Edge
Rusher:
Von Miller was basically a star from day 1. He had 11.5 sacks as a rookie, and never really looked back. Before this season, he never had less than 10 sacks in a full season. Even his down years aren't really down years. He had a weird PED scandal back in 2013 and then tore his ACL, but immediately responded with a 14 sack 2014 season, and a dominant playoff run in 2015 being the best player on a truly great defense. Miller's ridiculous speed and athleticism was best shown when he jokingly said he only needed one second to hit Tom Brady. Judging by the 2015 AFC Championship Game and so many others, that was pretty spot on.
T-Sizzle for sure slowed down in the second half of the decade, the turning point seemingly was his achilles tear in 2015. But prior to that, he was the leagues premier OLB, ably winning DPOTY in 2011 and having monster season against both pass and rush year after year. He's been good if not great in the second half as well. Suggs probably will fall just short of HOF status, unless his more famous compatriots in Baltimore help push him in, but while he wasn't a Ray Lewis or Ed Reed, his constant ability to contain and rush the passer was invaluable.
It's hard to really put Khalil Mack into perspective on this list because of his limited number of games comapred to a lot of other players who had similar if not better stats. What Mack has done though in those six seasons is be absolutely dominant, especially in his DPOTY season in 2016 and first season in Chicago in 2018 (12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles). Mack was also a dominant run player as well. He has years left to solidify his case as one of the best edge rushers of his time.
Cameron Jordan was something of the reverse Khalil Mack. Lower peak for sure, but all he did was have consistent prodcution for nine seasons (eight, given he did little to nothing as a rookie). He's among the most consistent performers, with all eight of those good seasons between 7.5 and 15.5 sacks, with his msot recent season potentially his most dominant. His great counting stats sneak up on you, but when you look across the totality of the 2010s, it is hard to make the case more than three edge rushers were better.
Houston's peak was truly incredible, mark his 22 sack season in 2014, finishign just half a sack shy of the all-time record by Strahan. Houston was up and down through a few more injury marred seasons in Kansas City, but seems to have maybe found a second life in Indianapolis. Few players were as good at their peak, even if that peak was fairly short.
Ware also did a lot of his best work in the 2000s, but he also had 46.5 sacks the first three years of the decade (19.5 in 2011), and was a central figure in the 2015 Broncos run with some absurd games in those playoffs - one with seven hits of Cam Newton, and four more of Brady the week before. He's a surefire hall of famer that was probably a couple years away from being higher up.
Read the Aaron Donald section below first. Get a sense of how good he was in terms of sacks, and QB hits and tackles for loss (25 in his ridiculous 2018 season). Now realize that in almost every way, Watt was systematically better. It isn't close. Watt has had seasons of 43-46-51-50 QB hits in four straight years - a number no one ever reached in the decade aside from DeMarcus Ware. He had nearly 40 tackles for loss. He was the best against the run, and also the best pass rusher of the decade. He reinvented the position. His comps through five seasons was more Reggie White than anything else. He ends the decade just ten sacks behind Von Miller despite basically missing two straight years (2016-17). JJ Watt not being on that list of Top 100 players is a travesty. He is this generations best defender.
Aaron Donald (2014 – 2019)
Aaron Donald's worst season was probably his rookie season, when he had 9 sacks and 13 QB hits. Apart from that, he's been basically a monster. Even in his 'down' 2016 season with 8 sacks, he racked up 31 QB hits and numerous other high impact plays. His last few years have been bonkers, especially that 20.5 sack, 41 QB Hits masterpiece that was his 2018. Donald easily won back-to-back DPOTY awards and won them going away. He is the best defender in the league, and had he played the full decade, he has a case for being above Watt for best of the decade.
I was surprised to see that Geno Atkins had not missed a game since his ACL injury in 2013, torpedoeing a very good Bengals defense that year. Atkins athelticism and dynamicism has definitely faded in 2019, but the last four years (2015-18) saw him put up another 39 sacks, and 53 tackles for loss. He was unblockable at his best, and his best spanned most of the decade. If only the Bengals had any playoff success to help his case league-wide.
Suh was seen as the best defensive line prospect in a long time, so much so people seriously thought the Rams should draft him over Sam Bradford (in retrospect, not a terrible idea). He was a dominant player from day-1, earning all-pro honors as a rookie with 10 sacks. He never got 10 sacks again, but was consistent 20+ hits and countless hurries. Ndamukong Suh remained unblockable at his best, but he is clearly slowing down, as is his earned right at 32 years old.
McCoy vs. Ngata was something of a debate before the 2010 draft, and while Suh was almost inarguably better, McCoy wasn't too shabby himself, an unblockable at times lineman for Tampa. He didn't have the impact in Carolina as many expected, but after a decade of yoemans work it probably was not all that in the cards. Still, at his best he was a great pass rusher and the centerpiece of a great run defense year after year.
Somehow, he is still playing at a somewhat decent level. At the start of the decade, he probably was the league's premier interior lineman until about 2013 or 2014. Ngata was nigh unblockable in 2010 and 2011, even against premier blockers like a Nick Mangold type. He was the final piece of the four-man Ravens defensive puzzle (him, Reed, Suggs, Lewis).
So often the 'clear cut most NFL ready linebacker' is a best. The best example I can think of was Aaron Curry. Kuechly was hailed as one of those types as well. Except unlike the Curry's or Keith Rivers', he didn't bust. He was a star from basically day 1. Kuechly's coverage range and instincts are nearly unparalleled. Maybe only an Urlacher or Briggs in recent years. Kuechly's ability to rush gaps and go side to side were also unparalleled. He always ranked high on Football Otusiders defeats and pass coverage metrics. He was basically a perfect 4-3 MLB, just like he was supposed to be.
Bobby Wagner (2012 – 2019)
Wagner is the last remaining member of the great Seahawks defenses still on the team. I don't know if I would have picked him to be the last one standing, but his great production even as he nears 30 is good reason for it. The overall stats are great. The instincts in pass coverage is great. He was a dominant player for a Super Bowl winning team, and his injury was one of the key moments that swung the game the following season. Wagner best skill seems to be his incredible coverage range, tasked with taking on TEs and doing it flawlessly. As he piles up all-pro nods, his HOF case is growing stronger.
Bowman was one half of maybe the best pairing of inside linebackers seen in decades. He was the one who also played a few years more than the other. The numbers are all quite incredible, as was his overall snap counts. There were memorable plays, such as his should've been forced fumble in the 2013 NFC Championship, and years and years of constant production.
To be honest, none of the counting stats jump off the page, but the simple fact that he is the one linebacker that Bill Belichick kept around through thick and thin speaks volumes. His best ability was probably being one of teh surest tacklers in the NFL, and a truly great gap-attacker at times.
Sherman's late decade renaissance with the 49ers has been fun to watch, turning him from one of teh central figures in the Legion of Boom to basically placing him as HOF lock. He led the decade in interceptions, and was so good at his prime, Aaron Rodgers on multiple occassions basically decided never to throw at him - see the 2014 season opener. He became the new prototype, tall enough to play bump and run, agile and smart enough to play zone at a hyper-aware level. Sherman was a true star, very unexpected for the former 5th round pick.
Gilmore's ascendancy these last few years in New England have been the stuff of legend. He was a good if not great player through five years in Buffalo, with a few pro-bowl nods, but ever since his move to teh Patriots in 2017, he has shut down #1 corner after #1 corner, including throughout his bonkers 2019 season (week 17 excluded). Gilmore has become one of Belichick's best free agent acquisitions, if not the best outside of maybe Randy Moss.
Peters makes this list essentially for the ridiculous number of interceptions and TDs he's put up in just five years, for three different teams. Everywhere he went he got picks and took a lot deep. Even outside the pick-sixes, his interception return yards (797) is ludicrous. Yes, Peters gambles a bit too much, but even in his half-season in Baltimore, he's seemed to relax a bit and play a bit more steadily.
Ramsey has only played four seasons, but in that time, he's fulfilled all the promise he showed in his stint at Florida State. He was the centerpiece of a Top-10 defense of the decade in the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars. He was good enough the Rams felt the need to trade two first round picks for him. It remains to be seen if that was worth it, but if it was he'll likely make a good case for team of the 2020s.
Talib is still chugging along, nine-pick sixes later. He was great for both New England and then Denver, being the #1 corner for a Super Bowl champion team led almost exclusively by the defense. He was a bit inconsistent at times and that hurts his case overall, and had a bit of a Marcus Peters problem of gambling, but Talib was as good at game-changing plays as anyone.
Weddle was a peerlessly dynamic safety, both in coverage and in the box, for the Chargers. His masterpiece season was probably 2011, with seven interceptions, but in all his time in San Diego he was a consistently great player, sure tackling and hyper-smart. He had a good run in Baltimore as well, solidifying a fraying secondary. Weddle probably ends up a little below HOF status, but you could easily make that argument.
Smith was probably every bit the equal of Kam Chancellor, but didn't have his Richard Sherman or Earl Thomas to help elevate the whole group. Smith's play has only crested later in the decade when Mike Zimmer came on board and unlocked him into this swiss army knife type. Under Zimmer, his counting numbers all took a nice little uptick as well. Two all-pros followed, both well deserved.
I mean, at this point there's no real reason to even go through the resume. He's so far and away ahead of anyone else.
I we extend this back to 2008, he's probably the clear #2. Even in this decade, he led six teams to the playoffs, at least two AFC Championship Games, and a Super Bowl. He kept an aging team competitive and then a rebuilding team competitive. He abley changed coordinators and styles and eventually rosters with equal aplomb. Harbaugh's best season might be this decades last, but he did some great work before that.
Reid's run in Kansas City from 2013 onwards has been amazing and also so fun to watch. He inherited a 2-14 mess, took them to 11-5 in his first season, with Alex Smith at the helm, and had other seasons of 10-6, 11-5, and three 12-4 records. He has turned Patrick Mahomes into a pure monster. Reid's resume will always lack a Super Bowl (maybe that changes) but he's easily this generations best coach never to win one.
1st
Team
Von Miller
(2011 – 2019)
Stats: 133
games, 105.0 sacks, 26 FF, 134 TFL, 4x All Pro (2012, 2015, 2016, 2018)
Von Miller was basically a star from day 1. He had 11.5 sacks as a rookie, and never really looked back. Before this season, he never had less than 10 sacks in a full season. Even his down years aren't really down years. He had a weird PED scandal back in 2013 and then tore his ACL, but immediately responded with a 14 sack 2014 season, and a dominant playoff run in 2015 being the best player on a truly great defense. Miller's ridiculous speed and athleticism was best shown when he jokingly said he only needed one second to hit Tom Brady. Judging by the 2015 AFC Championship Game and so many others, that was pretty spot on.
Terrell
Suggs (2010 – 2019)
Stats: 133
games, 80.5 sacks, 21 FF, 113 TFL, 2x All Pro (2011, 2013), 1x DPOY (2011)
2nd
Team:
Khalil Mack
(2014 – 2019)
Stats: 92
games, 60.5 sacks, 20 FF, 85 TFL, 3x All Pro (2015, 2016, 2018), 1x DPOY (2016)
It's hard to really put Khalil Mack into perspective on this list because of his limited number of games comapred to a lot of other players who had similar if not better stats. What Mack has done though in those six seasons is be absolutely dominant, especially in his DPOTY season in 2016 and first season in Chicago in 2018 (12.5 sacks, six forced fumbles). Mack was also a dominant run player as well. He has years left to solidify his case as one of the best edge rushers of his time.
Cameron
Jordan (2011 – 2019)
Stats: 142
games, 85.0 sacks, 10 FF, 111TFL, 1x All Pro (2017)
Honorable
Mentions:
Justin
Houston (2011 – 2019)
Stats: 116
games, 87.5 sacks, 15 FF, 108 TFL, 1x All Pro (2014)
Houston's peak was truly incredible, mark his 22 sack season in 2014, finishign just half a sack shy of the all-time record by Strahan. Houston was up and down through a few more injury marred seasons in Kansas City, but seems to have maybe found a second life in Indianapolis. Few players were as good at their peak, even if that peak was fairly short.
Clay
Matthews Jr. (2010 – 2019)
Stats: 138
games, 81.5 sacks, 16 FF, 113 TFL, 1x All Pro (2010)
Clay Matthews first season was 2009, where he splashed onto the scene with 10 sacks. He got 13.5 more in 2010, with a few more in their Super Bowl run mixed in. Clay Matthews was a dynamic force for the first hal of the decade before injuries slowed him down in the second half before his move to Los Angeles.
Demarcus Ware (2010 – 2016)
Demarcus Ware (2010 – 2016)
Stats: 98
games, 74.0 sacks, 12 FF, 91 TFL, 2x All Pro (2011)
Interior
Lineman
1st
Team:
JJ Watt
(2011 – 2019)
Stats: 112
games, 96.0 sacks, 23 FF, 158 TFL, 5x All Pro (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018),
3x DPOY (2012, 2014, 2015)
Read the Aaron Donald section below first. Get a sense of how good he was in terms of sacks, and QB hits and tackles for loss (25 in his ridiculous 2018 season). Now realize that in almost every way, Watt was systematically better. It isn't close. Watt has had seasons of 43-46-51-50 QB hits in four straight years - a number no one ever reached in the decade aside from DeMarcus Ware. He had nearly 40 tackles for loss. He was the best against the run, and also the best pass rusher of the decade. He reinvented the position. His comps through five seasons was more Reggie White than anything else. He ends the decade just ten sacks behind Von Miller despite basically missing two straight years (2016-17). JJ Watt not being on that list of Top 100 players is a travesty. He is this generations best defender.
Aaron Donald (2014 – 2019)
Stats: 92
games, 70.5 sacks, 15 FF, 116 TFL, 4x All Pro (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), 2x DPOY
(2017, 2018)
2nd
Team:
Geno Atkins
(2010 – 2019)
Stats: 151
games, 75.5 sacks, 6 FF, 100 TFL, 2x All Pro (2012, 2015)
I was surprised to see that Geno Atkins had not missed a game since his ACL injury in 2013, torpedoeing a very good Bengals defense that year. Atkins athelticism and dynamicism has definitely faded in 2019, but the last four years (2015-18) saw him put up another 39 sacks, and 53 tackles for loss. He was unblockable at his best, and his best spanned most of the decade. If only the Bengals had any playoff success to help his case league-wide.
Ndamukong
Suh (2010 – 2019)
Stats: 156
games, 58.5 sacks, 4 FF, 112 TFL, 3x All Pro (2010, 2013, 2014)
Honorable
Mentions:
Fletcher
Cox (2012 – 2019)
Stats: 123
games, 48.0 sacks, 10 FF, 62 TFL, 1x All Pro (2018)
Cox was drafted #12 overall the year before Chip Kelly was drafted. He never really performed all that well in the Kelly years, but when Pederson, and more importantly (for him) Jim Schwartz, came in he took off. Cox's pocket-pushign from the interior became the focal point of some very good to great defenses from 2016-2019. If only he wans't so meh during the Kelly years.
Gerald McCoy (2010 – 2019)
Gerald McCoy (2010 – 2019)
Stats: 137
games, 59.5 sacks, 6 FF, 86 TFL, 1x All Pro (2013)
McCoy vs. Ngata was something of a debate before the 2010 draft, and while Suh was almost inarguably better, McCoy wasn't too shabby himself, an unblockable at times lineman for Tampa. He didn't have the impact in Carolina as many expected, but after a decade of yoemans work it probably was not all that in the cards. Still, at his best he was a great pass rusher and the centerpiece of a great run defense year after year.
Haloti
Ngata (2010 – 2019)
Stats: 118
games, 26.0 sacks, 5 FF, 63 TFL, 2x All Pro (2010, 2011)
Linebacker
1st
Team:
Luke
Kuechly (2012 – 2019)
Stats: 116
games, 12.5 sacks, 18 INTs, 74 TFL, 65 PD, 7 FF, 5x All Pro (2013, 2014, 2015,
2017, 2018), 1x DPOY (2013)
So often the 'clear cut most NFL ready linebacker' is a best. The best example I can think of was Aaron Curry. Kuechly was hailed as one of those types as well. Except unlike the Curry's or Keith Rivers', he didn't bust. He was a star from basically day 1. Kuechly's coverage range and instincts are nearly unparalleled. Maybe only an Urlacher or Briggs in recent years. Kuechly's ability to rush gaps and go side to side were also unparalleled. He always ranked high on Football Otusiders defeats and pass coverage metrics. He was basically a perfect 4-3 MLB, just like he was supposed to be.
Bobby Wagner (2012 – 2019)
Stats: 117
games, 18.5 sacks, 10 INTs, 56 TFL, 47 PD, 5 FF, 4x All Pro (2014, 2016, 2017,
2018)
2nd
Team:
Lavonte
David (2012 – 2019)
Stats: 119
games, 22.5 sacks, 11 INTs, 116 TFL, 44 PD, 20 FF, 2x All Pro (2013)
Football Outsiders keeps a stat called 'Defeats' which is just a running total of how many of the following a player accrues: sacks, passes defended, interceptions and tackles for loss. Lavonte David was a constant moster in that statistic from 2012 on. He plied his trade somewhat anonymously for Tampa but even then his reputation caught up with his play. In pure numbers alone, he might be the most productive linebacker of the decade.
Football Outsiders keeps a stat called 'Defeats' which is just a running total of how many of the following a player accrues: sacks, passes defended, interceptions and tackles for loss. Lavonte David was a constant moster in that statistic from 2012 on. He plied his trade somewhat anonymously for Tampa but even then his reputation caught up with his play. In pure numbers alone, he might be the most productive linebacker of the decade.
NaVorro
Bowman (2010 – 2017)
Stats: 99
games, 14.0 sacks, 5 INTs, 48 TFL, 30 PD, 9 FF, 4x All Pro (2011, 2012, 2013,
2015)
Honorable
Mentions:
Patrick
Willis (2010 – 2014)
Stats: 64
games, 11.5 sacks, 4 INTs, 31 TFL, 30 PD, 10 FF, 3x All Pro (2010, 2011, 2012)
His shocking retirement in 2014 is still felt, both as a lasting sign of the long-term risk due to concussions in the sport, and also how it pushed the 49ers down in teh short term. A pretty perfect linebacker, Willis was active in eight years perfectly spanning two decades, so he'll never get the all-decade love he probably deserves.
Donta’ Hightower (2012 – 2019)
Donta’ Hightower (2012 – 2019)
Stats: 100
games, 24.0 sacks, 1 INT, 41 TFL, 16 PD, 2 FF, 1x All Pro (2019)
To be honest, none of the counting stats jump off the page, but the simple fact that he is the one linebacker that Bill Belichick kept around through thick and thin speaks volumes. His best ability was probably being one of teh surest tacklers in the NFL, and a truly great gap-attacker at times.
Cornerback
1st
Team:
Patrick
Peterson (2011 – 2019)
Stats: 136
games, 25 INTs, 1 TD, 3x All Pro (2011, 2013, 2015)
Peterson was always billed as one of the most perfect defensive back prospects in eons, and he was basically that from jump street, earning an all-pro nod as a rookie in 2011. He quickly earned a reputation as one of the games premier shutdown corners. He was a key star to a series of good Arizona defenses in the first half of the decade, and is only now starting to see his game slip at all.
Peterson was always billed as one of the most perfect defensive back prospects in eons, and he was basically that from jump street, earning an all-pro nod as a rookie in 2011. He quickly earned a reputation as one of the games premier shutdown corners. He was a key star to a series of good Arizona defenses in the first half of the decade, and is only now starting to see his game slip at all.
Richard
Sherman (2011 – 2019)
Stats: 132
games, 35 INTs, 3 TDs, 3x All Pro (2012, 2013, 2014)
2nd
Team:
Chris
Harris (2011 – 2019)
Stats: 137
games, 20 INTs, 4 TDs, 2x All Pro (2015, 2016)
Harris started the decade as the Broncos slot corner, ably playing his way amongst the likes of Champ Bailey, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Aqib Talib. Then, sometime around 2014, he became a starter, and became one of the most dynamic multi-faceted corners of the decade. He remained brilliant in the slot, ably handing guys like Edelman on muiltiple ocassions, and did fine on the outside as well - especially in 2015 being one half of the league's best corner duo.
Stefon Gilmore (2012 – 2019)
Stefon Gilmore (2012 – 2019)
Stats: 111
games, 24 INTs, 2 TDs, 2x All Pro (2018, 2019)
Honorable
Mentions:
Marcus
Peters (2015 – 2019)
Stats: 75
games, 27 INTs, 6 TDs, 1x All Pro (2016)
Peters makes this list essentially for the ridiculous number of interceptions and TDs he's put up in just five years, for three different teams. Everywhere he went he got picks and took a lot deep. Even outside the pick-sixes, his interception return yards (797) is ludicrous. Yes, Peters gambles a bit too much, but even in his half-season in Baltimore, he's seemed to relax a bit and play a bit more steadily.
Jalen
Ramsey (2016 – 2019)
Stats: 59
games, 9 INTs, 1 TD, 2x All Pro (2017, 2018)
Ramsey has only played four seasons, but in that time, he's fulfilled all the promise he showed in his stint at Florida State. He was the centerpiece of a Top-10 defense of the decade in the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars. He was good enough the Rams felt the need to trade two first round picks for him. It remains to be seen if that was worth it, but if it was he'll likely make a good case for team of the 2020s.
Aqib Talib
(2010 – 2019)
Stats: 118
games, 26 INTs, 9 TDs, 1x All Pro (2016)
Safety
1st
Team:
Earl Thomas
(2010 – 2019)
Stats: 139
games, 30 INTs, 78 PD, 2 TDs, 12 FF, 1.5 sacks, 3x All Pro (2012, 2013, 2014)
It's pretty hard to have a better decade of safety play than what Earl Thomas put out there. He was the centerpiece of the LoB Seahawks, his coverage range and instincts making it all work. That scheme worked because Thomas was everywhere. Even as a rookie on the 2010 team, his skills were felt. Thomas's brilliance was also shown in 2017 when he got hurt and the Seahawks suddenly became one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL. Thomas was amazing, and his work for Baltimore could give him a nice late career renaissance as well.
Eric Berry (2010 – 2018)
Eric Berry (2010 – 2018)
Stats: 89
games, 14 INTs, 51 PD, 5 TDs, 4 FF, 5.5 sacks, 3x All Pro (2013, 2015, 2016)
It's amazing how good Berry has been despite missing so much time, either through injury or illness. He's come through it all to have an incredible career, one that has serious hall of fame potential. At his best, he was a terrorizing in the box safety with the ability to cover TEs and slot receivers with similar ease. Berry was smooth, talented, could tackle and had great hands. He was a perfect safety coming out of college, and only unfortunate circumstances kept him from being seen as Earl's equal.
It's amazing how good Berry has been despite missing so much time, either through injury or illness. He's come through it all to have an incredible career, one that has serious hall of fame potential. At his best, he was a terrorizing in the box safety with the ability to cover TEs and slot receivers with similar ease. Berry was smooth, talented, could tackle and had great hands. He was a perfect safety coming out of college, and only unfortunate circumstances kept him from being seen as Earl's equal.
2nd
Team:
Devin
McCourty (2010 – 2019)
Stats: 153
games, 26 INTs, 86 PD, 1 TD, 11 FF, 3.0 sacks, 1x All Pro (2016)
He's the other guy that Belichick actually kept. McCourty's role in Belichick's scheme has been understated but endlessly important. He's been a perfect figure of last resort in that scheme, helping the Patriots limit big plays for decades. Despite not having outrageous counting numbers, the 86 passes defended are in line with the other top secondary players of his era. He probably should have gotten onto more All Pro teams than he got.
He's the other guy that Belichick actually kept. McCourty's role in Belichick's scheme has been understated but endlessly important. He's been a perfect figure of last resort in that scheme, helping the Patriots limit big plays for decades. Despite not having outrageous counting numbers, the 86 passes defended are in line with the other top secondary players of his era. He probably should have gotten onto more All Pro teams than he got.
Eric Weddle
(2010 – 2019)
Stats: 155
games, 25 INTs, 80 PD, 3 TDs, 8 FF, 6.0 sacks, 2x All Pro (2011, 2014)
Weddle was a peerlessly dynamic safety, both in coverage and in the box, for the Chargers. His masterpiece season was probably 2011, with seven interceptions, but in all his time in San Diego he was a consistently great player, sure tackling and hyper-smart. He had a good run in Baltimore as well, solidifying a fraying secondary. Weddle probably ends up a little below HOF status, but you could easily make that argument.
Honorable
Mentions:
Kam
Chancellor (2010 – 2017)
Stats: 109
games, 12 INTs, 52 PD, 9 FF, 2.0 sacks, 1x All Pro (2013)
Chancellor's reputation was probably slightly ahead of his performance. While he was absolutely not the most integral member of the Legion of Boom, his ability as an in the box safety, while maintaining great coverage ability, was an x-factor that took a great secondary and made them legendary. He also had some of the most memorable moments for the LoB, including the forced fumble of Calvin at hte one yard line, and some early-game tone setters in their Super Bowl win.
Chancellor's reputation was probably slightly ahead of his performance. While he was absolutely not the most integral member of the Legion of Boom, his ability as an in the box safety, while maintaining great coverage ability, was an x-factor that took a great secondary and made them legendary. He also had some of the most memorable moments for the LoB, including the forced fumble of Calvin at hte one yard line, and some early-game tone setters in their Super Bowl win.
Harrison
Smith (2012 – 2019)
Stats: 114 games, 23 INTs, 56 PD, 4 TDs, 6 FF, 13.0 sacks, 2x All Pro (2016, 2017)
Smith was probably every bit the equal of Kam Chancellor, but didn't have his Richard Sherman or Earl Thomas to help elevate the whole group. Smith's play has only crested later in the decade when Mike Zimmer came on board and unlocked him into this swiss army knife type. Under Zimmer, his counting numbers all took a nice little uptick as well. Two all-pros followed, both well deserved.
Head Coach
1st
Team: Bill Belichick
Stats: 125-35 record, 5 AFC Championships, 3 Super Bowls (2014, 2016, 2018), 1x COTY (2010)
I mean, at this point there's no real reason to even go through the resume. He's so far and away ahead of anyone else.
2nd
Team: Pete Carroll
Stats: 101-58-1, 2 NFC Championships, 1 Super Bowl (2013)
Look, no one is close at all to Belichick. Carroll is the only other coach to make multiple Super Bowl trips in the decade (surprised when I realized that). He came a Marshawn Lynch run of going back to back. His scheme took a bunch of seemingly miscast parts (large corners, undersized linebackers) and transfomred them into a revolutionary defense. He kept it all humming. Carroll has his faults, but scheming and motivation aren't any of them, and those skills helped his team be the NFC's best team of the decade in my opinion.
Look, no one is close at all to Belichick. Carroll is the only other coach to make multiple Super Bowl trips in the decade (surprised when I realized that). He came a Marshawn Lynch run of going back to back. His scheme took a bunch of seemingly miscast parts (large corners, undersized linebackers) and transfomred them into a revolutionary defense. He kept it all humming. Carroll has his faults, but scheming and motivation aren't any of them, and those skills helped his team be the NFC's best team of the decade in my opinion.
Honorable
Mentions:
John Harbaugh
Stats: 97-63 record, 1AFC Championship, 1 Super Bowl (2012), 1x COTY (2019)
I we extend this back to 2008, he's probably the clear #2. Even in this decade, he led six teams to the playoffs, at least two AFC Championship Games, and a Super Bowl. He kept an aging team competitive and then a rebuilding team competitive. He abley changed coordinators and styles and eventually rosters with equal aplomb. Harbaugh's best season might be this decades last, but he did some great work before that.
Andy Reid
Stats: 98-62 record
