If there actually is a glamour position on the offensive line it is tackle, especially left tackle. Here are the 40 greatest tackles to play professional football.
Rank, player, years, total
1. Art Shell, 1968-1982, 13849.7
2. Forrest Gregg, 1956-1971, 13810.9
3. Ron Yary, 1968-1982, 13484.1
4. Jim Tyrer, 1961-1974, 13475.6
5. Jim Parker, 1957-1967, 13458.8
6. Anthony Munoz, 1980-1992, 13324.4
7. Rosey Brown, 1953-1965, 12959.5
8. Lou Creekmur, 1950-1959, 12827.6
9. Rayfield Wright, 1967-1979, 12673.5
10. Orlando Pace, 1997-2007, 12439.0
11. Ron Mix, 1960-1971, 12070.3
12. Gary Zimmerman, 1986-1997, 12030.8
13. Joe Jacoby, 1981-1993, 11884.8
14. Jackie Slater, 1976-1995, 11827.2
15. Dick Schafrath, 1959-1971, 11810.6
16. Pat Donovan, 1975-1983, 11645.1
17. Joe Stydahar, 1936-1946, 11570.6
18. Willie Roaf, 1993-2005, 11567.8
19. Walter Jones, 1997-2007, 11546.3
20. Mike McCormack, 1951-1962, 11476.6
21. Richmond Webb, 1990-2002, 11362.2
22. Mike Kenn, 1978-1994, 11298.8
23. Bob Vogel, 1963-1972, 11295.9
24. Jonathan Ogden, 1996-2007, 11272.2
25. Lomas Brown, 1985-2002, 11139.6
26. Winston Hill, 1963-1977, 11039.8
27. Dan Dierdorf, 1971-1983, 11000.0
28. Bob Brown, 1964-1973, 10924.5
29. Russ Washington, 1968-1982, 10824.2
30. Grady Alderman, 1960-1974, 10514.7
31. Erik Williams, 1991-2001, 10505.5
32. Leon Gray, 1973-1983, 10349.2
33. George Kunz, 1969-1980, 10225.7
34. Bruce Armstrong, 1987-2000, 10210.4
35. Ernie McMillan, 1961-1975, 10092.0
36. Turk Edwards, 1932-1940, 9623.6
37. Stew Barber, 1961-1969, 9608.9
38. Bob St. Clair, 1953-1963, 9576.0
39. Marvin Powell, 1977-1987, 9481.8
40. Bruiser Kinard, 1938-1947, 9191.5
The top six tackles, including my favorite -- Anthony Munoz -- are almost interchangeable. In the end, longevity won out.
The top five in terms of best three years -- or their peak seasons?
1. Orlando Pace; 2. Jim Parker; 3. Art Shell; 4. Lou Creekmur; 5. Ron Yary.
The top five for a six year total?
1. Lou Creekmur; 2. Jim Parker; 3. Forrest Gregg; 4. Orlando Pace; 5. Anthony Munoz.
The best 10 year total?
1. Jim Parker; 2. Art Shell; 3. Forrest Gregg; 4. Anthony Munoz; 5. Jim Tyrer.
And for career the top five were:
1. Art Shell; 2. Forrest Gregg; 3. Ron Yary; 4. Jim Tyrer; 5. Jackie Slater.
Of the top six, Munoz clearly had the least help. Shell was on the Raiders dynasty of the 60s and 70s, Gregg on the Packers dynasty, Yary with the famous Vikings Super Bowl losers, Tyrer on the great AFL/AFC Chiefs teams and Parker with the Unitas-Lenny Moore Colts.
Munoz powered the Bengals to two Super Bowls and several other playoff appearances, but his teams weren't nearly as dominant. A shoulder injury also shortened his career, especially when compared to Shell. A short career also cost Jim Parker a spot on my first-team offense.
Final question, why isn't Jim Tyrer in the Hall of Fame? Can anyone explain that?
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