Was Derrick Thomas The Best Defensive Player In NFL History?

I wish I had the opportunity to play against such a powerful force on defense.

Derrick Thomas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

One of the best players in NFL history.

49ers n Lakers for life

 

Definitely up there, top 10 maybe even 5.

 

One of the best. Not THE best.

 

Nope... twinky Butkus was THE best

 

LT and Lott over butkus. Even then extremely difficult to rank a top 10

49ers n Lakers for life

 

White.

 

Mean Joe Greene!

 

Gregg Williams!

 

Whoa, slowwww down. Derrick Thomas was a great player, but he's not even the greatest Chiefs defender ever. That title goes to Willie Lanier. I remember watching Thomas and while he was great most of the time he also tended to disappear at times.

 

Not even close. He was maybe the best pure rush LB/end of his generation but theres guys like Bruce Smith, Kevin Greene and Chris Doleman in that discussion as well, and theres a good argument to be made for any of them. He certainly wasn't the best defensive player overall of his generation, let alone be included in the all time discussion IMO.

 

Props for trying to stimulate a convo but , like they said, no disrespect to Thomas but he ain't dat guy...