Unsung Heroes: The Defensive Linemen Quiz

Answer: Philadelphia Eagles

Reggie White was a defensive end with the Eagles from 1985 to 1992. He came from the USFL in the middle of the 1985 season and proceeded to begin a brilliant career with the team. He set the Eagles' single-season sack record with 21 sacks in the strike-shortened 1987 season, an NFL record average of 1.75 sacks per game. He was NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice (1987 and 1991) and was in multiple Pro Bowls.

Reggie White was nicknamed the "Minister of Defense" due to his playing on the gridiron and his off-field Christian ministry. After the 1992 season, he became a free agent and signed with the Green Bay Packers. The Eagles, meanwhile, honored him by retiring his jersey. Unfotunately, he died at age 43 from cardiac disease. He was then posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Answer: Dallas Cowboys

Bob Lilly, who played at Texas Christian University, was the FIRST PICK IN Dallas Cowboys' first-ever draft, in 1961. He played defensive end for the first couple of seasons before finding his niche as a defensive tackle. In 1964, he and his defensive linemen teammates were called the "Doomsday Defense" because of their complete domination of the opposing line. Unbelievably he only missed one game in his entire 14 year career with the Cowboys.

Lilly was in eleven Pro Bowls and two Super Bowls. In Super Bowl VI he performed a record-setting 29-yard sack of Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese. He retired in 1974 and in 1980, he became the first player in the Cowboy franchise history to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Known as "Mr. Football", Bob Lilly then pursued a successful career in landscape photography.

Answer: Minnesota Vikings

Alan Page was drafted in the first round in 1967, out of Notre Dame, by the Vikings. He was a defensive tackle and a key part of the "Purple People Eaters" defensive line. He ended up playing in 196 consecutive games for the Vikings and helped them win the final NFL Championship before the merger with the AFL in 1969. In 1971, he made history by becoming the first defensive player ever to be named the NFL's Most Valuable Player.

In one season alone (1971) he had a jaw-dropping 109 tackles, 10 sacks, and three fumble recoveries. He went to four Super Bowls while on the team. While still an active player, he attended law school at the University of Minnesota, earning his law degree in 1978. He retired in 1981 and went on to be a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1988 and his jersey was also retired by the Vikings.

Answer: Pittsburgh Steelers

Joe Greene attended North Texas State University where he was known as "Mean Joe Greene". He was the fourth overall pick of the 1969 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played for them for 13 years from 1969 to 1981 with most of that time as defensive tackle. He became an integral part of the legendary "Steel Curtain" defense that was so powerful in the 1970s.

He was NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1969 and later would be a ten time Pro Bowler and a two timer winner of the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He aided the team to win four Super Bowl championships in a six-year span. In Super Bowl IX alone he had an interception and a fumble recovery, helping to limit the Minnesota Vikings to just 17 rushing yards. After he reitred, he went on to work with the coaching staff of the Steelers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame and had his jersey retired.

As a side note I have to wonder if anyone else immediately thought of the Coca-Cola commercial when they saw it was Joe Greene on this question.

Answer: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Warren Sapp played for the University of Miami before being selected 12th overall in the 1995 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sapp was over 300 pounds (136 kg) yet was one of the fastest defensive tackles in NFL history. In his 9 years with the Buccaneers he helped create the "three-technique" position where he lined up in the gap between the offensive guard and tackle.

In 1999, he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year after recording 12.5 sacks and aiding the team in getting to the playoffs. In Super Bowl XXXVII, Sapp had a sack and forced a fumble and helped his team beat Oakland 48-21. In his career, he earned seven consecutive Pro Bowl selections. He had his number retired and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He went on to work as a coach in the collegiate field.

Answer: Buffalo Bills

Bruce Smith played college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies where he was known as "The Sack Man". He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1985 when he was the first overall pick. Playing primarily as a defensive end, Smith was a key pass rusher for the Bills' teams that reached four consecutive Super Bowls in the early 1990s. During his 15 years with the team, he had 171 career sacks, earned 11 Pro Bowl selections, and was NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice.

Amazingly, Smith produced double-digit sacks in 12 of his 15 seasons with the Bills and played 217 games with them. He played with the Washington Redskins at the end of his career before retiring. In 2009, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Bills retired his jersey in 2016. He went on to do both football consulting and high-end hotel design.

Answer: LA Rams

Deacon Jones was playing football at Mississippi Valley State when Los Angeles Rams scouts discovered him-legend has it they were scouting a running back but noticed the 6'5" Jones was outrunning the offensive players. He was drafted by them in 1961. He was a defensive end in what would be known as the legendary "Fearsome Foursome" of the Rams.

In his eleven seasons with the Rams, he earned seven Pro Bowl selections and had over 20 sacks in three different years with them. "The Secretary of Defense", as he was known, also was tenacious and only missed five games in his whole career. His jersey was later retired and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Interestingly, it was Deacon Jones who came up with the term "sacking" a quarterback. He said it felt like people in ancient times who sacked a whole village.

Answer: Houston Texans

J.J. Watt, a defensive end who played for the University of Wisconsin, was drafted 11th overall in 2011 by the Houston Texans. Famously, the Texans fan base was seen booing the draft decision on television. Watt later said he used that film clip as motivation. In the next ten years, Watt garnered 101 sacks and 172 tackles for loss and won NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times.

In 2014, he caught three touchdown passes as a goal-line tight end. Besides setting records on the field, he was known as being an emotional leader of the Texans. Even after being hurt for a great deal of 2016 and 2017, he charged back in 2018 to earn 16 tackles that season alone. After retirement, he came back and became a co-owner of the franchise in 2025.

As a side note, he was instrumental in helping the area when Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2017. He launched a fundraiser that eventually earned more than $46 million to help the people hardest hit. This garnered him the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

Answer: NY Giants

Michael Strahan played college football at Texas Southern University before being drafted in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He then spent the next 15 years on the team as defensive end. He set a franchise record with 141.5 career sacks by utilizing his pass-rushing ability as well as his run defense. In 2001, he had 22.5 sacks which helped get him NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

He earned 7 Pro Bowl selections and played in two Super Bowls. In Super Bowl XLII, (having come back from almost-retirement to be captain) he recorded a critical sack of Tom Brady. The Giants went on to upset the previously undefeated New England Patriots. He retired in 2007, and later he was inducted into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame and his jersey was retired. He went on to have an extremely successful media career as well as commercial ventures around his personal brand.

Answer: LA Raiders

Howie Long was elected in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft out of Villanova by the Raiders. He spent that first season in Oakland before the franchise moved to Los Angeles. He primarily played defensive end for his 13 years with the Raiders. But he was known for his versatility and also lined up as tackle or nose guard. He became known for his "rip" move which was an uppercut-like motion beneath a blocker's elbow.

In 1983, he conributed to the team's win in Super Bowl XVII and in 1985 he was NFL Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Long finished his career with 84 official sacks and was selected for eight Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. After his retirement, he became a prominent analyst for televised football.