2. Lawrence Taylor
Lawrence Taylor is the greatest defensive player to ever set foot on an NFL field, and my goodness did he make sure that opposing players knew that.
Taylor made his elite presence known from day one in the NFL. He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1981. Taylor was also named NFL Defensive Player of the Year that season, and no one has won both awards in the same year ever since.
Taylor won the Defensive Player of the Year in 1982, as well, and continued his reign of terror throughout the decade. From 1981-86, he made the Pro Bowl every season and was named First-Team All-Pro each year, as well.
He won the Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in 1986, and was named NFL MVP in the same season. He is the last defensive player to have won the MVP award. The Giants won the first of their two Super Bowls over the course of five seasons in ‘86. Taylor dominated the 1980s and solidified himself as one of the greatest players in NFL history while lighting up ball carriers and hitting quarterbacks in a day and age where you could still hit quarterbacks.