- Shawne Merriman
Shawne Merriman (born May 25, 1984 in Upper Marlboro, Maryland) is an American football outside linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the NFL.
- Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Julius Taylor (born February 4, 1959, in Williamsburg, Virginia), commonly referred to as LT, is a retired Hall of Fame American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL). He is often considered to be one of the greatest defensive players in the history of football, and has been called the greatest defensive player of all time by media members, …
- Demarcus Ware
Demarcus Ware (born July 31, 1982 in Auburn, Alabama) is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL. He was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft out of Troy State University.
- Cato June
Cato June (born November 18, 1979 in Riverside, California) is an American football outside linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. June excels as an outside linebacker, especially in the "Tampa-2" scheme.
- A. J. Hawk
Aaron James Hawk (born January 6, 1984 in Centerville, Ohio) is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. A two-time All-American in college, he played for Ohio State University. He is 6'1" and 247 pounds (1.85 m, 112 kg), ran the 40 in 4.42 seconds at his Pro Day, 395 pound bench press, and has a 37 inch (94 cm) vertical leap.
- Bart Scott
Bart Edward Scott (born August 18, 1980 in Detroit, Michigan) is an American football linebacker who attended Southern Illinois University and is currently playing for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL. Scott saw significant playing time during the 2005 season in which Ray Lewis injured his hamstring. He played in Lewis' absence at the middle linebacker position.
- Adalius Thomas
Adalius Donquail Thomas (born July 18, 1977 in Equality, Alabama) is an American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.
- Cornelius Bennett
Cornelius O'Landa Bennett (born August 25, 1965) is a former American football linebacker who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000. Bennett was a five time Pro Bowler, being elected in 1988, and 1990-1993, and won the AFC Defensive Player of the Year award twice, in 1988 and in 1991. Bennett played halfback and several other positions while playing at Ensley High School in Birmingham, …
- Karlos Dansby
Karlos Montez Dansby (born November 3, 1981 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American football linebacker currently playing for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. He was drafted in the second round as the thirty-third overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft out of Auburn University.
- Derrick Brooks
Derrick Dewan Brooks (born April 18, 1973 in Pensacola, Florida) plays professional football for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League. Brooks, an outside linebacker, starred at Washington High School in Pensacola and later at Florida State University, where he was a four-year letterman and was first-team All-American his senior year. He was selected in the first round of the 1995 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay.
- Ernie Sims
Ernie Sims III (born December 23, 1984 in Tallahassee, Florida) is an American football player for the Detroit Lions, who played outside linebacker for the Florida State University Seminoles. His father Ernie Sims Jr., played football under head coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State in 1977, 1978, 1980 and 1981. His mother, Alice Sims, formerly Alice Bennett, was an All-American sprinter on the Florida State track and field team from 1980 through 1983.
- Junior Seau
Junior Seau [SAY-ow] (born Tiaina Seau, Jr. on January 19, 1969 in San Diego, California) is an American football linebacker who plays for the New England Patriots.Seau is notable for his 12 career Pro Bowl selections and 16 seasons for the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins. Seau retired in 2006 for four days, then signed a one-year contract with New England to help their lack of linebackers at the start of the season.
- Lavar Arrington
LaVar RaShad Arrington (born June 20, 1978 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a football player, a linebacker, who is currently a free agent. He last played for the New York Giants. Arrington was drafted as the second pick overall in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins behind Penn State teammate Courtney Brown. Arrington, a college standout at Penn State, was elected as a starter for the NFC in three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2001-2003.
- Chad Brown
Chadwick Everett Brown (born July 12, 1970 in Pasadena, California) is an American football outside linebacker who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He previously played for the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots and went to University of Colorado at Boulder. Brown played at the outside linebacker position for most of his career, but he signed with the Patriots as a replacement for injured inside linebacker Tedy Bruschi.
- Derrick Johnson
Derrick O'Hara Johnson is an American football linebacker drafted fifteenth overall in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player and the Dick Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2004. Johnson started every game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005 and was selected Chiefs Rookie of the Year.
- Julian Peterson
Julian Thomas Peterson (born July 28, 1978 in Temple Hills, Maryland) is an American football player for the Seattle Seahawks. He signed with them after the San Francisco 49ers did not use the franchise tag and he became an unrestricted free agent. Peterson attended Michigan State University. He was drafted by the 49ers in the 1st round (16th overall) in the 2000 NFL Draft. Peterson is very explosive at the snap, gets to the edge in a hurry, and is a big hitter.
- Mark Fields
Mark Lee Fields (born November 9, 1972 in Los Angeles, California) is an American football linebacker. Fields played college football for Washington State University. He was selected in the first round (13th overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft by the Saints. He played six years in New Orleans, leading or coming close to the team lead in tackles. He later played one year in St. Louis before signing with the Panthers before the 2002 NFL season.
- Freddie Keiaho
Freddie Keiaho (full name Naivote Taulawakeiaho born December 18, 1982 in Fiji) is a current American football linebacker for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Keiaho played college football at San Diego State University. Kieaho, Freddie Kieaho, Freddie Keiaho, Freddie Kieaho, Freddie Kieaho, Freddie Keiaho, Freddie.
- Jack Ham
Jack Raphael Ham, Jr. (born December 23, 1948 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania) is a former American Football linebacker who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is considered one of the greatest outside linebackers in the history of the NFL. He attended Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania followed by Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia for a post graduate season.
- Derrick Thomas
Derrick Vincent Thomas (January 1 1967 - February 8 2000) was an NFL linebacker who played his entire professional career for the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Manny Lawson
Manny Lawson (born on July 3, 1984 in Omaha, Nebraska) is a linebacker/defensive end in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers. He was drafted by the 49ers in the 1st round (22nd overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft. He went to North Carolina State. His father Donald P. Lawson was in the Air Force and stationed at Offutt AFB, NE when Manny was born.
- Terrell Suggs
Terrell Raynonn Suggs (Born: July 18, 1982 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an NFL defensive end/linebacker with the Baltimore Ravens. He grew up in Chandler, Arizona, and attended Hamilton high school there.
- Chris Gocong
Chris Gocong (born November 16, 1983) is an American football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. Gocong was placed on injured reserve and did not play in 2006.
- Joey Porter
Joey Eugene Porter (born March 22 1977 in Bakersfield, California) is an American football linebacker who currently plays for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (73rd overall) of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at Colorado State.
- Kendrell Bell
Kendrell Alexander Bell (born July 2, 1980 in Augusta, Georgia) is an American football linebacker who currently plays for the Kansas City Chiefs of the NFL. Previously, he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2001 Bell was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. He attended the University of Georgia.
- Rob Morris
Rob Morris (born January 18, 1975) is a professional American football player from Nampa, Idaho. Morris currently plays linebacker for the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. He attended and played football for Brigham Young University (BYU), where he was a semi-finalist for the Butkus Award and was named as a first-team All-American by the Associated Press, Sporting News and The Football News.
- Steve Foley
Steve Foley (born September 11, 1975) is a professional linebacker, currently a free agent, who was released by the San Diego Chargers on March 1, 2007.
- Matt McCoy
Matt McCoy (born October 14, 1982) is an NFL linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Clark Haggans
Clark Cromwell Haggans (born January 10, 1977 in Torrance, California) plays outside linebacker for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers. He became a regular starter at left outside linebacker in 2004 when the team released long-time starter Jason Gildon. Since then Haggans has been selected to one Pro Bowl, and helped the Steelers win the Super Bowl Haggans' role in the Steelers defense has been steadily increasing, as has his performance.
- Niko Koutouvides
Niko Stelios Koutouvides (born March 25, 1981 to Stelios and Niki Koutouvides in Plainville, Connecticut) is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. He was selected with the 20th pick of the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft out of Purdue University. He was twice an All-Big 10 selection at Purdue after playing at Plainville and Milford Academy.
- Victor Hobson
Victor Hobson (born February 3, 1980 in Mount Laurel, New Jersey) is an American football player who currently plays linebacker for the New York Jets. He started 39 of 49 games during his career at the University of Michigan and recorded 277 tackles, 15 sacks, three fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, and two interceptions. His 47 stops for a loss places him fourth all-time in Michigan history. He was selected in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Jets.
- Gilbert Gardner
Gilbert Gardner (born May 9, 1982 in Angleton, Texas) is an American football linebacker who is currently on the Tennessee Titans. He played for the Indianapolis Colts from 2004 to 2006, before his release on May 8, 2007. At Purdue University, he started 31 of 46 games, recording 215 tackles with 3.5 sacks, 23 stops for losses, seven fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, 11 pass deflections and three interceptions.
- Takeo Spikes
Takeo Gerard Spikes (born December 17, 1976 in Sandersville, Georgia) is an American football linebacker who currently plays for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League.
- Demorrio Williams
Demorrio Dwain Williams (born July 6, 1980 in Beckville, Texas) is an American football player, currently a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. Williams, listed at 6'0" and weighs 232 pounds, was selected by the Falcons in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft (101st overall). After high school, he signed with rural Cisco Junior College, although he left the school soon after.
- Shaun Phillips
Shaun Phillips (born March 13, 1981 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), is an American football linebacker for the San Diego Chargers. He grew up in Willingboro, New Jersey. Phillips currently wears jersey #95 for the Chargers.
- Kenard Lang
Kenard Dushun Lang (born January 31, 1975 in Orlando, Florida) is an American football defensive end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He previously played for the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins.
- Jamie Sharper
Harry James Sharper, Jr. (born November 23, 1974 in Richmond, Virginia) was an American football player from 1997 through 2005. He played college football at the University of Virginia. He is most famous for leading the NFL in tackles the 2003-2004 season, and being the older brother of Minnesota Vikings free safety Darren Sharper. He has played for the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans and the Seattle Seahawks. He was cut by the Seattle Seahawks after the 2005 season.
- Keith Bulluck
Keith J. Bulluck (born April 4, 1977 in Suffern, New York) is an American Football player who currently plays linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the NFL. As the 30th pick of the 2000 NFL Draft, Bulluck came out of Syracuse University. He led the Titans in tackles (171 in 2003; 180 in 2002). Bulluck was named second-team Associated Press All-Pro in 2002. He was selected to the 2003 Pro Bowl, and was named to the Sports Illustrated's All-Pro team in 2004.
- Akin Ayodele
Akin Ayodele (pronounced I-yo-DAY-lay) (born September 17, 1979 in Irving, Texas), is an American football linebacker who plays for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.
- Peter Boulware
Peter Nicholas Boulware (born December 18, 1974 in Columbia, South Carolina) is a former American football linebacker who played for the Baltimore Ravens. He graduated first from Spring Valley High School, and went on to play for Florida State University.