Those in IDP leagues are always looking to secure the most productive tacklers. Logically, it makes sense that teams that lose a lot have the players that make the most tackles, since their defense spends the most time on the field. And that appears to be true.
I pulled out the top-5 tacklers in the league from each of the last 10 seasons. Only 15 of those 50 players played for teams that had winning records. The other 35, or 70 percent, came from teams that finished .500 or worse (and in most cases, much worse).
The top 5 players in tackles from each of the last 10 seasons, and their team's record that year, are shown below. Winning records are in bold.
TOP 5 TACKLERS, 2006-2015 | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Pos | Comb | Total | Ast | Team |
2015 | NaVorro Bowman, S.F. | ILB | 154 | 116 | 38 | 5-11 |
2015 | D'Qwell Jackson, Ind. | ILB | 150 | 89 | 61 | 8-8 |
2015 | Lavonte David, T.B. | OLB | 147 | 85 | 62 | 6-10 |
2015 | Reshad Jones, Mia. | SS | 135 | 106 | 29 | 6-10 |
2015 | Paul Posluszny, Jac. | MLB | 133 | 103 | 30 | 5-11 |
2014 | Luke Kuechly, Car. | MLB | 153 | 99 | 54 | 7-8-1 |
2014 | DeAndre Levy, Det. | OLB | 151 | 117 | 34 | 11-5 |
2014 | Lavonte David, T.B. | OLB | 146 | 101 | 45 | 2-14 |
2014 | Curtis Lofton, N.O. | ILB | 144 | 99 | 45 | 7-9 |
2014 | Paul Worrilow, Atl. | ILB | 142 | 84 | 58 | 6-10 |
2013 | Vontaze Burfict, Cin. | OLB | 171 | 114 | 57 | 11-5 |
2013 | Paul Posluszny, Jac. | MLB | 162 | 122 | 40 | 4-12 |
2013 | Kiko Alonso, Buff. | MLB | 159 | 87 | 72 | 6-10 |
2013 | Luke Kuechly, Car. | MLB | 156 | 93 | 63 | 12-4 |
2013 | NaVorro Bowman, S.F. | ILB | 145 | 120 | 25 | 12-4 |
2012 | Luke Kuechly, Car. | MLB | 164 | 103 | 61 | 7-9 |
2012 | NaVorro Bowman, S.F. | ILB | 148 | 96 | 52 | 11-4-1 |
2012 | Chad Greenway, Minn. | OLB | 148 | 98 | 50 | 10-6 |
2012 | Jerod Mayo, N.E. | OLB | 147 | 88 | 59 | 12-4 |
2012 | Jerrell Freeman, Ind. | ILB | 145 | 90 | 55 | 11-5 |
2011 | London Fletcher, Wash. | ILB | 166 | 96 | 70 | 5-11 |
2011 | D'Qwell Jackson, Clev. | MLB | 158 | 116 | 42 | 4-12 |
2011 | Chad Greenway, Minn. | OLB | 154 | 89 | 65 | 3-13 |
2011 | Pat Angerer, Ind. | MLB | 148 | 78 | 70 | 2-14 |
2011 | Curtis Lofton, Atl. | MLB | 147 | 87 | 60 | 10-6 |
2010 | Jerod Mayo, N.E. | ILB | 175 | 114 | 61 | 14-2 |
2010 | Stephen Tulloch, Tenn. | MLB | 160 | 111 | 49 | 6-10 |
2010 | Paul Posluszny, Buff. | ILB | 151 | 103 | 48 | 4-12 |
2010 | Chad Greenway, Minn. | OLB | 144 | 109 | 35 | 6-10 |
2010 | Donte Whitner, Buff. | SS | 140 | 96 | 44 | 4-12 |
2009 | Patrick Willis, S.F. | ILB | 152 | 114 | 38 | 8-8 |
2009 | London Fletcher, Wash. | MLB | 142 | 95 | 47 | 4-12 |
2009 | Barrett Ruud, T.B. | MLB | 142 | 107 | 35 | 3-13 |
2009 | Jon Beason, Car. | MLB | 141 | 111 | 30 | 8-8 |
2009 | Ray Lewis, Balt. | ILB | 134 | 95 | 39 | 9-7 |
2008 | D'Qwell Jackson, Clev. | ILB | 154 | 95 | 59 | 4-12 |
2008 | Patrick Willis, S.F. | OLB | 141 | 109 | 32 | 7-9 |
2008 | Jon Beason, Car. | MLB | 138 | 110 | 28 | 12-4 |
2008 | Barrett Ruud, T.B. | MLB | 137 | 102 | 35 | 9-7 |
2008 | Kirk Morrison, Oak. | MLB | 135 | 99 | 36 | 5-11 |
2007 | Patrick Willis, S.F. | ILB | 174 | 135 | 39 | 5-11 |
2007 | D.J. Williams, Den. | MLB | 141 | 106 | 35 | 7-9 |
2007 | Jon Beason, Car. | MLB | 140 | 106 | 34 | 7-9 |
2007 | Ernie Sims, Det. | OLB | 134 | 97 | 37 | 7-9 |
2007 | Nick Barnett, G.B. | MLB | 131 | 102 | 29 | 13-3 |
2006 | Zach Thomas, Mia. | MLB | 165 | 103 | 62 | 6-10 |
2006 | DeMeco Ryans, Hou. | MLB | 155 | 125 | 30 | 6-10 |
2006 | London Fletcher, Buff. | MLB | 146 | 104 | 42 | 7-9 |
2006 | Keith Bulluck, Tenn. | OLB | 143 | 99 | 44 | 8-8 |
2006 | Cato June, Ind. | OLB | 142 | 96 | 46 | 12-4 |
--Andy Richardson