Best Green Bay Packers player to wear No. 91 was given high praise from Mike Ditka

Welcome back to our series highlighting the greatest Green Bay Packers players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.

We kicked off the 90s with a Pro Football Hall of Famer at No. 90, and we've obviously got another one coming at No. 92, as our next entry features one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history.

While we certainly don't have an all-time great here at No. 91, what we do have is a player who gave everything he had during some down years for the franchise in the mid-to-late 1980s and into the early years of the 1990s, one who once received high praise from none other than the legendary coach of the rival Chicago Bears, Mike Ditka.

But before we break things down, let's first have a look at everyone who's worn No. 91 for the Green & Gold over the years.

Warren Brinson, DL
Jonathan Brown, DE
Shannon Clavelle, DE
Quinton Dial, DE
Jayrone Elliott, LB
Justin Harrell, DT
Joe Johnson, DE
Jordan Miller, DT
Brian Noble, LB
Daryle Skaugstad, DT
Preston Smith, LB/DE
John Thierry, DE
R-Kal Truluck, DE

As you can see, this isn't a lengthy list whatsoever, mainly due to the fact that nobody wore No. 91 in Green Bay until nose tackle Daryle Skaugstad did so for nine games in 1983, which actually turned out to be the final nine games of his three-year career.

It again went unworn in 1984, but in 1985, it was given to linebacker Brian Noble, and that's who takes this title.

Mike Ditka once said that Brian Noble played the inside linebacker position as well as anybody

After splitting his collegiate career between Fullerton College and Arizona State, Noble was taken by Green Bay in the fifth round of the 1985 NFL Draft with the 125th overall selection.

After coming off the bench in Week 1 of that '85 campaign, the California native cracked the starting lineup in Week 2 and went on to have a strong rookie season, ultimately earning All-Rookie Team honors after tallying 104 tackles and 3.0 sacks.

Noble went on to lead Green Bay in tackles in three of the next four seasons, seemingly only failing to do so in 1988 because he sat out four games due to a contract dispute. But it was during that '88 season that the aforementioned Mike Ditka, who saw him a couple of times a year when the Bears and Packers met up, paid him a high compliment.

"I think he plays the inside linebacker position as well as anybody," Ditka said. "Yeah, there are probably guys who move a little better. But when you look at the overall picture of a football player, you have to look at how guys approach a game. Are their hearts in it? He lines up and plays like the old guys played. I doubt that Ray Nitschke played with any more enthusiasm than Brian Noble does."

Now, that's some extremely high praise, am I right?

John Madden respected Noble as well, putting him on the All-Madden Team in 1990, which was also always an honor for any player.

What's unfortunate about the timing of Noble's career is that his run in Titletown came during some lean years for the franchise. From 1985 to 1992, the Packers only had a winning record twice but didn't make the postseason either year. They did make the playoffs in 1993, but Noble had torn his ACL in the second game of the season, so he wasn't able to appear in Green Bay's two postseason contests. And he ultimately never played again.

Nevertheless, Noble was a solid player for many years, and he undoubtedly deserves this honor of the greatest Green Bay player to wear No. 91.

Other Green Bay Packers jersey honorees

This list will be updated daily until all 100 entries are complete, so be sure to check back in with Lombardi Ave for updates.

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Mike Ditka once said that Brian Noble played the inside linebacker position as well as anybody

Other Green Bay Packers jersey honorees

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