5. Dick “Night Train” Lane
Saying the NFL in the 1950s is different from the NFL today would be like saying cigarette commercials in the 1950s were different from what they are today. Over time, the league realized that maybe some of the hits and violence could be toned down a bit.
One of the biggest reasons for these eventual moves was the clothesline tackle that Night Train practically patented. Instead of going for the midsection or the lower body, Lane would simply take his forearm and whack you in the head as hard as he possibly could. In fairness to Lane, it worked. One couldn’t imagine anyone who would see Lane coming at them and look forward to eating a professional wrestling move, and this made Night Train one of the most feared defenders in football during his era.
Aside from his ferociousness when it came to tackling ball carriers, Lane was one of the best defensive backs of all time for his coverage skills, as well. He holds the single-season record for most interceptions in a season with 14. While his elite coverage ability is what he is more fondly remembered for, Lane was one of the most feared tacklers of all time if not for just the pure violence that went into his style of defense.