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AFC North: All-Time 53-man roster and depth chart

By A.J. Fagerlin

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 20: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens high-fives teammate Ed Reed #20 on the field prior to the 2013 AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 20: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens high-fives teammate Ed Reed #20 on the field prior to the 2013 AFC Championship game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 20, 2013 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 03: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after defeating the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ravens defeated the 49ers 34-31. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 03: Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after defeating the San Francisco 49ers during Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Ravens defeated the 49ers 34-31. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Linebackers

Starters

Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens 

Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers 

Ray Lewis and Jack Lambert may be two of the three greatest inside linebackers of all-time (along with Dick Butkus).

Lewis played 17 seasons in the NFL all with the Ravens. Over his illustrious career, Ray totaled 2055 tackles, 41.5 sacks, 31 interceptions, 19 forced fumbles, and 20 fumble recoveries. He was without question the leader of the defense in Baltimore for the entirety of his career.

He was named A.P. Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2000, Defensive Player of the Year in 2003, First Team All-Pro seven times and a Pro Bowler 13 times. He also won both Super Bowls with the Ravens and was named Super Bowl MVP in 2000. Lewis was a first ballot Hall of Famer, inducted just last year.

Lambert was another leader of the Steel Curtain with Greene. He won all four Super Bowls with the Steelers in the ’70’s and was a Pro Bowler from 1975 to 1983. Like Lewis, he was named A.P. Defensive Rookie of the Year as well as Defensive Player of the Year. Lambert was a six-time All-Pro and a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee in 1990.

Reserves

Jack Ham, Pittsburgh Steelers

Clay Matthews Jr., Cleveland Browns 

Ham was another “Jack” linebacker for the Steel Curtain in the ’70’s. Ham was named to the Pro Bowl each season from 1974 to 1980 and a First Team All-Pro from 1974 to 1979. Ham played his entire 12 year career in Pittsburgh and was a first ballot Hall of Famer in 1988.

Matthews, father of popular former Packers linebacker Clay Matthews III, had a very impressive career of his own with the Cleveland Browns. Matthews was an incredibly versatile linebacker who could play all over this defense. He totaled 1595 tackles and 69.5 sacks in his incredible 19 year career. Matthews earned 4 Pro Bowl selections in his time in Cleveland.

Honorable Mentions

C.J. Mosley, Baltimore Ravens

D’Qwell Jackson, Cleveland Browns

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