We are ranking the top 10 All-Time Best NFL Defensive Players from Texas HS Football. The list is based only on the players’ NFL careers, not their high school careers.
Mike Singletary is our #3 ranked player. The Hall of Fame linebacker was the heart and soul of the dominant Chicago Bears defense of the 1980s, a unit that remains one of the most feared in NFL history. Singletary was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, 1988), giving him the edge over Bob Lilly in our rankings. His leadership, intensity, and relentless pursuit of excellence defined his career, making him one of the greatest linebackers of all time.
Early Life and High School Career
Mike Singletary was born on October 9, 1958, in Houston, Texas. He grew up in a deeply religious household, the youngest of ten children. His childhood was marked by both tragedy and resilience—he lost two older brothers at a young age, including Grady, whom he had looked up to as a father figure. These hardships helped shape his intensity and discipline, qualities that would later define his football career.
Singletary attended Evan E. Worthing High School in Houston, where he played both linebacker and guard. By his senior year, he had developed a reputation as one of the hardest-hitting players in the state, earning all-state honors. His combination of football IQ and raw power caught the attention of Baylor University, where he would become one of the most decorated defensive players in college football history.
College Career at Baylor
Singletary played four seasons (1977–1980) at Baylor University, quickly establishing himself as the best linebacker in the Southwest Conference.
- Two-time Consensus All-American (1979, 1980)
- Two-time Southwest Conference Player of the Year (1979, 1980)
- Two-time Davey O’Brien Memorial Trophy winner (1979, 1980) (before the award was limited to quarterbacks)
- Set the Baylor school record with 662 career tackles
In 1978, he recorded an astonishing 232 tackles, including 35 in a single game against Houston, a record that still stands. His intense film study, sideline-to-sideline range, and powerful tackling made him the best linebacker in the country, leading Baylor to its first-ever 10-win season in 1980.
NFL Career with the Chicago Bears
Singletary was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round (38th overall) of the 1981 NFL Draft, and it didn’t take long for him to become the leader of the defense. By his third career game as a starter, he had already recorded 10 tackles and a forced fumble against the Kansas City Chiefs.
For the next 12 seasons (1981–1992), Singletary became the undisputed leader of the Bears’ “Monsters of the Midway” defense. His ferocious intensity, unmatched preparation, and signature piercing stare from the middle linebacker position struck fear into opposing offenses.
Dominance in the 1980s
Singletary was the centerpiece of Buddy Ryan’s legendary “46 Defense,” which led the Bears to a 15–1 season and a dominant Super Bowl XX victory over the New England Patriots in 1985.
That year, Singletary won his first NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, recording:
- 109 total tackles (52 solo, 57 assists)
- 3 sacks, 1 interception, 3 fumble recoveries
- Helped the Bears finish as the #1 defense in the league
In the 1985 NFC Championship Game, Singletary fired up his teammates with a legendary pregame speech so intense that players were flipping tables and throwing chairs. The next day, the Bears shut down Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson and the Rams in a 24–0 win to advance to the Super Bowl.
Singletary won his second NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 1988, cementing his place as one of the greatest linebackers in history. Over his 12-year career, he led the Bears in tackles every season except his rookie year.
Legacy and Post-Football Career
Mike Singletary retired in 1992 with:
- 1,488 career tackles (885 solo)
- 7 interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries
- 10 Pro Bowl selections (1983–1992)
- 7× First-Team All-Pro selections (1984–1989, 1991)
In 1998, Singletary was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest linebackers of all time. He was also named to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team.
Awards and Accomplishments
- Super Bowl champion (XX)
- 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, 1988)
- 7× First-Team All-Pro (1984–1989, 1991)
- 10× Pro Bowl selection (1983–1992)
- NFL Man of the Year (1990)
- NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1998)
Mike Singletary’s impact on the game was undeniable. He wasn’t just one of the best linebackers of all time—he was one of the best leaders in NFL history. His relentless preparation, unmatched intensity, and ability to command a defense made him the heart of the Bears’ legendary 1985 unit.
His two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards give him the edge over Bob Lilly in our rankings. Whether calling out offensive plays before the snap, delivering bone-crushing hits, or firing up his teammates, Singletary embodied everything a middle linebacker should be.
That’s why he ranks as the #3 greatest defensive player to ever come out of Texas high school football.
