Football isn't the same game it once was, and that's a good thing. We want our players to have a life after the league.
But that comes at the expense of big hits and players that made physicality and fear a major part of their game.
Here are 13 of football's hardest hitters in history.
1
Kam Chancellor
Nicknamed “Bam Bam Kam” on the Legion of Boom.
2
Ray Lewis
Quarterbacks knew not to throw over the middle.
3
Steve Atwater
Aggressive and imposing. The “Smiling Assassin.”
4
Lawrence Taylor
Of course the league’s greatest defensive player hit hard.
5
Brian Urlacher
You don’t want to Oklahoma drill with this guy.
6
Ronnie Lott
It was dangerous to throw at the safety, Lott.
7
Ed Reed
Hits were a part of the no fly zone.
8
Troy Polamalu
“The Tasmanian Devil” was one of a kind.
9
Joe Greene
They didn’t call him “Mean” for nothing.
10
Brian Dawkins
With that dark visor, Dawkins was scary.
11
Richard Lane
You didn’t want to drive down 'Night Train' lane.
12
James Harrison
You remember him for his Super Bowl interception, but his impact came from his physical play.
13
Ryan Clark
Go watch the highlights. Clark took on everyone.
