All-Time AFC South NFL Depth Chart

Some divisions have superstars. The AFC South has bulldozers, freak athletes, and a Hall of Fame quarterback who made Sundays look like practice.

We’re talking about the division of Peyton Manning and J.J. Watt. Of Derrick Henry stiff-arms, Reggie Wayne routes, and Bob Sanders missiles. Whether it was the early Colts dynasties or Watt dominating triple-teams, the AFC South has had its share of greatness.

Here’s the All-Time AFC South NFL Depth Chart, loaded with legends on both sides of the ball. Every player listed made their name in this division — no borrowed resumes here.

Table of Contents

• Head Coach
• AFC South Offense Overview
• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Fullback
• Wide Receivers
• Slot Receiver
• Tight Ends
• Left Tackles
• Left Guards
• Centers
• Right Guards
• Right Tackles
• Offensive Coordinator
• AFC South Defense Overview
• Free Safeties
• Strong Safeties
• Cornerbacks
• Outside Linebackers
• Inside Linebackers
• Slot Corner
• Edge Rushers
• Nose Tackles
• Interior Defensive Linemen
• Defensive Coordinators

Head Coaches

Tony Dungy – Indianapolis Colts

• Super Bowl XLI Champion with Colts
• 139 career wins, including playoffs
• Led Colts to 10+ wins in 7 straight seasons

Dungy brought quiet leadership and a defense-first mindset to a team powered by offense. He helped turn Peyton Manning into a surgical weapon while never abandoning his coaching principles.

Jeff Fisher – Tennessee Titans

• 2000 AFC Champion with Titans
• 142 career wins, 6 playoff appearances
• Led Titans to 13-3 and 12-4 seasons

Love him or hate him, Fisher had staying power. His Titans played hard, hit harder, and made it to the Super Bowl on the back of physical defense and Eddie George’s legs.

Gary Kubiak – Houston Texans

• Texans’ first coach to lead them to the playoffs
• Back-to-back division titles in 2011 and 2012
• Later won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos

Kubiak built the Texans into a legitimate team with a balanced offense and aggressive defense. He laid the foundation for Houston’s first real success.

Three calm commanders who let the game come to them. Dungy brought grace, Fisher brought grit, and Kubiak brought credibility. Together, they shaped the AFC South’s identity.

The greatest offensive players in AFC South history — featuring full starters and backups by position.

All-Time NFC South Offense

Quarterbacks

Peyton Manning – Indianapolis Colts

• 4× NFL MVP with Colts
• 54,828 passing yards and 399 touchdowns in Indy
• Super Bowl XLI Champion

The face of the AFC South for over a decade, Peyton Manning turned the Colts into a perennial contender through sheer intelligence and precision.

Steve McNair – Tennessee Titans

• 2003 NFL Co-MVP
• 30,000+ passing yards and 3,500+ rushing yards
• Led Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV

One of the toughest quarterbacks to ever play, McNair was a dual-threat pioneer who gave the Titans their edge in the early 2000s.

Deshaun Watson – Houston Texans

• 3× Pro Bowl selection
• Led NFL in passing yards (2020)
• Over 100 total touchdowns in just 4 seasons with Houston

Before the drama, there was dominance. Watson’s creativity and arm talent made Houston a must-watch team in the late 2010s.

Manning was the maestro, McNair the warrior, and Watson the magician. Three different styles, but one shared result — AFC South quarterbacks who could take over any game.

Running Backs

Derrick Henry – Tennessee Titans

• 2020 NFL Offensive Player of the Year
• 2× NFL rushing leader (2019, 2020)
• Over 9,000 rushing yards and 80+ touchdowns with Titans

Henry redefined modern power running — a 6’3″ freight train with breakaway speed. No one imposed their will like The King.

Earl Campbell – Houston Oilers

• 1979 NFL MVP
• 3× NFL rushing champion
• Hall of Fame inductee (1991)

Campbell’s brutal, bruising style made defenders question their life choices. He was the definition of “run through you, not around you.”

Arian Foster – Houston Texans

• 4× 1,000+ yard seasons
• 66 total touchdowns with Texans
• 2010 NFL rushing yards and TDs leader

Foster brought poetry to the backfield — a smooth, gliding runner with elite vision and soft hands as a receiver.

Campbell punished, Henry conquered, and Foster finessed. The AFC South’s ground game is a masterclass in every style of running back greatness.

Fullback

Ahmard Hall – Tennessee Titans

• 6-year starter and key lead blocker for Chris Johnson’s 2,000-yard season
• Known for versatility and toughness on special teams and offense
• Marine Corps veteran turned NFL mainstay

Hall brought grit and discipline to Tennessee’s offense, paving the way for Pro Bowl runners and delivering punishing blocks week after week.

Vonta Leach – Houston Texans

• Pro Bowl fullback with Texans (later with Ravens)
• Helped open lanes for Arian Foster’s breakout years
• Elite short-yardage and goal-line blocker

Leach was the hammer behind Houston’s early ground game dominance, always clearing the way and setting the tone.

Greg Jones – Jacksonville Jaguars

• One of the most feared blocking fullbacks of the 2000s
• Played 9 seasons with Jaguars
• Blocked for Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew

A physical specimen with linebacker aggression, Jones turned running lanes into highways — and linebackers into speed bumps.

Hall was the heart, Leach the bulldozer, and Jones the enforcer. AFC South fullbacks didn’t just block — they dominated.

Wide Receivers

Marvin Harrison – Indianapolis Colts

• 8× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• 1,102 receptions, 14,580 yards, 128 touchdowns
• 2002: NFL-record 143 receptions in a single season

Harrison was surgical with his routes, automatic with his hands, and unstoppable with Peyton at QB.

DeAndre Hopkins – Houston Texans

• 5× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• 11,000+ career receiving yards and counting
• Led NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2017

Hopkins was a physical marvel with sticky hands and highlight reel grabs — a true WR1 alpha.

T.Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts

• 4× Pro Bowl selection
• 9,691 career receiving yards with the Colts
• Led the NFL in receiving yards in 2016

Hilton brought track speed and flair to the Colts’ offense — a true burner who racked up big plays.

Andre Johnson – Houston Texans

• 7× Pro Bowl, 2× All-Pro
• 13,597 receiving yards with Houston
• Led NFL in receiving yards twice

Johnson was the Texans’ ironman — big, fast, and tough. When your offense needed a spark, he delivered.

A.J. Brown – Tennessee Titans

• 3× Pro Bowl selection (2020s era)
• 2,995 yards and 24 TDs in just 3 seasons with Titans
• 2019 PFWA All-Rookie Team

Brown was explosive from the jump — a physical YAC monster who bullied DBs from Day 1.

Raymond Berry – Baltimore Colts

• 6× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• 631 receptions, 9,275 yards, 68 touchdowns
• Led NFL in receptions and yards three times

Berry was Johnny Unitas’ favorite target — a technician with hands of glue and unmatched discipline.

From Harrison’s precise brilliance to Berry’s historic dominance, this WR unit spans generations — and defenses never stood a chance.

Slot Receivers

Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts

• 6× Pro Bowl, 1× First-Team All-Pro
• 14,345 receiving yards, 82 touchdowns
• Super Bowl XLI champion and Marvin Harrison’s successor in Indy

Wayne was surgical in the slot — precise, dependable, and always open when Manning needed him most.

T.Y. Hilton – Indianapolis Colts

• 4× Pro Bowl selection
• 9,691 career receiving yards with the Colts
• Led the NFL in receiving yards in 2016

Hilton brought speed and flair to the Colts’ offense — a true burner who could stretch the field from the inside.

Kendall Wright – Tennessee Titans

• Top WR for the Titans in the early 2010s
• 1,079-yard season in 2013
• Quick feet, sharp routes, and reliable hands in the short game

Wright was a bright spot during a rough era for Tennessee — a high-volume target who did damage underneath.

Wayne gave you Hall of Fame-level precision, Hilton brought track speed, and Wright kept chains moving during Titan rebuilds.

Tight Ends

John Mackey – Indianapolis Colts

• 5× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• Hall of Fame inductee (1992)
• Revolutionized the tight end position with speed and power

Mackey was a trailblazer — a rare combination of size, speed, and big-play ability who helped redefine the position.

Dallas Clark – Indianapolis Colts

• Super Bowl XLI Champion with the Colts
• 100-catch season in 2009, 53 career touchdowns
• Peyton Manning’s go-to target over the middle

Clark was the perfect slot seam weapon in Indy’s offense — consistent, clutch, and always in sync with Peyton.

Frank Wycheck – Tennessee Titans

• 3× Pro Bowl selection
• 505 career receptions, 28 touchdowns
• Famous for the “Music City Miracle” lateral

Wycheck wasn’t flashy, but he was reliable and smart — a perfect fit for the Titans’ gritty identity in the early 2000s.

Mackey gave us the prototype, Clark brought the finesse, and Wycheck gave us the Miracle — three eras, one elite group of tight ends.

Left Tackles

Tony Boselli – Jacksonville Jaguars

• 5× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• Allowed just 15.5 sacks in 91 career games
• Jaguars’ first-ever draft pick and a franchise cornerstone

Boselli was the prototype blindside protector — powerful, polished, and punishing. If not for injuries, he’d be top 5 all-time.

Bob Vogel – Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts

• 5× Pro Bowl, 2× All-Pro
• Protected Johnny Unitas during the Colts’ golden era
• Member of the 1968 NFL Champion Colts

Vogel held the edge down for one of the NFL’s greatest QBs and did it with quiet consistency and clean technique.

Tarik Glenn – Indianapolis Colts

• 3× Pro Bowl selection
• Started 154 games protecting Peyton Manning’s blindside
• Super Bowl XLI Champion

Glenn didn’t talk much, but his play screamed reliability. A stalwart on one of the league’s most explosive offenses.

From Boselli’s dominance to Vogel’s old-school grit to Glenn’s steady excellence, the AFC South had blindside blockers who kept legends upright.

Left Guards

Quenton Nelson – Indianapolis Colts

• 3× First-Team All-Pro in his first three NFL seasons
• 5× Pro Bowl selection
• Known for his violent hands and pancaking defenders

Nelson brought back the nasty to guard play — a mauler with elite technique and attitude to match.

Jim Parker – Baltimore Colts

• 8× Pro Bowl, 9× All-Pro (5 First-Team)
• First full-time offensive lineman inducted into the Hall of Fame
• Protected Johnny Unitas for a decade

Parker was a technician in the trenches who made pass protection look effortless during the Colts’ glory days.

Mike Munchak – Houston Oilers

• 9× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001
• Lifelong Oiler: player and later head coach

Munchak was the standard for interior line play in the ‘80s — mobile, mean, and always in control.

From Nelson’s bulldozing modern dominance to Parker’s legendary poise to Munchak’s all-around excellence — the AFC South has guard greatness locked in.

Centers

Jeff Saturday – Indianapolis Colts

• 6× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Anchored the Colts’ offensive line during Peyton Manning’s prime
• Super Bowl XLI Champion

Saturday was the brains and brawn of Indy’s trenches — cool under pressure and a master of protection calls.

Ray Donaldson – Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts

• 4× Pro Bowl with the Colts, 6× overall
• Started 228 career games over 17 seasons
• Blocked for Hall of Famers like Eric Dickerson and Emmitt Smith

Donaldson was durable, dependable, and dominant — a true ironman in the middle.

Kevin Mawae – Tennessee Titans

• 8× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• Hall of Fame inductee (2019)
• Blocked for nine 1,000-yard rushing seasons

Mawae was athletic, intense, and a tone-setter — a center who made everyone around him better.

Saturday ran the line like a QB, Donaldson never missed a beat, and Mawae punished defenders like it was personal — this trio defines elite center play.

Right Guards

Bruce Matthews – Houston Oilers / Tennessee Titans

• 14× Pro Bowl, 7× First-Team All-Pro
• Hall of Fame inductee (2007)
• Played every offensive line position in a 19-year career

Matthews was the ultimate O-line Swiss Army knife — durable, versatile, and utterly dominant for nearly two decades.

Jake Scott – Indianapolis Colts

• 5× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Key protector for Peyton Manning’s early success
• Super Bowl XLI Champion

Scott was a technician at guard — rarely penalized, always prepared, and a model of consistency for Indy.

Mike Munchak – Houston Oilers

• 9× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Hall of Fame inductee (2001)
• Spent entire 12-year career with Oilers

Munchak was a mauler in the run game and a rock in pass pro — a franchise cornerstone in Houston’s heyday.

Matthews played forever, Munchak paved highways, and Scott delivered quiet excellence — this RG trio gives the AFC South a legendary interior wall.

Right Tackles

George Kunz – Indianapolis Colts

• 8× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• Anchor on both Falcons and Colts offensive lines
• Known for elite footwork and technical skill

Kunz was one of the most polished and consistent tackles of the 1970s — a dominant presence on the right edge.

Ryan Diem – Indianapolis Colts

• Started 150+ games protecting Peyton Manning
• Super Bowl XLI Champion
• Reliable pass blocker with a decade of durability

Diem didn’t grab headlines, but he protected one of the greatest QBs ever — and did it for over a decade.

David Stewart – Tennessee Titans

• Started 116 games across 8 seasons
• Helped pave the way for Chris Johnson’s 2,000-yard season
• Physical, aggressive tone-setter on the edge

Stewart brought grit and violence to the right side — a classic road-grader who loved smashing defensive ends.

Kunz gave you technique, Diem gave you stability, and Stewart brought the hammer — a versatile trio built to dominate the trenches.

Offensive Coordinators

Tom Moore – Indianapolis Colts

• Led Colts offense during the Peyton Manning era
• Engineered one of the most efficient passing attacks in NFL history
• Known for developing precision, timing, and consistency in play-calling

Moore was the brain behind the Colts’ offensive juggernaut, elevating Manning’s greatness with elite-level scheming and rhythm.

Bruce Arians – Indianapolis Colts

• OC for Colts during Andrew Luck’s rookie season (2012)
• Served as interim head coach, going 9–3 and winning AP Coach of the Year
• Known for his “no risk it, no biscuit” vertical passing philosophy

Arians unleashed aggression. Whether interim HC or OC, he never backed down from dialing it deep — and the Colts thrived under his bold style.

Pep Hamilton – Indianapolis Colts

• OC for Colts from 2013 to 2015
• Helped Andrew Luck lead the NFL in passing touchdowns (2014)
• Balanced run-pass philosophy rooted in physicality

Hamilton brought structure and punch to Indy’s offense, helping Luck reach new heights in just his second and third seasons.

Moore gave the blueprint, Arians brought the fire, and Hamilton added the balance — together, they form the AFC South’s OC Mount Rushmore.

The greatest defensive players in AFC South history — featuring full starters and backups by position.

All-Time NFC South Defense

Free Safeties

Bob Sanders – Indianapolis Colts

• 2× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• 2007 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• Leader of the Colts’ Super Bowl XLI-winning defense

Sanders was a heat-seeking missile — when healthy, no safety in the NFL hit harder or closed faster. He made the Colts’ defense go.

Kevin Byard – Tennessee Titans

• 2× First-Team All-Pro, 2× Pro Bowl
• 2017 NFL interceptions leader (8)
• 28 career interceptions with the Titans

Byard’s range and instincts made him a centerpiece in Tennessee’s secondary. A modern-era ballhawk with elite leadership.

Rick Volk – Baltimore Colts

• 3× Pro Bowl, 1× First-Team All-Pro
• Super Bowl V champion
• 38 career interceptions over 12 seasons

Volk was a reliable presence in the Colts’ defensive backfield during their powerhouse era — smart, steady, and clutch.

Sanders was a bullet, Byard’s a ballhawk, and Volk was the vintage glue guy — different eras, same shutdown results.

Strong Safeties

Ken Houston – Houston Oilers

• 12× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• 49 career interceptions, 12 defensive touchdowns
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1986)

Houston was a turnover machine and touchdown threat — one of the most complete safeties in NFL history.

Antoine Bethea – Indianapolis Colts

• 3× Pro Bowl, Super Bowl XLI champion
• 1,313 career tackles, 25 interceptions
• Led Colts in tackles 6 times

Bethea was the definition of consistency, anchoring the Colts’ secondary with intelligence and toughness for nearly a decade.

Donovin Darius – Jacksonville Jaguars

• 1,006 career tackles, 14 forced fumbles
• Started 115 games for the Jaguars (1998–2006)
• Leader of early dominant Jags defense

Darius was a physical enforcer who patrolled the back end with power and pride — a tone-setter in Jacksonville’s golden era.

Houston was the legend, Bethea the technician, and Darius the hammer. This safety group hit hard — and hit often.

Cornerbacks

Bobby Boyd – Houston Oilers

• 57 career interceptions in just 9 seasons
• 3× Pro Bowl, 2× First-Team All-Pro
• Helped define cornerback play in the 1960s

Boyd was a ballhawk before it was cool — the original lockdown corner who baited QBs into throwing picks with perfect positioning and instincts.

Aaron Glenn – Houston Texans

• 3× Pro Bowl selection (including one with Houston)
• 13 career interceptions in 4 seasons with the Texans
• Leader of Houston’s first-ever secondary

Glenn brought leadership and coverage skills to a brand-new franchise, often shadowing the best receivers from Day 1 in Houston.

Jason McCourty – Tennessee Titans

• 13 interceptions and 9 forced fumbles in 8 seasons with the Titans
• Team captain and consistent starter across multiple regimes
• Known for intelligence and technique

McCourty was the glue in the Titans’ secondary — steady, sharp, and always in the right place at the right time.

Rashean Mathis – Jacksonville Jaguars

• 13 career interceptions and 3 defensive touchdowns
• Franchise leader in interceptions and pass deflections
• 2006 First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection

Mathis was a cornerstone of the Jaguars’ secondary for years — reliable, rangy, and a true shutdown presence on the outside.

Cris Dishman – Houston Oilers

• 31 career interceptions and 15 forced fumbles
• 1991 Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection
• 10-year Oilers veteran before finishing career in Washington and Minnesota

Dishman brought fire and flair to the Oilers’ defense — a gambler who made life tough for opposing receivers every Sunday.

Vontae Davis – Indianapolis Colts

• 2× Pro Bowl selection with Indianapolis
• 13 interceptions and 75 passes defended in 6 seasons with the Colts
• Known for his physicality, press coverage, and lockdown consistency

Davis was a fierce competitor with no fear — taking on WR1s every week and never backing down, no matter the matchup.

Boyd was the prototype, Glenn the technician, and McCourty the steady leader. Mathis locked it down, Dishman brought swagger, and Davis brought fire. This AFC South cornerback group could match up with anyone, anytime.

Outside Linebackers

Mike Peterson – Indianapolis Colts / Jacksonville Jaguars

• 4× 100+ tackle seasons with the Jaguars
• Super Bowl XXXVI champion with the Colts (rookie season)
• Led Jacksonville in tackles for 3 straight years

Peterson was a tone-setting tackler who brought leadership, energy, and sideline-to-sideline speed to both AFC South rivals.

Cato June – Indianapolis Colts

• 2005 Pro Bowl selection
• 142 tackles and 5 interceptions in 2005 alone
• Key starter on Colts’ Super Bowl XLI-winning defense

June was a converted safety who brought rare coverage ability to linebacker — a modern hybrid defender ahead of his time.

David Thornton – Indianapolis Colts

• Started 75 games for the Colts and Titans combined
• Over 700 career tackles
• Captain and fan favorite for his leadership and consistency

Thornton was never flashy, but always solid — a durable leader who did his job week in and week out, no questions asked.

Peterson brought the fire, June brought the coverage, and Thornton brought the glue. The AFC South’s outside linebackers hit hard, played smart, and never came off the field.

Inside Linebackers

Mike Curtis – Baltimore Colts

• 4× Pro Bowl, 1× First-Team All-Pro
• Played in two Super Bowls, won Super Bowl V
• 25 interceptions and over 1,000 tackles in career

Curtis was one of the most feared linebackers of his era — a headhunter with elite instincts who anchored the Colts’ defense during their glory years.

Demeco Ryans – Houston Texans

• 2006 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
• 2× Pro Bowl selection with the Texans
• Over 600 tackles and leader of Texans’ early defensive identity

Ryans was a coach on the field — diagnosing plays, delivering hits, and captaining Houston’s defense with poise and intelligence.

Shaquille Leonard – Indianapolis Colts

• 3× First-Team All-Pro, 4× Pro Bowl selection
• 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
• Led NFL in forced fumbles (8) in 2021

Leonard’s blend of speed, playmaking, and energy made him a modern-day superstar and turnover machine in the middle of the Colts’ defense.

Curtis brought the pain, Ryans brought the brains, and Leonard brought the chaos. These ILBs covered every inch of the field and every era of AFC South football.

Slot Cornerbacks

Cris Dishman – Houston Oilers

• 2× Pro Bowl selection
• 43 career interceptions, 15 fumble recoveries
• Key playmaker in Houston’s secondary during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s

Dishman brought length, physicality, and ball skills to the slot — a matchup nightmare for opposing receivers and a turnover threat on every snap.

Marlin Jackson – Indianapolis Colts

• Super Bowl XLI champion
• Famous for game-sealing interception vs. Tom Brady in 2006 AFC Championship
• Reliable presence in the Colts’ nickel and dime packages

Jackson played smart, aggressive football — the kind of slot corner every contender needs. He was a key cog in Indy’s championship puzzle.

Desmond King – Houston Texans

• First-Team All-Pro as a returner (2018)
• Versatile defensive back who played both outside and slot roles
• Over 400 tackles and 8 interceptions in his first 6 seasons

King was a do-it-all defender — a slot coverage ace, sure tackler, and return threat who gave Houston flexibility across the secondary.

Dishman had the splash plays, Jackson had the clutch plays, and King did a little of everything. This slot trio locked down the AFC South’s middle real estate.

Edge Rushers

Dwight Freeney – Indianapolis Colts

• 7× Pro Bowl, 3× First-Team All-Pro
• 125.5 career sacks and 47 forced fumbles
• Super Bowl XLI champion with Colts

Freeney’s spin move was iconic. He terrorized tackles for over a decade and brought speed, polish, and power to Indy’s pass rush.

Robert Mathis – Indianapolis Colts

• 5× Pro Bowl selection, 2013 NFL sacks leader
• 123 career sacks and NFL record 47 strip sacks
• Super Bowl XLI champion and Freeney’s longtime running mate

Mathis was the closer — a relentless edge rusher with elite bend and strip-sack instincts. Quarterbacks saw #98 in their nightmares.

Tony Brackens – Jacksonville Jaguars

• 55 sacks, 28 forced fumbles in just 86 starts
• Jaguars’ all-time sack leader
• Led NFL in forced fumbles in 1999

Brackens was a freakish athlete who lived in the backfield. Injuries cut his career short, but his impact was massive when healthy.

J.J. Watt – Houston Texans

• 3× NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• 5× First-Team All-Pro, 5× Pro Bowl
• 114.5 sacks, 2× 20+ sack seasons, 6 TDs

Watt was an absolute game-wrecker — part defensive end, part superhero. He carried Houston’s defense on his back for years.

Jevon Kearse – Tennessee Titans

• 1999 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
• 74 career sacks, 9 forced fumbles as a rookie
• Known as “The Freak” for his size, speed, and wingspan

Kearse brought unmatched athleticism off the edge. His rookie year was legendary, and he anchored the Titans’ front seven for a decade.

Elvin Bethea – Houston Oilers

• 8× Pro Bowl, 2× Second-Team All-Pro
• 105 career sacks (unofficial era), Hall of Fame inductee
• Played 210 games over 16 seasons

Bethea was the original edge force for the Oilers — steady, durable, and incredibly productive throughout the 1970s.

Freeney spun you silly, Mathis stripped your soul, Brackens bruised you. Watt destroyed your game plan, Kearse flew past your block, and Bethea never came off the field. This group defines edge dominance.

Nose Tackles

Curley Culp – Houston Oilers

• 6× Pro Bowl, 1× First-Team All-Pro
• 1975 NFL Defensive Player of the Year runner-up
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2013)

Culp was a true anchor in the middle — powerful, low to the ground, and impossible to move. He revolutionized the nose tackle role in the 3-4 defense.

Ted Washington – Jacksonville Jaguars

• 4× Pro Bowl, 1× All-Pro selection
• Super Bowl XXXVIII Champion
• Over 600 career tackles as a pure space-eater

Washington was a mountain in cleats — commanding double teams and stuffing the run every Sunday. Quiet dominance in the trenches.

Tony Casillas – Houston Oilers

• 2× Super Bowl Champion (with Cowboys)
• 1994 NFL All-Rookie Team
• Key interior presence in the 90s Oilers and Falcons defenses

Casillas brought both power and savvy to the nose. He wasn’t flashy, but he did the dirty work that let others shine.

Culp was the innovator, Washington the wall, and Casillas the technician. Together, they form a rock-solid legacy at nose tackle in the AFC South.

Interior Defensive Linemen

Art Donovan – Indianapolis Colts

• 5× Pro Bowl, 4× First-Team All-Pro
• Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee (1968)
• Back-to-back NFL Champion with the Colts (1958, 1959)

Donovan was the original big man menace — destructive, outspoken, and downright unblockable in the trenches.

Ray Childress – Houston Oilers

• 5× Pro Bowl selection, 76.5 career sacks
• Versatile DT/DE hybrid with elite pass rush
• Franchise cornerstone for Houston in the late ’80s and ’90s

Childress was a technician with power. If you tried to run inside or slide protection, he made you pay.

DeForest Buckner – Indianapolis Colts

• 2× Pro Bowl, 2020 First-Team All-Pro
• Double-digit sack season (2020)
• Leader of the Colts’ modern defensive front

Buckner brings size, explosion, and leadership. He’s the 21st-century disrupter who wrecks pockets and racks up pressures.

Donovan brought the toughness, Childress brought the skill, and Buckner brings the burst. This IDL trio hits you from every era and angle.

Defensive Coordinators

Wade Phillips – Houston Texans

• Defensive mastermind with 40+ years of NFL coaching experience
• Built top-tier defenses in multiple stops — Texans, Broncos, Rams, Cowboys
• Super Bowl 50 Champion as DC with the Denver Broncos

Phillips wasn’t just a coordinator — he was a defensive savant. Known for turning average rosters into elite units, Wade’s schemes unleashed havoc.

Jim Schwartz – Tennessee Titans

• Defensive coordinator for the Titans from 2001–2008
• Known for aggressive fronts and physicality at all levels
• Later led the Eagles’ defense to a Super Bowl win in 2017

Schwartz brought nasty to the AFC South — and results. His defenses didn’t bend and sure as hell didn’t break.

Ron Meeks – Indianapolis Colts

• Defensive coordinator during Colts’ Super Bowl XLI win
• Focused on speed, simplicity, and execution
• Helped develop stars like Dwight Freeney and Bob Sanders

Meeks’ “speed kills” mentality helped build the Colts into a defense that thrived on turnovers and closing games fast.

Phillips brought the brains, Schwartz brought the bruises, and Meeks brought the burst. Three coordinators, three dominant styles — all AFC South-built.

Conclusion

From Peyton Manning carving up defenses to J.J. Watt terrorizing quarterbacks, the AFC South’s all-time roster is a mashup of physical dominance, legendary production, and era-defining excellence. Every position group offers a blend of Hall of Fame legends, franchise icons, and forgotten beasts who brought pain on Sundays.

What makes this lineup so fun? The balance. You get old-school punishment from guys like Earl Campbell and Ken Houston, alongside modern-day freaks like Derrick Henry and Quenton Nelson. Add in the swagger of Bob Sanders, the precision of Marvin Harrison, and the thunder brought by Dwight Freeney and Jeff Saturday — and you’ve got a team built to dominate in any era.

So whether you’re a Colts loyalist, Titans die-hard, Jaguars lifer, or Texans hopeful, this All-Time AFC South squad proves one thing: this division has quietly housed some of the NFL’s baddest men. From top to bottom, it’s a depth chart that can hang with any in the league.

FAQs – All-Time AFC South Depth Chart

Q: How were players selected for this all-time team?

Players were chosen based on their overall talent, career accomplishments, and impact while playing for AFC South teams. We factored in Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, stats, longevity, and contributions to winning.

Q: Why is Peyton Manning the quarterback over other greats?

Peyton Manning is one of the most decorated quarterbacks in NFL history, and his dominance with the Colts — including 4 MVPs during his time in Indy — made him the obvious choice.

Q: Why are only players from AFC South franchises included?

This list includes players based on what they did for AFC South teams — Colts, Jaguars, Titans/Oilers, and Texans. Achievements on other teams were not considered.

Q: Why isn’t [insert player] on this list?

If a legendary player isn’t included, it’s likely due to limited time spent in the division, lesser production compared to others, or simply stiff competition at the position. Only three players per spot made the cut.

Q: What’s the purpose of these depth charts?

These depth charts are a fun way to celebrate NFL history by showcasing the greatest players each division has ever seen — formatted like a real roster, complete with backups and coaching staffs.

Explore Other All-Time NFL Division Depth Charts:

AFC All-Time NFL Depth Charts

• All-Time AFC East NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time AFC North NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time AFC South NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time AFC West NFL Depth Chart

NFC All-Time NFL Depth Charts

• All-Time NFC East NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time NFC North NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time NFC South NFL Depth Chart
• All-Time NFC West NFL Depth Chart

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