The 33rd team ranked among the top 10 pass rushers of all time, with only Reggie White ranked higher than New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor.
This is what the 33rd team had to say about their city rivals in the 80s.
Averaging an incredible 13 sacks per season, including a final year of just 5.5 sacks after sitting out the entire previous season, Reggie White’s career had historic highs and longevity. As a superstar with the Philadelphia Eagles, he totaled 124 sacks in eight years, including seasons of 21 and 18 sacks. White became the best NFL free agency signing of all time when he signed with the Green Bay Packers at age 31.
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At this point, White would be at the bottom of his career after six All-Pro seasons, but he was far from done. White spent six seasons in Green Bay and earned two more first-team spots. His 68.5 sacks in six seasons were surpassed by his final year, when he earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1998 with 16 sacks on 37.
Smith undoubtedly earned the record for most sacks of all time, but it also took him four more seasons to surpass White’s career record of 198. White’s outstanding impact throughout his career is the blueprint for how this position will be judged historically, and there is no better indicator of being the all-time best in his field.
And this is what the 33rd team has to say about the most dominant pass rusher of all time.
The title of greatest pass rusher of all time is basically a coin toss between Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White. Taylor revolutionized the outside linebacker position and proved to be far too explosive and violent to be contained. He was outstanding, and the fact that he ranks ninth all-time in sacks should not diminish his impact on the game.
When Taylor landed with the New York Giants from North Carolina, he was an instant star. The No. 2 pick in the 1981 NFL Draft, Taylor was named Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year with 9.5 sacks. He finished his career with an NFL MVP award, two more nominations as Defensive Player of the Year, 10 Pro Bowls and eight All-Pro nominations.
While he didn’t achieve the longevity of some of his peers, totaling 18 sacks in his final three seasons before retiring at age 34, Taylor’s peak may be the best we’ve ever seen at any position.
Taylor has single-handedly changed the face of the NFL with his dominance at the outside position. He is credited with increasing the value of offensive tackles and protecting the quarterback’s blind side.
The accolades that underpin Taylor’s position as the best pass rusher and defensive player of all time are incredible. He is the only player to ever do so and has won the Defensive Player of the Year award, which he won in his rookie season.
Taylor is also one of two players to be named MVP as a defensive player, an accomplishment that should not be taken lightly. After all, Taylor catapulted the Giants franchise into prominence by leading them to two Super Bowls.
The first of those Super Bowls came during his 1986 season, which may be the greatest football season of all time. That season, Taylor recorded 20.5 sacks in the regular season, was named both Defensive Player of the Year and MVP, and scored a 34-yard pick-six on a playoff run that led to the Giants winning their first Super Bowl.
The Secretary of Defense deserves his flowers too, as he was a man to be feared throughout his tenure in the NFL, finishing his tenure with 1,111 tackles and 198 sacks (second all-time). His dominance combined with his longevity was unparalleled, and when you’re talking about such a complete and comprehensive body of work, it’s no surprise that White takes the cake.
But as far as their peak and accolades from that era go, it seems Taylor has a few more silver medals in his cabinet (another Super Bowl, DPOY, and MVP) and is the slightly better pass rusher.
