7 Best Philadelphia Eagles Defenders Of All Time

Bud Carson, Ray Rhodes, Buddy Ryan and Bud Carson. They're all great defensive minds who have coached for the Eagles over the years and they've all coached great Eagles defenders. I'm ranking my top 7 Eagles defenders of all time, and there's a lot to choose from.

7. Jeremiah Trotter

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Statistically this is a tough sell, but Trotter's story is an interesting one. After a fairly public and contentious split from the team after the 2001 season. Humbled and reconciling with Andy Reid in 2004, he rejoined the team and took over the middle linebacker spot, solidifying the middle of the defense during the Eagles 2004 NFC Championship run. Trotter was a very popular Eagle with his "Axeman" persona and "thumper" style, he was a nightmare as a blitzer in the A-gap. He went to 4 pro bowls and was a 2 time all pro during his 12 year career.

6. Seth Joyner

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A member of Gang Green under Buddy Ryan, the ferocious and notoriously intense linebacker compiled career stats of 24 interceptions, 26 forced fumbles and 52 sacks. Those are hall of fame worthy, yet he never gets the respect he deserves.

5. Eric Allen

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Eric Allen was a major playmaking corner for the Gang Green era Eagles. With 54 career interceptions and 6 pro bowl nods, he's another Eagle who should deserve serious consideration for the hall but doesn't get it. What's with the snubs of Gang Green era Eagles greats?

4. Chuck Bednarik

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Getting away from the Gang Green era we go back in time to the mid 20th century and old "Concrete Charlie." He was the last of the "60 minute men" who played both offense and defense, he was a devastating tackler who famously made a brutal tackle of Frank Gifford in the 1960 Eastern Division title game. An 8 time all-pro, he fortunately IS in the hall of fame.

3. Jerome Brown

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Jerome Brown's career was tragically cut short during an automobile accident in 1992. During his five years playing defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles he racked up almost 30 sacks and 2 all-pro selections. It's hard to say what Brown's career would have been, but he already had built a reputation was one of the most fearsome plays of his era.

2. Brian Dawkins

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What to say about Weapon-X, possibly the most popular player in Eagles history. His ferocious play on the field and ability to line up all over the field to play a variety of roles made him a nightmare to game-plan for. He was a particularly good blitzer for a safety and is known for his devastating hits, including one on Alge Crumpler during the 2004 NFC Championship game which is one of his signature hits. With 26 sacks, 37 interceptions, and 36 forced fumbles, he was an all around force of nature, capable of impacting the game in any number of ways. A 9 time pro bowler and 4 time first team all-pro, he seems like a sure fire hall of famer when his time comes.

1. Reggie White

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Could it be anyone else? Reggie White isn't just one of the best Eagles defenders of all time, he's one of the best defenders of all time period. While he may have left the Eagles in free agency in the mid 90's, he's still generally regarded as an Eagle not a Packer. Another member of the brutal Gang Green defense of the early 90's, "The Minister of Defense" as he was called was almost unstoppable from the defensive end spot, recording 198 career sacks. With 13 pro bowl selections and a 12 time NFL all-pro, and a spot in the hall of fame, White is truly the best Eagle defender ever.