Green Bay Packers: 15 greatest pass rushers of all-time

Best pass rushers in Green Bay Packers history: 14. Ray Nitschke

• Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1978)


• 5x NFL Champion (1961-62, 1965-67)


• 2x Super Bowl Champion (I, II)


• NFL 75th Anniversary Team


• NFL 1960s All-Decade Team

Ray Nitschke is undoubtedly one of the greatest linebackers in NFL history. The man struck fear in opposing offenses like few before him, or since. Nitschke spent his entire Pro Football Hall of Fame Career playing for Green Bay, winning five NFL Championships with the organization during the 1960s.

He was a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary Team, as well as the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. Nitschke was a two-time First-Team All-Pro in 1964 and 1966, making shockingly his only trip to the Pro Bowl in 1964 of his illustrious football career.

In short, Nitschke was the best defensive player during the Vince Lombardi era of Packers football. He did everything that was asked of him manning the middle of the vaunted Green Bay defense of the 1960s.

Though an elite player, it is tough to gauge just how good of a pass rusher he truly was, given that he played his entire career before the stat was official.

What we do know is that he hit harder than just about anybody, being an ever-present force in the Packers defense. In his 190 career games in Packers uniform, Nitschke came down with 25 interceptions for 283 yards and two trips to pay dirt. So he clearly had great hands for a middle linebacker playing in a run-heavy era of the NFL.

Nitschke also accumulated 23 career fumble recoveries for 34 yards. This means he had a nose for the football in stuffing the run, breaking up the pass and presumably, getting after the cornerback.

However, his position of middle linebacker typically is not one that accumulates a ton of pressure on the opposition’s signal-caller. The middle linebacker is supposed to read the offense and react, as opposed to penetrating an offensive line with an emphasis of making the quarterback eat turf.

Still, with the way that Nitschke played, it’s reasonable to assume he was more than a capable pass rusher for the Packers, though it wasn’t his primary responsibility. Regardless, he is one of the greatest players in Packers history and a legend among legends. It’s called the Ray Nitschke Luncheon among Pro Football Hall of Famers in Canton, Ohio for a reason. He was that good for Green Bay.