. Other than that he was a special teams guy, serving as the captain of the squads from 1983-86. He'd return some kicks and tear down the field in search of return men. In seven seasons he totaled 85 tackles with his best season being in 1984 when he made 18 stops and forced a fumble and recovered one. He returned a blocked punt in 1986.

50t. Charlie Williams

Williams was named to the Sports Illustrated All-Pro team (named by Paul Zimmerman) in 1997 as the "Whacko". Wrote Dr. Z, "This third-year player just flies downfield." That year he made 15 tackles and forced a fumble on the specialty units. He began to play more on the defensive unit in 1998 and 1999, limiting his use on special teams.

50t. Mel Mitchell

Another Dr. Z pick. Mitchell was SI's All-Pro "whacko" in 2002. Mitchell's career was plagued by injuries, missing two seasons in six years. 

50t. Norwood Vann

Vann's rookie season was tremendous recording 22 tackles and forcing a fumble, recovering two, and blocking a Dan Jennings punt out of the end zone for a safety. A knee injury hobbled him in his second year and he was strong in 1986-87. He signed with the Raiders but didn't last. But for four years, Vann was an excellent all-around special teamer, coverage, returns, and punt and placekick blocking units.

50t. Niko Koutouvides

Koutouvides made over 100 career totals and was a fan favorite in Seattle for his special teams play.

50t. Isaiah Kacyvenski

Before Niko Koutouvides it was Isaiah Kacyvenski who was the Seahawks fans darling for his wildman special teams efforts and big hits.

50t. Clint Kriewaldt

Kriewaldt flew under the NFL radar, never making any kind of All-Pro or Pro Bowl or even All-Conference teams. He did total over 100 career tackles and forced a pair of fumbles.

50t. Barry Gardner

The only year he didn't make a major contribution to his team's coverage units was in 2000 when he was a starting linebacker. 

50t. Lorenzo Alexander 

In 2012 Alexander was the NFC Pro Bowl specialist and was the PFWA All-NFC special teams guy as well. That year he led the NFL in special teams tackles with 21. 

He still placed special teams through age 33 when he was with the Bills at a time when he was a Pro Bowl linebacker and still played some through age 36. 

50t. Harold Marrow

Paul Zimmerman gave Morrow an honorable mention as a special teams demon in 1999. he made 144 tackles and recovered four fumbles on special teams. 

50t. Terry Jackson 

His 2001 season was excellent not only with tackles but by blocking a kick and forcing a fumble. 

50t. Donte' Curry

Just short of 100 career tackles and led the Lions in special teams tackles from 2004-06.

50t. Bill Ring 

Terrific in coverage, not a kick blocker however but is still a worthy member of this list.

50t. Kevin Bentley

In 2008 Bentley was tied for second in the NFL in special teams tackles and the next year he was in the top ten.

50t. Eric Frampton

Frampton came alive in 2011 when he was second in the NFL in total special teams tackles.

50t. Don Davis

Long and meritorious service gets Davis a mention for his 123 tackles.

50t. Ed Bradley 

Bradley was one of the special teams aces for the early 1970s Steelers. He was lost to the Seahawks in the 1976 expansion draft and he got a chance to start there. After a year he was traded to the 49ers. 

In the Steel City, he was called "the Headhunter" for his plays as a coverage guy on special teams.

50t. Chris Burkett

Burkett was a Second-team All-Pro pick by Collge & Pro Football Newsweekly in 1991 when he totaled 13 tackles. He also blocked a punt which he picked up and ran to the end zone for a touchdown and forced a fumble and recovered four. In addition, in 1991, he tackled a punter.

Was one of the Jets special teams co-captains the next two seasons before retiring in early 1994. 

50t. Nick Bellore 

Bellore has excelled for three teams in eight years and is approaching 100 career tackles. He's forced a fumble and recovered a pair of them. 

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There are plenty of others that merit mention but we'll stop at the one hundred or so that we've listed.