Bow before your gods of football.

Behold the Pyramid of Strong Safeties – the greatest who ever played the game.

The rules of the pyramid are simple. There is one spot at the very top, four spots on the second level, and five spots on the third. If you are on the second level, you are tied for second place; same goes for the third.

Players on each level are ordered chronologically.

THE STRONG SAFETIES

#1

Troy Polamalu (2003-2014)

(“The Flyin’ Hawaiian”)
U.S.C.
2003 Draft Pick #16 (Round 1)
Pittsburgh Steelers
2x Super Bowl Champion
8x Pro Bowl
4x All Pro #1
2x All Pro #2
Defensive Player of the Year
2000s All Decade Team
158 Career Reg. Games
12 Career Reg. Sacks
32 Career Reg. Interceptions
14 Career Reg. Forced Fumbles
5 Career Reg. Defensive Touchdowns

#2

Emlen Tunnell | Jack Christiansen | Ken Houston | Kenny Easley

Emlen Tunnell (1948-61)
(“Emlen the Gremlin”)
University of Iowa
Undrafted
New York Giants (1948-58)
Green Bay Packers (1959-61)
2x NFL Champion
9x Pro Bowl
4x All Pro
1950s All Decade Team
167 Career Reg. Games
79 Career Reg. Interceptions
—

Jack Christiansen (1951-58)
Colorado State University
1951 Draft Pick #69 (Round 6)
Detroit Lions
3x NFL Champion
5x Pro Bowl
6x All Pro
2x Interceptions Leader
89 Career Reg. Games
46 Career Reg. Interceptions
3 Career Reg. Defensive Touchdowns
—

Ken Houston (1967-80)
Prairie View A&M University
1967 Draft Pick #214 (Round 7)
Houston Oilers (1967-72)
Washington Redskins (1973-80)
12x Pro Bowl
2x All Pro #1
10x All Pro #2
1970s All Decade Team
196 Career Reg. Games
49 Career Reg. Interceptions
12 Career Reg. Defensive Touchdowns
—

Kenny Easley (1981-87)
UCLA
1981 Draft Pick #4 (Round 1)
Seattle Seahawks
5x Pro Bowl
4x All Pro #1
1x All Pro #2
Defensive Player of the Year
89 Career Reg. Games
32 Career Reg. Interceptions
3 Career Reg. Defensive Touchdowns

#3

Donnie Shell | LeRoy Butler | Darren Woodson | John Lynch | Eric Berry

Donnie Shell (1974-87)
(“The Torpedo”)
South Carolina State University
Undrafted
Pittsburgh Steelers
4x Super Bowl Champion
5x Pro Bowl
3x All Pro #1
1x All Pro #2
201 Career Reg. Games
51 Career Reg. Interceptions
4 Career Reg. Defensive Touchdowns
—

LeRoy Butler (1990-2001)
Florida State University
1990 Draft Pick #48 (Round 2)
Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl Champion
4x Pro Bowl
4x All Pro
1990s All Decade Team
181 Career Reg. Games
20.5 Career Reg. Sacks
38 Career Reg. Interceptions
13 Career Reg. Forced Fumbles
3 Career Reg. Defensive Touchdowns
—

Darren Woodson (1992-2004)
Arizona State University
1992 Draft Pick #37 (Round 2)
Dallas Cowboys
3x Super Bowl Champion
5x Pro Bowl
4x All Pro
178 Career Reg. Games
11 Career Reg. Sacks
23 Career Reg. Interceptions
12 Career Reg. Forced Fumbles
11 Career Reg. Fumble Recoveries
2 Career Reg. Defensive Touchdowns
—

John Lynch (1993-2007)
Stanford University
1993 Draft Pick #82 (Round 3)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993-2003)
Denver Broncos (2004-07)
Super Bowl Champion
9x Pro Bowl
2x All Pro #1
2x All Pro #2
224 Career Reg. Games
13 Career Reg. Sacks
26 Career Reg. Interceptions
16 Career Reg. Forced Fumbles
—

Eric Berry (2010-18)
University of Tennessee
2010 Draft Pick #5 (Round 1)
Kansas City Chiefs
5x Pro Bowl
3x All Pro
2010s All Decade Team
89 Career Reg. Games
14 Career Reg. Interceptions
5 Career Reg. Defensive Touchdowns