Top 25 hardest hitters in NFL history

Detroit Lions player Barry Sanders (L) is tackled by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defender John Lynch (R) after a short pass reception in the first quarter of their game 07 September at the Silverdome in Pontiac, MI. AFP PHOTO/Matt CAMPBELL (Photo by MATT CAMPBELL / AFP) (Photo by MATT CAMPBELL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 21: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been shot in black and white. Color version not available.) Linebacker Jack Ham #59 of the Pittsburgh Steelers tackles tight end M.L. Harris #83 of the Cincinnati Bengals during a game at Riverfront Stadium on September 21, 1980 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals defeated the Steelers 30-28. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

23. Jack Ham

Ham is the first of a trio of Steelers from the 1970s that will get a spot on the list. He may not get talked about as much as the other two that we will get two, but he could hold his own in every imaginable way.

Ham is easily one of the best outside linebackers of all time. He was a force in defending the run and in pass coverage. In his career, Ham intercepted 32 passes and recovered 21 fumbles. He had as good a nose for the ball as anyone on those legendary Steelers teams.

Drafted in 1971, Ham was one of the first pieces to a dynasty. He made his first Pro Bowl in 1973, and in the following season, the Steelers won their first Super Bowl against the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IX.

In 1975, Ham repeated as both a Pro Bowler and an All-Pro, and the Steelers repeated as Super Bowl champions with a Super Bowl X win over the Dallas Cowboys. Ham helped the Steelers win a total of four Super Bowls throughout the 1970s while making it to eight Pro Bowls and being named All-Pro six times. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

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