While the most important player on the offensive side of the football has always been considered the quarterback, the most important player on any defense has to be the middle linebacker. The middle linebacker is typically the captain of the defense and has the ability to control the entire flow of a game. During the NFLs long history there have been many great linebackers, three of which could make an argument as being the best ever.

One of the most imposing players in NFL history was Dick Butkus. Butkus played for the Chicago Bears for nine seasons. While the Bears never had a great team in that time period, Butkus was always the best player on the field and he made eight Pro Bowl rosters and was the Defensive Player of the year twice.

Mike Singletary also played his entire career with the Chicago Bears. From 1981 to 1992, Singletary was the starting middle linebacker for Chicago defenses that were always among the best in the league. He starred on the 1985 Chicago Bears defense, which is considered the best defense ever and led the Bears to a Super Bowl victory.

During the 1970s, the most dominating team in the NFL was the Pittsburgh Steelers. Their extremely strong defense was led by Jack Lambert, who was named to nine Pro Bowl teams and was on four Super Bowl winning teams.

Clearly, Butkus, Singletary, and Lambert all had great careers and were extremely dominant. Among those, or any other linebacker, who do you think was the best middle linebacker ever?