The brains of the defense, a combination of coverage skills and hard-hitting grunt work, the safety is a vital piece of the NFL defense. In the modern NFL, they must combine the skills and athleticism of the cornerback with the size, aggression and explosivity of the front seven.
Often unsung in earlier eras, safeties have become bigger names in recent years.
Some notable exceptions from this list include Emlen Tunnell, the first African American inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and safety blitz pioneer Larry Wilson, and Oakland Raider "Assassin" Jack Tatum.
If this list interests you, you may also enjoy our greatest quarterbacks and greatest running backs of all time.
Ronnie Lott (1981-1995)
Although a cornerback in his early days, Lott transitioned to the safety position and was enshrined at Canton in both positions. A first round draft pick in 1981, Lott was a 2000s-style defensive back playing in an earlier era. Helping the 49ers to a Super Bowl title with three interceptions returned for touchdowns as a rookie, Lott was an immediate hit.
That was the first of four Super Bowl titles in the Bay. Lott officially moved over to safety in 1985, and he led the league the following season with 10 interceptions. Lott was foundational in all four of San Francisco's 1980s titles, and led the league for interceptions again in 1991 after joining the Los Angeles Raiders.
He spent the final two years of his career with the New York Jets, missing the playoffs for the first time in his final season in 1994. He is eighth on the all-time interceptions list with 63, and was an eight-time All-Pro. His intelligence combined with a preternatural athleticism to make him a difference maker at the NFL level for over a decade.
Ed Reed (2002-2013)
After a legendary college career with the Miami Hurricanes, Ed Reed was a first round pick in 2002 draft by the Baltimore Ravens.
Fitting seamlessly into the Ravens' already elite defense in his rookie season, Reed took his game up a gear to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2004.
Reed piled up statistical accolades, three times leading the NFL in interceptions, and routinely shone in AFC North showdowns with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2013, Reed started in the secondary as the Ravens won their second Super Bowl title, beating the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans.
Reed then flirted with retirement before moving to the Houston Texans, where he started just five games. He was released in November and signed by the New York Jets where he played out the remainder of the season, the last of his storied career. The following May he signed a one day contract to retire as a Baltimore Raven, taking the all-time NFL record for interception return yardage with him.
Troy Polamalu (2003-2014)
Eight-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl champion, 771 total career tackles, Troy Polamalu helped define the NFL in the 2000s. His bone-crunching hits, game-changing interceptions, and ability to somehow deflect a seemingly catch-bound pass made him the heart of an era in Pittsburgh.
His pick-six in the 2008 AFC Championship Game took the Steelers to the Super Bowl. In 2010 he won the Defensive Player of the Year award and was named to the NFL All-Decade team of the 2000s.
A brutal hitter on the field, Polamalu was light-hearted off it, starring in shampoo commercials that highlighted his famous flowing locks.
He also won the 2010 Walter Payton Man of the Year for his community service work.
Ken Houston (1967-1980)
Selected to 12 Pro Bowls in 14 years in the NFL, Ken Houston was the dominant safety of the 1970s. Drafted by the Houston Oilers in 1967, Houston was swiftly made a starter. He scored two touchdowns in one game, one via a blocked kick and the other on a 43-yard interception return. He was sent to Washington in 1973 with five players coming the other way.
Following the trade, he continued to shine and won First-team All-Pro honours twice.
Houston had joined a Washington team that had just lost the Super Bowl, but post-season success continued to elude them despite the acquisition of Houston. In three of his six seasons in Washington, Houston lost in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
He retired with 49 interceptions, and 10 defensive touchdowns and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1986.
Paul Krause (1964-1979)
Nobody in professional football history has more interceptions than Paul Krause's 81. Krause was named to eight consecutive Pro Bowls in the first eight seasons of his career, and three times named First-team All-Pro.
The Minnesota Vikings traded for Krause in 1968, and he helped the famous "Purple People Eater" defensive line to reach four Super Bowls between 1970 and 1977. Unfortunately for Krause, Minnesota lost them all.
Despite setting the all-time NFL record for interceptions, Krause remarkably only led the league for picks in one season, his first. He needed three picks in his final season to overhaul Tunnell atop the all-time interceptions leaderboard.
Krause was also remarkably durable, missing just two games in 16 seasons.
Brian Dawkins (1996-2011)
A standout ball-hawking safety even in the era of the likes of Polamalu and Reed, Brian Dawkins was a turnover machine over a 15-year career in both Philadelphia and Denver. Dawkins had 56 turnovers in 224 career games. He was a key part of the Andy Reid Eagles team that reached four consecutive NFC Championship Games in the early 2000s, also starting in the Super Bowl defeat to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.
Dawkins was a nine-time Pro-Bowler and five-time All-Pro, as well as being named in the NFL All-Decade team of the 2000s and being a member of the exclusive 35 interceptions and 20 sacks club (something only three other players have done).
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