The 15 best edge rushers in the history of the Green Bay Packers

It's almost impossible to win championships without rushing the passer, especially in today's passing league. The only way to consistently slow down the league's top quarterbacks is to generate pressure and disrupt their timing.

There's one thing every Green Bay Packers Super Bowl-winning team had in common: They could also get after opposing quarterbacks. There is a correlation between the Packers' greatest pass rushers and the team winning championships.

Over the years, many of the best pass rushers in history have worn the green and gold, creating moments and memories that last a lifetime. Ranking the best is particularly difficult when comparing players across eras, especially when considering how many talented edge defenders have spent time in Green Bay.

Criteria for selection

We must first establish what counts as an "edge rusher." Rather than breaking our rankings down into defensive linemen and linebackers, which would separate players like Reggie White and Clay Matthews, we have combined them. The focus is on players who rushed off the edge at either defensive end or outside linebacker. This means some of the franchise's best pass rushers, including Henry Jordan and Kenny Clark, miss out, as they played at an interior position as defensive tackles.

Sacks are the currency for pass rushers in the modern era, but these statistics weren't officially introduced until 1982. There are records for unofficial sacks, including from Pro Football Reference, which has done an excellent job of trying to fix the problem.

However, as sacks have only officially counted for the past four decades, other factors, including All-Pros and Pro Bowl selections, must also be taken into account when building our rankings. How did teammates and opponents talk about a player's impact? That matters, too.

Then there are the moments. Which players step up when it matters the most? The words "It. Is. Time" mean something to Packers fans, as Kevin Greene called on Clay Matthews to step up and make a play in Super Bowl XLV moments before he forced a fumble at a crucial time. Fans remember the moments. Players who deliver under intense pressure on the biggest stage deserve credit, and moments also count in these rankings.

The top 15 edge rushers in Green Bay Packers history

15. Za'Darius Smith (2019-2021)

Za'Darius Smith only played two full seasons in Green Bay, but it's impossible to ignore the impact he made as a pass rusher. Smith had double-digit sacks in both Pro Bowl seasons, making a total of 26 sacks, 60 quarterback hits, and five forced fumbles in 32 games.

Smith saved his best moments for the biggest games. In 2019, he dominated in an NFC North decider against Minnesota, making 3.5 sacks and five quarterback hits, and he followed that up with two more sacks and four hits in the wild-card win over Seattle.

The Packers released Smith in 2022 due to his rising cap hit and because he was coming off an injury-hit season, but there's no doubting the impact he made.

14. Vonnie Holliday (1998-2002)

In 2002, Vonnie Holliday produced one of the greatest performances in Packers history, making five sacks, three forced fumbles, and two tackles for loss in a victory over the Buffalo Bills. He holds the franchise record for most sacks in a game.

Holliday made 32 sacks in five seasons with the Packers, including a career-high eight in 1998 that earned him a spot in the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He never hit double-digit sacks in a single season but was a consistent pass rusher during his time with the Packers. After leaving Green Bay, Holliday spent another 10 seasons in the NFL, playing for Kansas City, Miami, Denver, Washington, and Arizona.

13. Bryce Paup (1992-1994)

Unfortunately for the Packers, Bryce Paup enjoyed the best seasons of his career after leaving Green Bay. In his first year with the Buffalo Bills, Paup made a league-best 17.5 sacks and went on to make three straight Pro Bowl appearances. He was also named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in his first season with the Bills.

However, he still enjoyed plenty of success in the first five years of his career in Green Bay. Paup made an impressive 32.5 sacks in 64 games and earned his first Pro Bowl honor in 1994, his final season with the Packers.

12. Preston Smith (2019-present)

One of the best free-agent signings of the Brian Gutekunst era, Preston Smith is a leader, consistent pass rusher, and strong run defender for the Packers. Smith arrived in Green Bay after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Washington Commanders, and he made an immediate impact with 12 sacks in 2019.

Smith has only missed one game of a possible 83 during his time in Green Bay, making 41.5 sacks, 92 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, and even an interception. He always puts the team first, even taking a pay cut to stay in Green Bay in 2024. Smith's 41.5 sacks are tied for 10th-most in franchise history, and he still has time to add even more to his tally.

11. Rashan Gary (2019-present)

The Packers wish every player could be like Rashan Gary. He works harder than anyone else, is determined to improve, and has the passion to become the best player at his position. He cares. That mindset has helped Gary become one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, making 31.5 sacks in his first five seasons.

Gary was on track for a career year in 2022 but suffered a torn ACL after only nine games. He had made six sacks. But the former first-round pick bounced back in 2023, making nine sacks and 22 quarterback hits despite spending the first part of the season on a snap count.

Still only 26 years old, the best is still to come for Gary.

10. Lionel Aldridge (1963-1971)

Although Willie Davis was the star of the Packers' defense in the Vince Lombardi era, Lionel Aldridge also played a crucial role as a pass rusher. Aldridge immediately became a starter in his rookie season and didn't lose the job during his nine-year stay in Green Bay.

Sacks weren't an official statistic during his playing career, but Pro Football Reference has credited Aldridge with 62 sacks for the Packers, including 13.5 in 1970. Alongside Davis, the Packers had an unstoppable pass rush, helping them win three consecutive NFL championships and the first two Super Bowls. After leaving Green Bay, he spent the final two seasons of his career with the San Diego Chargers.

Aldridge played on multiple championship teams and was one of the most underrated players during the Lombardi era. In 1988, he was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

9. Julius Peppers (2014-2016)

Julius Peppers had already enjoyed a Hall of Fame career before signing with Green Bay in his age-34 season. He had put up 118.5 sacks in 12 seasons before leaving the Chicago Bears to join the Packers. Peppers could've been forgiven for not playing at a Pro Bowl level, considering he was entering his 13th year in the league.

But that wasn't the case—far from it.

Peppers made an immediate impact with seven sacks and 17 quarterback hits in 2014. He made a potential season-saving play in the divisional round win over the Dallas Cowboys, forcing a fumble on running back DeMarco Murray, who appeared to have a clear path to the end zone.

In only three seasons with the Packers, Peppers made 25 sacks, 45 quarterback hits, eight forced fumbles, and two pick-sixes, proving why he was still one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.

8. Tony Bennett (1990-1993)

A first-round pick in 1990, Tony Bennett only spent four seasons in Green Bay but made a significant impact. After making three sacks as a rookie, Bennett had two dominant years in 1991 and 1992, making a total of 26.5 sacks with over 13 in each season. He made another 6.5 sacks in 1993 in what turned out to be his final year with the Packers.

Bennett's best performance came in a road game against the New York Giants in Week 10 of the 1992 season. The Packers lost 27-7 at Giants Stadium, but Bennett made 3.5 sacks.

Bennett finished his Packers career with 36 sacks and forced nine fumbles in only four seasons, an impressive accomplishment. In the final four years of his career, he made another 28.5 sacks with the Indianapolis Colts.

7. Aaron Kampman (2002-2009)

Aaron Kampman was a key starter for the Packers at the end of the Brett Favre era and the beginning of Aaron Rodgers' run. He had to work hard to earn his spot as a fifth-round pick, but after starting 10 games in his second season, the rest was history.

Kampman spent eight years in Green Bay, totaling an impressive 54 sacks, two Pro Bowls, and two second-team All-Pro selections. He was nearly unstoppable during those Pro Bowl years, making 15.5 sacks in 2006 and another 12 the following season.

The former fifth-round pick spent the final two years of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Fittingly, he joins the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame alongside another star pass rusher, Clay Matthews, as the 2024 inductees.

6. Tim Harris (1986-1990)

Tim Harris only spent five seasons in Green Bay but couldn't have made a bigger impact as a pass rusher. He lined up as an outside linebacker in a 3-4, a role that many Packers greats, like Clay Matthews III, would go on to play.

In those five years, Harris made an incredible 55 sacks, including 19.5 in 1989, a franchise record for sacks in a single season. He earned first-team and second-team All-Pro honors and one Pro Bowl selection during his time in Green Bay, proving he was one of the best pass rushers in the league.

Harris sits seventh in the Packers' all-time list for sacks, a record made even more impressive considering he only started 70 games. In 1991, Green Bay traded Harris to the San Francisco 49ers. He spent four years with the Niners, winning Super Bowl XXIX, and one with the Philadelphia Eagles. Harris is now a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

5. Ezra Johnson (1977-1987)

The Packers didn't enjoy many winning seasons during the 1970s and 1980s, making the playoffs only once in Ezra Johnson's 10-year stay in Green Bay. But there wasn't much more Johnson could've done to lead the way, unofficially making an incredible 82 sacks for the Packers.

Sacks didn't become an official statistic until 1982, but Pro Football Reference credits Johnson with 17.5 sacks in 1978, ranking second in the NFL. It's one of the greatest seasons by a pass rusher in Packers history, and he earned Pro Bowl honors that year.

Johnson consistently put up good numbers during the decade he was in Green Bay, making double-digit sacks twice. While his final tally of 82 sacks is unofficial, there's no doubt that he was one of the most productive pass rushers in franchise history.

After the Packers waived him in 1988, Johnson spent two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and two with the Houston Texans. In 1997, he was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. It's difficult to compare sack totals before they became an official statistic, but Johnson is undoubtedly one of the Packers' all-time greats.

4. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (2000-2008)

It's hard to believe Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila only made one Pro Bowl during his incredible Packers career. His one selection, in 2003, was on a four-season stretch where he posted double-digit sacks. Between 2001 and 2004, Gbaja-Biamila made an incredible 49 sacks, 46 tackles for loss, 11 forced fumbles, and had a 72-yard pick-six against the Chicago Bears.

A fifth-round pick in 2000, Gbaja-Biamila spent his entire nine-year NFL career in Green Bay, setting what was then the Packers' all-time sack record with 74.5. Between 2001 and 2007, KGB averaged an impressive 10.4 sacks per year.

Gbaja-Biamila made three or more sacks in six career games, including an incredible four sacks in a victory over the Bears in 2005.

In 2013, Gbaja-Biamila was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. With 74.5 sacks in nine seasons, he is one of the team's greatest pass rushers of all time.

3. Clay Matthews III (2009-2018)

Clay Matthews has the statistics, individual accolades, and moments of brilliance that make him a Packers legend and future Pro Football Hall of Famer.

A first-round pick in 2009, Matthews would spend a decade in Green Bay, making 83.5 sacks, 189 quarterback hits, and 15 forced fumbles. He is a six-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro, and a Super Bowl champion.

Matthews made a career of game-changing plays, including a hard hit on Bears wide receiver Chris Williams just moments after receiving a handoff, and ripping the ball out Adrian Peterson's hands and returning it for a touchdown.

But his career-defining moment came in Super Bowl XLV. With Charles Woodson out of the game due to injury, the Packers needed a new leader to step up. The late Kevin Greene called on Matthews, famously telling him, "It is time." The former first-round pick rose to the occasion, forcing a crucial fourth-quarter fumble to help the Packers hold onto the victory.

Officially, Matthews is Green Bay's all-time sack leader. He gave Packers fans a decade of incredible memories and played a starring role in their fourth Super Bowl triumph.

2. Willie Davis (1960-1969)

Vince Lombardi's Packers dominated for several reasons. Defenses couldn't stop an offensive line featuring multiple Hall of Famers like Jerry Kramer and Forrest Gregg. Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor led an unstoppable run game, while Bart Starr led the offense with perfection.

The pass rush played just as important a role, and Willie Davis was at the forefront of their success. Sacks weren't an official statistic until 1982, but Davis unofficially made 99.5 sacks during his 10-year Packers career, which would rank first in franchise history.

Green Bay traded for Davis in 1960, having spent the first two seasons of his career with the Cleveland Browns. It turned out to be one of the greatest decisions in Packers history, with Davis becoming a Pro Football Hall of Famer, a five-time NFL champion, a two-time Super Bowl winner, a five-time first-team All-Pro, and a five-time Pro Bowler in Green Bay.

While Davis is best remembered for his pass-rush ability, he was also a dominant run defender. Along with defensive tackle Henry Jordan, the Packers had an unstoppable duo along the defensive line.

Davis is unofficially the Packers' all-time leader in sacks and is one of the greatest pass rushers in NFL history.

1. Reggie White (1993-1998)

Reggie White was the first star player to switch teams after the free agency rule changes in 1993. To this day, he is arguably the league's greatest free agency signing. White had already enjoyed a Hall of Fame career with the Philadelphia Eagles before signing with the Packers at age 32. But he was just getting started, building another Hall of Fame resume in Green Bay.

In six seasons, White started 92 games and made an incredible 68.5 sacks. He made six All-Pro and Pro Bowl teams and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1998 for the second time, having previously won it with the Eagles.

In 1996, White made 8.5 sacks in the Packers' No. 1-ranked defense. He saved his best performance for Super Bowl XXXI, making three sacks in Green Bay's 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots.

White tragically passed away in 2004 at the age of 44. In 2006, he was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

During his 15-year NFL career, White was a Super Bowl champion, a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a 13-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time first-team All-Pro and five-time second-team All-Pro, and he was named to the NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time teams. The Packers retired his No. 92 jersey in 2005.

White's 198 career sacks rank second in NFL history behind Bruce Smith, who had two more. Despite only playing six seasons for the Packers, all in his 30s, White ranks fifth in franchise history for sacks and is one of the greatest players to ever wear the green and gold.

The 10 best edge rushers in Packers history by sacks (unofficial)