10 Greatest NFL Defenses, Ranked

The best NFL defenses are remembered not just for stopping opponents but for shaping entire eras of football. These legendary units combined toughness, strategy, and star power to dominate games and rewrite what was possible on the gridiron.

From dynasties that defined decades to single-season juggernauts, defense has always been the backbone of championship football. In this list, we’ll break down the 10 greatest defenses of all time and what made each of them truly unforgettable.

Best NFL Defense Ever: 1985 Chicago Bears (12.4 points allowed per game)

The 1985 Chicago Bears are widely regarded as the best defense ever, overwhelming opponents with their legendary 46 defense. Dominant, aggressive, and unforgettable, they set the standard for defensive excellence in the NFL.

10) 1962 Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers dominated the NFL in the 1960s with their defense, but 1962 marked their best defensive squad.

Green Bay had five future Hall of Famers, which included the following players:

• Willie Davis
• Henry Jordan
• Ray Nitschke
• Herb Adderley
• Willie Wood

Davis led the team with 13 sacks, while Wood and Adderley combined for 16 interceptions.

The Packers allowed 14 points in their first four games combined. They allowed fewer than 10 points in six of their last ten games. Overall, they had three shutouts.

Green Bay allowed a league-low 10.6 points per game and the second-fewest yards per game. They also held opposing QBs to a 43.5 passer rating.

A 13-1 record allowed Green Bay to play in the NFL Championship Game. They matched up with a New York Giants team that led the league in yards per game.

Ultimately, the great defense took down the great offense. Green Bay’s defense forced three turnovers in a 16-7 victory. New York’s only touchdown came on a blocked punt return.

Nitschke claimed MVP after recovering both of the Giants’ fumbles. Green Bay’s potent offense allowed them to finish with the best point differential in the 1960s.

Some may say this was the original great defense.

9) 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

When they name a coverage scheme after your defense, you know it’s among the best of all time.

The “Tampa 2” has two deep safeties with seven players dropping into coverage. The middle linebacker will cover the deep middle.

Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp were the sack artists, as the two combined for 23.0 QB takedowns. Derrick Brooks joined Rice and Sapp as members of the All-Pro first team, racking up 118 tackles and five interceptions.

Tampa Bay’s defense had a rough showing in Week 1, allowing a season-high 26 points. They proceeded to hold five of their next seven opponents under 10 points. Check out their final numbers:

• Points Allowed Per Game: 12.3 (1st)
• Yards Per Game: 252.8 (1st)
• Turnovers: 38 (3rd)
• Sacks: 43 (6th)

Even with a 12-4 record and a first-round bye, the Buccaneers didn’t come into the playoffs as one of the favorites. They allowed just 16 points in their first two playoff games combined yet still went into the Super Bowl as (+3.0) point underdogs.

The Buccaneers defense wreaked havoc in the championship game, forcing five turnovers in a 48-21 victory. Dwight Smith and Derrick Brooks combined for three pick-sixes. Meanwhile, Dexter Jackson won Super Bowl MVP with two interceptions.

This is a perfect example of getting hot at the right time.

8) 1991 Philadelphia Eagles

The 1991 Philadelphia Eagles allowed a few more points than most great defenses, but that has more to do with their terrible offense.

Philadelphia had an insane defensive line that included Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, and Jerome Brown. Check out the sack total for each player that season:

• Reggie White: 15.0
• Clyde Simmons: 13.0
• Jerome Brown: 9.0

Those players were essential to this Eagles defense. They allowed the fewest total yards, passing yards, and rushing yards per game that year.

The issue with the Eagles was that their offense was among the worst in the league. Randall Cunningham tore his ACL in Week 1, and the Eagles began the season 3-5.

Their defense came on strong in the second half, allowing 14 points or less in five of their last eight games. Unfortunately, a 7-1 stretch wasn’t enough to qualify for the playoffs.

Earlier, I mentioned how a great defense needs a respectable offense. The Eagles didn’t have that. They scored 13 points or fewer in all six of their losses.

With all the talent on the defense, they at least deserved a playoff spot. Who knows how far they could’ve gone if they’d had a capable offense? 

7) 1986 New York Giants

The Big Blue Wrecking Crew dominated opponents from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. At the center of the New York Giants’ defense was Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor.

Taylor put together a legendary season in 1986, finishing the campaign with 20.5 sacks. He became the second defensive player in NFL history to win MVP.

But Taylor was far from the only impact player on this Giants defense. Carl Banks had 113 tackles, and Leonard Marshall racked up 12.0 sacks.

New York may not have had the best passing defense, but you could be sure that no one was running the ball on them. Just look at these numbers against the rush:

• Rushing Yards Per Game: 80.3 (1st)
• Touchdowns: 10 (1st)
• Yards Per Carry: 3.7 (6th)

Following a 31-28 loss in the season opener, the Giants’ defense didn’t allow over 20 points until the season finale. They went into the playoffs as a (+250) favorite to win the Super Bowl.

In their first two playoff games, they outscored their opponents 66-3. They also capped off their fantastic season with a 39-20 victory in the Super Bowl. They sacked John Elway four times, with Marshall picking up two himself.

They left no doubt as to who the best team in 1986 was.

6) 2013 Seattle Seahawks

In an era where offenses are better than ever, the Seattle Seahawks shut down their opponents with the ‘Legion of Boom’ defense.

The Legion of Boom featured All-Pros Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Kam Chancellor. Sherman was their star playmaker that season with eight interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Then, you had Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril up front, combining for 16.5 sacks on the year.

Only once that season did the Seahawks allow more than 24 points. That played a big hand in them leading the league with 14.4 points allowed per game. Here are a few more of their impressive defensive stats:

• Yards Per Game: 273.6 (1st)
• Passing Yards Per Game: 172.0 (1st)
• Interceptions: 28 (1st)
• Turnovers: 43 (1st)

It may have been a pass-first league by 2013, but throwing on this Seahawks defense was no easy task.

Seattle cruised through the playoffs to set up a Super Bowl matchup against the Denver Broncos and one of the greatest offenses of all time. It was like an immovable object vs an unstoppable force.

The first snap of the game flew over Peyton Manning’s head and into the end zone for a safety. That set the tone for yet another dominant defensive performance.

Their defense forced four turnovers en route to a 43-8 victory. Malcolm Smith claimed Super Bowl MVP with a pick-six and a fumble recovery.

It was the perfect ending to a historic season.

5) 1971 Minnesota Vikings

Here, we have another defense that earned a legendary nickname. The team’s stout defensive line was commonly referred to as the “Purple People Eaters.”

Their defensive line included Hall of Famers Carl Eller and Alan Page. Jim Marshall (who owns one of the dumbest plays in NFL history) also played a significant role in this defense.

Page became the first defender in NFL history to win MVP. He recorded nine sacks and three fumble recoveries. Charlie West, Paul Krause, and Ed Sharockman combined for 19 interceptions.

The Minnesota Vikings pitched three shutouts and only allowed one opponent to score over 20 points. They held their opponents to a measly 9.9 points per game that season.

In the playoffs, the Vikings matched up with the Dallas Cowboys. Minnesota’s defense looked strong early, holding Dallas to six points in the first half. Unfortunately, their offense turned the ball over five times in a 20-12 loss.

This became an unfortunate trend for the Vikings. They lost in the Super Bowl four times in eight years. In every Super Bowl, their offense scored 14 points or fewer.

Even with the disappointment, we can’t discount the accomplishments of this defensive unit.

4) 1975 Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams dominated the 1970s, with their peak coming in 1975. Jack Youngblood was their lone first-team All-Pro with 15.0 sacks and two fumble recoveries. They also had a host of Pro Bowlers, including:

• Merlin Olsen
• Fred Dryer
• Jack Reynolds
• Isiah Robertson

Even with all that talent, Bill Simpson might have been their most impactful defender that year. He racked up six interceptions and five fumble recoveries.

Los Angeles allowed 9.6 points per game in 1975. That is the third-fewest in NFL history. If you take out their two losses, that number would go down to just 7.8 points allowed per game.

The Rams finished the regular season with a 12-2 record. In the Divisional Round, they forced five turnovers in a 35-23 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. The defense played a significant role in that victory, including a pair of pick-sixes and a fumble return for a touchdown.

Los Angeles entered the NFC Championship Game as a (-6.5) point favorite against the Cowboys. Unfortunately, their defense had the worst game of their season. Dallas QB Roger Staubach went off with four passing touchdowns, with the Rams eventually losing 37-7. 

It was a disappointing ending for one of the best defenses in NFL history.

3) 2000 Baltimore Ravens

Now we’re getting into the defenses that truly separated themselves from the pack.

The 2000 Baltimore Ravens dominated opponents with their legendary defense. They had four shutouts and only allowed three opponents to reach the 20-point threshold.

Defensive Player of the Year Ray Lewis was at the front of that defense. The star linebacker had an incredible campaign, which included:

• 137 tackles
• 14 tackles for loss
• 6 pass deflections
• 3 sacks
• 3 fumble recoveries
• 2 interceptions

Baltimore had a ton of stars on defense, including Rod Woodson, Sam Adams, Rob Burnett, and Peter Boulware.

The Ravens allowed 165 points and 970 rushing yards. Both marks set an NFL record for a 16-game season. In the playoffs, there was a slight letdown.

Following a 21-3 victory over the Denver Broncos, the Ravens were (+6.0) point underdogs against the Tennessee Titans. In the fourth quarter, the game was tied 10-10. That’s when the Ravens iced the game with a blocked field goal, a touchdown, and a pick-six.

The over/under for the Super Bowl was 33 points. The Ravens defense forced five turnovers for the second straight game as they defeated the New York Giants 34-7. New York’s only touchdown came on a kickoff return.

To recap, Baltimore allowed just one offensive touchdown in four playoff games.

2) 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steel Curtain just hit differently. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense was an absolute force in 1976. It’s difficult to pick their top player because they have so many greats.

Mean Joe Greene had six sacks, Jack Lambert recovered eight fumbles, and Mel Blount recorded six interceptions. Lambert and Jack Ham made the All-Pro first-team.

This team faced adversity with a 1-4 start. In that stretch, the defense wasn’t great. Pittsburgh then won its final nine games, allowing 26 points in that stretch. That’s less than 3.0 points allowed per game. 

The Steelers had five shutouts and went 22 straight quarters without allowing a touchdown. Check out their overall numbers below:

• Points Allowed Per Game: 9.9 (1st)
• Yards Per Game: 237.4 (1st)
• Passing Yards Per Game: 133.3 (6th)
• Rushing Yards Per Game: 104.1 (1st)
• Turnovers: 46 (5th)

Imagine how low their points allowed per game could’ve been if they didn’t give up 110 points in their first five games.

The Steelers took care of business with a 40-14 win in the Divisional Round, but they couldn’t get it done in the AFC Championship Game. Pittsburgh came in as a -4.0 point favorite but lost 24-7 to the Oakland Raiders.

It was a brutal ending for a team that deserved to play in the Super Bowl.

1) 1985 Chicago Bears

The greatest NFL defense in history belongs to the 1985 Chicago Bears. Chicago’s front seven was ruthless, with players like Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Steve McMichael, and Dan Hampton.

Dent led the way with 17.0 sacks. McMichael and Otis Wilson combined for 18.5 sacks.

The Bears allowed 24+ points in two of their first three games. It didn’t take long to settle in, as they held 12 of their last 13 opponents under 20 points. Chicago’s only loss of the season came in one of the greatest Monday Night Football games of all time.

Here are the rest of their defensive numbers from that season:

• Points Allowed Per Game: 12.4 (1st)
• Yards Per Game: 258.4 (1st)
• Passing Yards Per Game: 176.0 (3rd)
• Rushing Yards Per Game: 82.4 (1st)
• Turnovers: 54 (1st)
• Sacks: 64 (3rd)

Chicago went into the playoffs as the clear favorite (+100) to win it all. Their defense didn’t allow a single point until the Super Bowl, where they were (-10.0) point favorites against the New England Patriots, with the over/under coming in at 37.5

It wasn’t much of a battle, as the Bears forced six turnovers on their way to a 46-10 victory.

When it comes to legendary defensive units, the 1985 Bears are at the top of the list. 

Criteria for Grading the Best NFL Defenses

When ranking the greatest NFL defenses of all time, it’s essential to look beyond reputation. We’ll highlight the factors that truly define dominance.

These are the key criteria we used to measure greatness:

• Points allowed per game
• Yardage allowed per game
• Turnovers forced
• Sacks and QB pressures
• Number of shutouts
• Games won
• Playoff performance

Defense isn’t just about shutting down opponents on the scoreboard. It’s about how consistently and completely a unit can control games. Points allowed, turnovers forced, and yards surrendered show a defense’s efficiency. Meanwhile, sacks and pressure reveal its ability to dictate tempo. 

Historical context also matters, since rule changes and offensive trends have shifted over time. By weighing both the raw numbers and the impact each defense had on its era, we can fairly compare the great NFL defenses of all time. 

What is the Best NFL Defense Ever?

The 1985 Chicago Bears remain the greatest NFL defense of all time, combining brute force with a scheme that revolutionized the game. Their 46 defense terrorized opponents, piling up sacks, turnovers, and shutouts on the way to a dominant Super Bowl win. 

This unit didn’t just stop teams. They dismantled them, holding opponents to single digits week after week. No other defense has matched their mix of dominance, swagger, and historic impact, cementing the ’85 Bears defense as the gold standard in NFL history.