![]() Over his career, Shell racked up 51 interceptions while being named a First-Team All-Pro in three different seasons while helping the Steelers win four Super Bowl Championships.© 2021 THE TENNESSEE TITANS. While Shell played with some great defensive players with the Steelers “Steel Curtain” defense, he was no slouch himself. Only thing holding him higher on this list is the fact he wasn’t just a strong safety.Īs you look around at the Top 10 Strong Safety All-Time, the Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Donnie Shell is worth considering. Tunnell was a six time First-Team All-Pro, nine time Pro Bowler and two time NFL champion.ĭuring his career Tunell recorded 79 career interceptions. While the strong safety and free safety was played differently during his days, Tunnell played both positions when asked. During his playing days he had the combination of size and speed to play nearly any position on the defense while being classified as a safety. It’s hard to put what exact position the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers great Emlen Tunnell should be classified as. If it wasn’t for kidney disease that shut his career down early, Easley could be much higher on this list.Įmlen Tunnell Team(s): New York Giants & Green Bay Packers His level of play earned him First-Team All-Pro honors in four straight seasons as well as the 1984 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Facing a second-and-5 from their 43-yard line, Joe Flacco dropped back to pass and in the process of looking for a receiver, Polamalu shot into the backfield and because it was a situation where a sack might not be sufficient, he stripped the ball out of Flacco's right hand, and LaMarr Woodley scooped it up and ran it down to the Baltimore 9. Easley recorded 32 career interceptions, eight sacks and defensive touchdowns during his playing days with the Seahawks. One name that is well worth mentioning among the Top 10 Strong Safety All-Time list is the former Seattle Seahawks and Pro Football Hall of Famer strong safety Kenny Easley.Īs Easley is often looked past due to his short career in the NFL, his play on the field was at a top level and one that had in the elite group of safeties during his playing days. Honorable Mention Kenny Easley Team(s): Seattle Seahawks With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 Best Strong Safeties of All-Time in the National Football League We are lucky to be part of it and should enjoy doing it. I want to be clear, I do believe Polamalu will eventually get a bust in Canton, it just won’t happen in his first year of eligibility. I understand that saying this means I am risking life and limb with many of our loyal readers, but it is still the truth. Over the years the game of football has seen many great strong safeties including the likes of Troy Polamalu, Ken Houston and John Lynch to name a few. Crudely-Drawn Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin: 'Polamalu What the hell was that ridiculously early jump last night Sundays late game Its unlike you Do you need a concussion test' Crudely-Drawn Troy Polamalu: 'Coach, please remember that this is a game. OK, i’ll be the one to say it, Troy Polamalu is not a first-ballot Hall of Famer. With the evolution of the game, strong safeties have the ability to play the line to stop the run, blitz the quarterback but also have the talent to cover both running backs and tight ends within the passing game. ![]() Strong safeties are as athletic as nearly anyone on the defensive side of the ball and are possibly the biggest hitters on the entire defense. The role has evolved over the years for the safety position, especially the strong safety position. While the traditional role of the safety position was to support both the pass and run but being the last line of defense before allowing the opposing team from scoring. The strong safety position much like the free safety position is a versatile position that can meet the needs of any defensive coordinator much like owning a swiss army knife.
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