Gil Brandt is back with another set of all-time player rankings and Derrick Thomas joins the linebackers at No. 2 overall.
Three former members of the Kansas City Chiefs landed in Gil Brandt’s top 45 linebackers of all time, the most recent NFL rankings list from the analyst. The top rated from the Chiefs, of course, is none other than Derrick Thomas, the single best defender in Chiefs history who Brandt believes is also the NFL’s best other than New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor.
Thomas’s resume is exemplary and it’s a shame he’s not alive today to receive this sort of praise in person. The Hall of Famer was as fierce a pass rusher as the NFL has ever seen with 126.5 career sacks, armed with incredible athleticism, a relentless pursuit and an instinct for knowing what moves or direction would work to outmaneuver an offensive lineman. Thomas ended up going to the Pro Bowl 9 times.
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There are also two other former Chiefs linebackers on the same list as Thomas, including another in the top 10. Bobby Bell lands at No. 7 overall, another Hall of Fame linebacker who matches Thomas’s 9 Pro Bowls and Hall of Fame enshrinement. Not only was he a strong sack artist in an era where it wasn’t tracked or celebrated enough, but he also returned an NFL record six passes for touchdowns. Stellar in coverage or blitzing the quarterback, Bell’s well-rounded ability is not lost on Brandt.
Finally, there’s Willie Lanier at No. 28 overall, another Hall of Fame linebacker with 8 Pro Bowls to his name. Lanier, like Bell, won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs and had his number retired as well. A beast of a hitter as well as in coverage, Lanier had an incredible 27 interceptions in his career.