I met Ray twice in the early 90's. I worked for a local promoter who brought Ray in to sign autographs. The second time we met I picked Ray up at the airport and we went and had lunch. It was an amazing afternoon. Ray was such a Cool down to earth person. We laughed and had a Great time. I cried when I heard he had passed. I ended up meeting hundreds of players both football and baseball. But meeting Ray was the Best . RIP my friend
Its no excuse... two statues ...Butkus & Nitschke.. C mon Fighting Illini!! Al Oerter, the 4 time Olympic Discus Great deserves a Statue at his HS..Sewanaka HS, Floral Park, Long Island 🏝. NY C"mon you guys its about TIME Matt NYC
Where were you when Lawrence Taylor was playing? Those players you mentioned were very good but none could ever play with the intensity that Lawrence Taylor had . Just ask Bill Parcells .
@@robertlosasso4222 Look at. I said a mention. I would take LT over them except for Butkus. And as to Parcells, yes, a great coach. But don't you think he'd be at least the smallest bit biased?
@@sdgakatbk Lawrence Taylor was bigger stronger and far and away faster then Butkus . I know that they have a Butkus Award for outstanding linebacker only LT was too misbehaved off the field .
@@robertlosasso4222 They were almost exactly the same size. Butkus was a bit heavier. Strength and speed are impossible to compare, but since Butkus was an inside LB I'd give him the nod on strength.
Don't forget Chuck Bednarik, last of the true 2-way players pretty much, played center on offense, MLB on defense, I read a biographical story about him years ago, I really feel that if he would have concentated on being just a MLB, he might have received even more recognition! Before the 4-3 defenses were developed, there were only 2 LBs, except in the rare instances where the 2 were mostly of somewhat equal abilities, the offenses would concentrate on the weaker of the 2, not the weak side necessarily, the 1 who was deficit in something they could exploit, the defenses solved that deficiency by putting the best they had at the MLB, almost impossible to run away from the guy in the middle, lol! I remember an interview of Sam Huff, probably best known as the best of the Pittsburgh Steelers, back when they were the whipping boys, perpetual second division team, and the Giants as well! But I digress, he talked about getting blocked/probably double teamed pretty much every play, it was Tuesday, sometimes Wednesday before he could raise his arms to brush his teeth!
Top 5 for sure. Butkus is the Gold Standard. But Nitschke is who I tried to emulate as a youth. The way he could control his cleats, letting them break loose then digging them in and going. He was truly great. And one of the reasons that there has to be the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
@@alessandrapirelli7040 Ray might not have played in those times but those were my days, Ray would have dominated. Even concrete Charlie would have agreed.
@@peterchase5198 My days too. Bednarik, Huff, Butkis, Karras, Lucci, et al. would have chowed down on Lewis and his powder-puff era players! What, no kicking, no punching, no head tackles, no clipping, no facemasking, no clothes lining ... 80s onwards ... girly football!
Ray Nischke is one of the all time greats no doubt. He was as tough as anyone who ever played. He's definitely in the discussion of who the greatest are. The issue when anyone is mentioned including Dick Butkus who also belongs in this discussion is Lawrence Taylor. If someone just watches film it obvious to anyone that Taylor was quicker, faster and stronger in addition to easily being just as mean and determined. Taylor was physically on a different level. All of that being said, l could live with a linebacker trio of Nischke, Butkus along with Jack Lambert from the Steelers and I'd probably be okay.
@@garyevans4524 Case closed involves looking at the existing film on both Butkus and Taylor and then connecting what you see to reality and common sense. Butkus was GREAT if the play came right at him. Whereas Lawrence Taylor could go side to side up and back and successfully run everything down. If Butkus had to chase running backs or wide receivers he was going to have a very hard time catching people from behind. That's not an opinion just what the evidence shows. I know who wants to go by evidence it's what someone thinks that counts.
I love sports history and especially football and baseball history, and I have literally never heard anyone or read anywhere someone contend that Ray Nitschke was the greatest linebacker ever. Never once, not even by his teammates or opponents. Especially the real greatest linebacker ever played in the same general era and the same division, Dick Butkus.
Packers fans say so with good reason. Bears fans disagree with some justification. Pittsburgh’s front four may have been the Steel Curtain, but Jack Lambert was their sledgehammer. And nobody played the middle of a more dominating defense than Ray Lewis. There are many great middle linebackers in the 4-3 defense over the years that get little love, like Tommy Nobis, because their teams were not great.
@brucestanley9330 The '85 Bears' defense was effin awesome. It's really impossible to compare eras since the rules change nearly as often as the players. It all winds up being relative, subjective, and argumentative opinion. But that's why the internet was invented. At least, that's what we used to think.
@mattsweeny3957 I agree they all are outstanding linebackers, but Mike Curtis and LT did not play the mike. Curtis was a will, and LT would line up on alternate sides but always as an outside linebacker. Lewis, Nitschke and Nobis were mikes. Given all the changes to the rules expanding the offense, linebacker play is hardly comparable now with what those guys from the 60s and 70s did. It's nowhere near the same game in that sense.
He and Bart Starr were my first football heroes. Bob Gibson and Lou Brock were my first baseball heroes all four are gone now. Don't think I made bad choices as a kid, and I'll take Ray over Butkus any day
This is the blessing of RU-vid..judge for yourself. Ray Lewis would be great in any era, but stood out more prominently in the Sissy Age of Football..1992-Present... Remember , Butkus NEVER lifted weights had a special diet, Life coach or...STEROIDS...Imagine if he did?? THEIR ALL ANIMALS in my book love em..its like picking your favorite puppy...cant..Matt NYC
If Dick Butkus went straight to Work in a Steel Mill after HS and we never saw what he could do, I would place Ray Nitschke #1 if all Tine MLB. Matt NYC
The greatest linebacker or lineman, safety or whatever is playing today or recently. The evolution of the NFL players continues. The great players of the 60s would have a hard time making modern day rosters.
You may be right. but I think you have to take into consideration the training technologies of the 60s were not as highly evolved as they are today. Remember, there was concern back then that weight training would make a player "muscle bound", that is, bulky, slow, and inflexible. Today weight training with other training disciplines give players a decided advantage over their 1960s era counterparts. Players back then were just naturally big and strong for their era and conditioned by calisthenics. It was a different sports world back then in many ways.
Ray was great , no argue , Butkus shure , Bill George at Chicago was too . Joe ,Willie , Sam , Mike S. ,Mike C. ,Tommy , Harry , Carl , and others the List goes on . And saw most of them live . But L.T. was the best to me > I know the game has changed: Like Werblins wife told Broadway Joe : Thats Entertainment aka Give'em a show.
I say you must say he was the best for his time then along came LB's like Mike Singletary , Ray Lewis , Patrick Willis, Lb from panthers who retired earlier.
LT is the best outside LB and #2 LB in my ranking behind Butkus. Singletary was excellent..intense somma bitch....total warrior ...In Top 15 Of LBs. Matt NYC
Lawrence Taylor was quicker and stronger then Butkus , I’ll guarantee you if you took a survey of NFL coaches over the last twenty years Lawrence Taylor would win hands down .
Nitschke is regarded as the greatest LB ever... by Packer fans. I used to know a guy who was a classmate of Ray's at Illinois. That's all I can say about that. What's up with the background music here?
In 1962 at age 12 as a Chicago Bear fan I can attest that Ray Nitschke was legendary even than and the most feared player on the hated Packers. Until we got Dick Butkus we had no answer to Ray.
BOLD statement in title.... Big number 66 WAs a force and a great LB but "of all time"...... maybe in PACKER history but the whole NFL...? - Bold statement there.
It's really close Nitschke was as courageous as any man who ever played in the NFL and he won. It wasn't just about him but that matters. Buktus was great no question. With these 2 you can go either way. My point is that if someone looks at tape and takes opinion out of it Lawrence Taylor is better than both of them.
Sorry to burst the bubble here, but Lawrence Taylor is the greatest linebacker in NFL History. Hell, he's probably the greatest football player who ever stepped on a gridiron. I love Ray Nitschke, but he barely cracks my Top 10 at the position. I would rank Butkus, Lambert, Ham, Singletary, and Ray Lewis above him.........
Packer fan here. Nobody regards him as the NFLs GOAT LB. Packers LB maybe but hes around tenth or fifteenth overall. Top 5 all time are 5 Butkis 4. Ware 3. Harrison 2 Taylor 1 Lewis.
Robert...please..stronger??😅😅. RU-vid Highlights dont lie...No one hit with greater impact and power than Dick Butkus...everyone went flying backwards. Butkus tackles like a Grizzly. LT was a sleek jaguar.. got the job done. LT is in the same top Class as Butkus, but Butkus IS Numero Uno. Faster...sure..in a 100 yard dash? Yes! But NOT sideline to sideline or the first 25 yards. LT appeared quicker but that's his body type...Long & lean..Jaguar. I love LT too and am a lifelong Giant Fan. Ill give u this..Butkus...#1 MLB..LT #1 OLB. Matt NYC
Sorry B...Love L.T ..Giants fan, but He's in top 2-5 in my ranking: 1)Butkus 2) L.T. 3) Nitschke 4) Mike Curtis 5) Jack Lambert Love them all..Matt NYC
@@mattsweeny3957 LT didn't play in the middle, and he mostly rushed the passers. Bednarik, who played center on offense when he wasn't playing MLB during a game is definitely top 3.
@@mattsweeny3957 Ray is as tough as Butkus and concrete Charlie while being much more athletic and explosive. As far as middle backers go Ray is the gold standard.
Peter..I'm not going to choose among my football & life idols...😅 That being said, Watch all the NFL footage on RU-vid. No one's hits were more devastating, explosive and kinetic energy than Dick Butkus..Not only did he make all the stops, but big grown Ass NFL men ALWAYS went flying BACKWARDS...SEVERAL yards...and if anyone was nearby they all went down like Bowling 🎳.... pins.....I LOVE every one of these men but... 1)Butkus. 2) Nitschke 3) L.T. 4) Mike Mad Dog Curtis. 5) Jack Lambert 6) Ray Lewis The rest...So many animals..Tommy Nobis, Singletary, Jack Ham, Bill Bergey, Harry Carson, Brad Van Pelt, Sam Huff, Nick Buonaconte, Andre Tippet, Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier, Chris Hamburg, Matt Millen, Jack Del Rio, Urlacher, Andy Russell, Chuck Hawley, Dave Robinson, Greg Buttle, Brian Kelly, Bill Pellington, Bill George, ..who am I forgetting? Love em all.. Matt NYC
@@mattsweeny3957 With all due respect. The NFL in the day was a tougher game but the players of this day are bigger stronger and faster. This from a fan that grew up idolizing the game and players of those golden years.
Peter..I'm not going to choose among my football & life idols...😅 That being said, Watch all the NFL footage on RU-vid. No one's hits were more devastating, explosive and kinetic energy than Dick Butkus..Not only did he make all the stops, but big grown Ass NFL men ALWAYS went flying BACKWARDS...SEVERAL yards...and if anyone was nearby they all went down like Bowling 🎳.... pins.....I LOVE every one of these men but... 1)Butkus. 2) Nitschke 3) L.T. 4) Mike Mad Dog Curtis. 5) Jack Lambert 6) Ray Lewis The rest...So many animals..Tommy Nobis, Singletary, Jack Ham, Bill Bergey, Harry Carson, Brad Van Pelt, Sam Huff, Nick Buonaconte, Andre Tippet, Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier, Chris Hamburg, Matt Millen, Jack Del Rio, Urlacher, Andy Russell, Chuck Hawley, Dave Robinson, Greg Buttle, Brian Kelly, Bill Pellington, Bill George, ..who am I forgetting? Love em all.. Matt NYC
