NFL Analysis
7/11/24
11 min read
Ranking the Top 11 Safeties in NFL History
The safety position is arguably the most difficult to judge in the NFL. The best safeties not only produce at a high level but also go well beyond the stat sheet with their impact. Forcing offenses to avoid a certain part of the field or change their playcalling tendencies is something we can't quantify.
Combining the eye test with stats and level of impact, we've ranked the top 11 safeties in NFL history. Several safety talents didn't spend their entire career at the position, so you won't see Charles Woodson or Rod Woodson despite their excellence after transitioning from cornerback.
Each of these 11 players brought a rare dynamic to the position. Physical enough to garner respect as tacklers and instinctive in coverage to produce turnovers, let's dive into the best safeties throughout NFL history.
11 Best Safeties in NFL History
11. John Lynch
Before he became one of the better NFL general managers with the San Francisco 49ers, John Lynch was impactful enough to make the Ring of Honor for both Tampa Bay and Denver. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Hall of Famer earned four All-Pro and nine Pro Bowl nominations throughout his 15-year career.
What made Lynch so special was his ability to impact the game in every phase and role he was in. Mostly a box defender and strong safety in Tampa Bay, Lynch starred with his physicality and ability to finish plays. With 788 tackles, six sacks, seven forced fumbles, and 23 interceptions in 11 years with the Buccaneers, he defined a dominant unit that also had Ronde Barber, Warren Sapp, and Derrick Brooks.
If there was any doubt about Lynch's ability to transcend his role in Tampa Bay, then his four-year stint dispelled beliefs he was only a downhill thumper. His playmaking was more on display as a free safety, where he added three interceptions, nine forced fumbles, seven sacks, and 271 tackles to his resume.
Congrats on being named a finalist, @JohnLynch49ers! pic.twitter.com/dutygie6qi
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) January 5, 2021
10. Donnie Shell
The Pittsburgh Steelers were unbelievably loaded throughout the mid-1970s and 1980s, largely thanks to its legendary 1974 NFL Draft class. On top of selecting four future Hall of Famers, the Steelers signed Donnie Shell as an undrafted free agent. Shell was another Hall of Famer, earning five Pro Bowls, three All-Pro nods, and winning four Super Bowls with the franchise.
Amazingly, he earned all of those accolades within a five-year stretch from 1978 through 1982. However, he was impactful beyond those years as well. With 10 seasons logging three or more interceptions, he was one of the premier ballhawks of the era. He also added 19 fumble recoveries and 9.5 sacks to his 51 career picks.
No matter how it's sliced, Shell heavily contributed to the Steel Curtain defense. He was an amazing playmaker who helped the unit become one of the best of all time.
9. Willie Wood
The best way to describe Willie Wood is simply as a winner. The Hall of Fame safety has an incredible resume, earning eight Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams for the Green Bay Packers. Wood was also a key cog in the Packers' domination of the 1960s, winning five championships and making the All-1960s Team.
His impact on the game was remarkable. He caught five or more interceptions in five seasons and finished his career with 48 picks. Wood was one of only a handful of players to win championships pre and post-merger, including two Super Bowls.
Considering his dominance at the position and how he helped define what it meant to be a safety in his era, Wood is one of the more important players at the position in NFL history.
8. Troy Polamalu
The best example of a player going beyond quantitative measures is Troy Polamalu. Standing only 5-foot-10 and 207 pounds, Polamalu didn't look like a lot of the top safeties on this list. He was electric and unstoppable in ways that only peak Bob Sanders and Tyrann Mathieu have matched over the last two decades.
An effervescent presence near the line of scrimmage, Polamalu's football IQ allowed him to be a chess master in a position where that rarely happened. With eight Pro Bowls, four All-Pros, two Super Bowl rings, and one Defensive Player of the Year Award in his closet, a Hall of Fame bid was an easy pitch.
His numbers were certainly impressive. He totaled 783 tackles, 32 interceptions, 14 forced fumbles, and 12 sacks over 12 years. But even those don't fully capture the fear he struck fans and opponents as he crashed into the line of scrimmage on blitzes.
Troy Polamalu made plays no one else could.
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) April 19, 2022
Happy 41st birthday to the Hall of Famer! pic.twitter.com/tIhEscFcvq
7. Larry Wilson
Another playmaking safety who proved to be a prototype for the position's future was Larry Wilson. Versatile enough to define and master the safety blitz, totaling 21 in his 13-year career, and rack up 52 interceptions, Wilson's career accomplishments are incredible. He made five-straight All-Pro teams as soon as it was established after the merger.
His 1966 season with the St. Louis Cardinals was one of the best we've ever seen from the position. He led the NFL with 10 interceptions in 14 games, including a streak of seven straight games with a pick. His effort landed him second in the NFL MVP race.
With eight Pro Bowls and a spot on both the All-1960s and 1970s teams, Wilson's do-it-all skill set provided the roadmap for what teams sought after for years to come.
6. Emlen Tunnell
Including stars who never played after the NFL-AFL merger can be difficult, but Emlen Tunnell is too significant and dominant to ignore. He would've surely fit into later eras based on his skill set and ability to impact every phase of the game. He was nicknamed "offense on defense" for a reason.
The Coast Guard war hero set the league record with 79 interceptions across his 14 seasons with the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. The first Black player signed by the Giants, Tunnell also became the first Black Hall of Famer and the first Black head coach in the modern era. Everything about Tunnell's life and career was amazing.
Playing from 1948 through 1961, Tunnel tallied 10 straight seasons with at least six interceptions. He was also a stellar return man, racking up 2,209 punt return yards, 1,215 kick return yards, and six total touchdowns. His 1952 campaign brought a truly unique accomplishment as he gained more yards (923) from interceptions and kick returns than the NFL's leading rusher.
The first elite safety was the two-time NFL champion, member of the All-1950s Team, nine-time Pro Bowler, and four-time All-Pro.
Heaven Birthday, Emlen Tunnell🙏🏻
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) March 29, 2024
The first Black man enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1967)
Stud defensive back for the #Giants and Packers
Ranks #2 all-time in career interceptions with 79
Retired in 1961 as the #NFL career leader in interceptions, interception… pic.twitter.com/6yZqKtA7rK
5. Brian Dawkins
One of the hardest hitters in NFL history, Brian Dawkins walked the walk as an off and on-field leader in every way. He was always seemingly in the right place at the right time. His consistency, both in availability and production, made him a cornerstone piece of the Philadelphia Eagles for 13 seasons and then for the Denver Broncos for three years.
A Hall of Famer with 1,147 tackles, 26 sacks, 37 interceptions, and 36 forced fumbles, Dawkins mastered delivering impact turnovers and executing the right play. He always found his way to the ball. Few modern safeties have anywhere near the blend of ball production and tackling prowess as Dawkins.
With nine Pro Bowls, four All-Pros, and a spot on the All-2000s Team on his belt, Dawkins might even be underrated historically. He made his first Pro Bowl in 1999 at 26 years old and his final one in Year 16 in 2011 at 38. The only three seasons he failed to make at least a Pro Bowl from 2001 and 2011 included at least five missed games.
4. Ken Houston
Of Ken Houston's 14 professional seasons, only his final year at 36 was unremarkable. Otherwise, we're talking about the preeminent safety of the 1970s, earning 12 Pro Bowls and landing on either the First or Second Team All-Pro list four times. The 6-foot-3, 197-pounder did everything that Houston and Washington asked of him throughout his career.
His first six years in Houston maximized his strength as a ballhawk. He tallied 25 interceptions and 10 defensive touchdowns in that span before he was traded to Washington. The strong safety was still tremendous at forcing turnovers for George Allen's team, producing at least two interceptions in all but his final two seasons.
A hard-hitter who thrived in space and erased passing lanes with his presence, Houston was the main star after Tunnell and Wood set the bar in prior decades.
December 19, 1971
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) October 16, 2022
Ken Houston sets the then NFL record for touchdowns with interceptions in a career.
He then takes another back to the house for his 2nd of the game becoming the 1st player with 2 pick sixes in a game.#Oilers pic.twitter.com/Jh2GbeOZfF
3. Paul Krause
To this day, Paul Krause remains the only player in NFL history with more interceptions than Tunnell. His 81 interception total might be a bit inflated because he tallied 18 picks in the two years before the league merged, but he played 16 years in the league. His entire career proved those two years were far from a fluke.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder missed only two games in his career, so durability and longevity were in his favor. He maximized the opportunities, finishing nine seasons with at least five interceptions. The 1998 Hall of Fame inductee made eight consecutive Pro Bowls and three First-Team All-Pro teams.
A key contributor to the Vikings' Purple People Eater defense, Krause was a great player until his late 30s. His interception record will likely stand forever since he was allowed to be more physical than defenders today, and his career was extraordinarily long.
2. Ed Reed
The best safety of the last 25 years is an easy call. Ed Reed embodies the perfect modern safety, boasting legendary football IQ, closing speed, ball-hawking instincts, and playmaking.
In 12 seasons, he made nine Pro Bowls and five First-Team All-Pro teams, won a Super Bowl, earned the Defensive Player of the Year Award, the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, and made the All-2000s Team.
The NFL's all-time leader in interception return yardage, Reed was a tremendously influently free safety. He produced 64 interceptions, seven defensive touchdowns, 139 pass breakups, 11 forced fumbles, and 646 tackles. He and Ray Lewis defined the Baltimore Ravens' incredible defense throughout their overlapping careers.
Reed's presence was unforgettable. Even Bill Belichick marveled at the "best play I have seen a free safety make." He manipulated quarterbacks in ways we've never seen a defender manage before.
Ed Reed was absolutely INCREDIBLE
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 11, 2020
“the best free safety that has ever played”
-Bill Belichick
“understood the game better than coaches”
-Domonique Foxworth
“you couldn’t get a tendency on him”
-Ben Roethlisberger
“one of the greatest safeties I’ve ever seen”
-Tom Brady pic.twitter.com/0ZivJfeKTJ
1. Ronnie Lott
A Pro Bowler at cornerback, free safety, and strong safety, Ronnie Lott was that dude in the San Francisco 49ers' secondary. It didn't matter where he lined up; offenses had to avoid Lott at all costs. He was so smart, explosiveness, and efficient that he forced his way into plays regardless of their efforts.
Lott moved from cornerback to safety after four seasons of Pro Bowl-level play, which immediately led to five First-Team All-Pro nominations in a six-year stretch. The 49ers had Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, but Lott was just as important to their dynasty throughout the 1980s.
He led the NFL in interceptions twice, including 10 in his first year as a full-time safety. With 1,146 tackles, 63 interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, 8.5 sacks, and 17 fumbles recovered, there's nothing Lott failed to accomplish. In total, he had 10 Pro Bowls, six First-Team All-Pros, four Super Bowl rings, and a spot on the All 1980s and 1990s Teams.
He was also undoubtedly the hardest hitter in the position's history, so the duality of those ball skills and fearsome tackler created a menacing presence. His 14-year career was tremendous until the very end, as he tallied three-straight 100-tackle seasons in his mid 30s.
