All-Time NFC North NFL Depth Chart

Some rivalries are built on bad blood. The NFC North is built on legacy.

This division gave us Lombardi, Halas, and Bud Grant. From the frozen tundra of Lambeau to the roar of the Metrodome — the NFC North is the beating heart of old-school football. Names like Barry Sanders, Dick Butkus, and Randy Moss echo through the decades, shaping the NFL as we know it.

We broke down the All-Time NFC North NFL Depth Chart, featuring the greatest offensive and defensive players in division history. Starters and backups. Legends only. Let’s dive in.

Table of Contents

• Head Coaches
• Offense Overview
• Quarterbacks
• Running Backs
• Fullbacks
• Wide Receivers
• Slot Receivers
• Tight Ends
• Left Tackles
• Left Guards
• Centers
• Right Guards
• Right Tackles
• Offensive Coordinators
• Defense Overview
• Edge Rushers
• Interior Defensive Line
• Nose Tackles
• Linebackers
• Cornerbacks
• Slot Cornerbacks
• Safeties
• Defensive Coordinators

Head Coaches

Vince Lombardi – Green Bay Packers

• 5-time NFL champion and 2-time Super Bowl winner (I, II)
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1971)
• The NFL’s championship trophy is literally named after him

Lombardi didn’t just win — he built a dynasty. His leadership, discipline, and iron-clad playbook turned the Packers into the most dominant team of the 1960s.

George Halas – Chicago Bears

• 6-time NFL champion as head coach of the Bears
• Founder of the Chicago Bears and a founding father of the NFL
• Pro Football Hall of Fame charter inductee (1963)

Halas was “Papa Bear” for a reason — coach, owner, innovator, and fierce competitor who helped invent modern football.

Bud Grant – Minnesota Vikings

• 4-time NFC champion and 11-time division winner
• Member of both the Pro Football and Canadian Football Halls of Fame
• Career 168 wins with the Vikings

Grant brought steely toughness and consistency — leading the Purple People Eaters era and making the Vikings a perennial powerhouse.

Lombardi set the standard, Halas built the league, and Grant owned the North — this HC trio defines coaching greatness in the NFC North.

Top NFL players in NFC North history — this graphic highlights the all-time starting offensive lineup featuring legends from the Packers, Bears, Lions, and Vikings

All-Time NFC North Offense

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers

• 4-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XLV champion
• Over 59,000 career passing yards and 475+ touchdowns
• 10-time Pro Bowler and 2011 Super Bowl MVP

Rodgers combined jaw-dropping arm talent with elite efficiency — a cerebral assassin who made even the toughest throws look effortless.

Brett Favre – Green Bay Packers

• 3-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl XXXI champion
• 71,838 passing yards and 508 career touchdown passes
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2016)

Favre was the gunslinger — fearless, fiery, and never boring. He brought grit and swagger to the Frozen Tundra every Sunday.

Bart Starr – Green Bay Packers

• 5-time NFL champion and 2-time Super Bowl MVP (I, II)
• 94–57–6 record as a starter under Lombardi
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1977)

Starr was the ultimate field general — calm under pressure and always clutch when it mattered most.

Rodgers was precise, Favre was electric, and Starr was legendary — this NFC North QB room is a Mount Rushmore of Green Bay greatness.

Running Backs

Barry Sanders – Detroit Lions

• 10-time Pro Bowler and 4-time NFL rushing champion
• 15,269 career rushing yards and 99 touchdowns
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2004)

Sanders made defenders miss in phone booths — a magician with the football whose balance, burst, and vision defined highlight reels for a decade.

Walter Payton – Chicago Bears

• 9-time Pro Bowler and 1977 NFL MVP
• 16,726 career rushing yards and 125 total touchdowns
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1993)

“Sweetness” ran with elegance and fury — an all-time great who did it all: block, catch, run, and inspire generations.

Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings

• 2012 NFL MVP and 7-time Pro Bowler
• 2,097 rushing yards in 2012 (second-most in NFL history)
• 120+ career rushing touchdowns and counting

AP was a freight train with rocket fuel — a rare combination of power and speed who could take any carry to the house.

Barry shook ’em, Walter ran through ’em, and Peterson outran ’em — this NFC North backfield is an all-time three-headed monster.

Fullbacks

Bronko Nagurski – Chicago Bears

• 3-time NFL champion and charter Pro Football Hall of Famer (1963)
• Played both fullback and defensive tackle — true two-way legend
• Known as one of the toughest players in NFL history

Nagurski was a bulldozer in leather — the original ironman who ran through defenders and wrestled them down on the other side of the ball.

William Henderson – Green Bay Packers

• Super Bowl XXXI champion and 2004 Pro Bowler
• Played 12 seasons with the Packers as a premier lead blocker
• Also added 320+ receptions and 14 touchdowns

Henderson did the dirty work — a punishing blocker with soft hands and the heart of a champion in Green Bay’s backfield.

Tony Richardson – Minnesota Vikings

• 3-time Pro Bowler and 2010 First-Team All-Pro
• Lead blocker for 1,000-yard rushers like Adrian Peterson and Priest Holmes
• Over 700 career games played and a model of fullback longevity

Richardson was the unsung hero — a road grader with elite awareness who paved lanes for some of the NFL’s greatest backs.

Nagurski brought the pain, Henderson brought the glue, and Richardson brought the consistency — this NFC North fullback room is all grit, no glory.

Wide Receivers

Randy Moss – Minnesota Vikings

• 6-time Pro Bowler and 4-time First-Team All-Pro
• 156 career receiving touchdowns (2nd all-time)
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2018)

Moss made the deep ball an art form — with Olympic speed, magnetic hands, and a vertical leap that defied physics.

Don Hutson – Green Bay Packers

• 8-time First-Team All-Pro and 3-time NFL champion
• 99 career touchdowns in an era of run-heavy football
• Pro Football Hall of Fame charter inductee (1963)

Hutson was the league’s first receiving superstar — a route-running pioneer who basically invented the modern WR position.

Cris Carter – Minnesota Vikings

• 8-time Pro Bowler and 2-time First-Team All-Pro
• 130 career receiving touchdowns (4th all-time)
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2013)

Carter caught everything — a sideline specialist and red-zone nightmare who made toe-tapping touchdowns routine.

Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions

• 6-time Pro Bowler and 3-time First-Team All-Pro
• 11,619 career receiving yards and 83 touchdowns
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2021)

“Megatron” was a real-life cheat code — 6’5″, blazing speed, and the ability to out-jump an entire secondary.

Sterling Sharpe – Green Bay Packers

• 5-time Pro Bowler and 3-time First-Team All-Pro
• Led the league in receptions, yards, and TDs at different points in his career
• Career cut short due to injury, but dominance was undeniable

Sharpe was a physical, precise route-runner with glue for hands — a peak performer whose prime rivaled anyone’s.

Jordy Nelson – Green Bay Packers

• Super Bowl XLV champion and 2016 NFL Comeback Player of the Year
• 7,848 career receiving yards and 72 touchdowns
• Aaron Rodgers’ favorite deep threat for nearly a decade

Nelson was clutch and consistent — a reliable big-play weapon who always found space when it mattered most.

With Moss’s freakish talent, Calvin’s size, Carter’s hands, Hutson’s legacy, Sharpe’s precision, and Jordy’s chemistry — this WR room might be the best in NFL history.

Slot Receivers

Cris Carter – Minnesota Vikings

• 8-time Pro Bowler and 2-time First-Team All-Pro
• 130 career receiving touchdowns (4th all-time)
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2013)

Whether outside or in the slot, Carter was automatic — a master of body control and sideline artistry who always came down with the ball.

Randall Cobb – Green Bay Packers

• 50 career touchdowns and nearly 7,000 receiving yards
• Aaron Rodgers’ trusted target in clutch moments
• Also contributed heavily on special teams early in his career

Cobb was slippery and dependable — a shifty route-runner who made his living finding daylight between linebackers and safeties.

Golden Tate – Detroit Lions

• Over 8,000 career receiving yards and 46 touchdowns
• Pro Bowl selection in 2014
• Led NFC in yards after catch (YAC) multiple seasons

Tate was a YAC machine — fearless across the middle, elusive in open space, and a major spark in Detroit’s passing game.

Carter’s toe-drags, Cobb’s chemistry, and Tate’s toughness make this slot trio as versatile and dangerous as any in NFL history.

Tight Ends

Mike Ditka – Chicago Bears

• 5-time Pro Bowler and 2-time First-Team All-Pro
• 1961 NFL Rookie of the Year with 1,076 receiving yards
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1988)

Before he was Da Coach, Ditka was a revolutionary tight end — physical, fast, and nasty after the catch. He helped define the position.

Charlie Sanders – Detroit Lions

• 7-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro
• Over 4,800 career receiving yards and 31 touchdowns
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2007)

Sanders was athletic and smooth — a vertical threat at tight end before that was common, with soft hands and a big frame.

Steve Jordan – Minnesota Vikings

• 6-time Pro Bowler and over 6,300 career receiving yards
• Had 498 receptions and 28 touchdowns over 13 seasons
• One of the most consistent tight ends of the late ’80s and early ’90s

Jordan was the prototype of reliability — a true safety valve who brought professionalism and production to every game.

With Ditka’s toughness, Sanders’ athleticism, and Jordan’s consistency, this NFC North tight end trio can block, catch, and bulldoze any defense.

Left Tackles

Forrest Gregg – Green Bay Packers

• 9-time Pro Bowler and 7-time First-Team All-Pro
• 6-time NFL champion and Super Bowl I & II winner
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1977)

Vince Lombardi called him “the finest player I ever coached.” Gregg was durable, disciplined, and downright dominant at the point of attack.

Lomas Brown – Detroit Lions

• 7-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XXXVII champion (with Bucs)
• Started 251 games over 18 NFL seasons
• Protected Barry Sanders during his entire 2,000-yard MVP season

Brown was the ultimate blindside bodyguard — a technician with elite longevity and incredible consistency in both run and pass protection.

David Bakhtiari – Green Bay Packers

• 2-time First-Team All-Pro and 3-time Pro Bowler
• Widely regarded as one of the NFL’s best pass blockers of the 2010s
• Helped protect Aaron Rodgers during multiple MVP campaigns

Bakhtiari was slick-footed and steady — a modern-day LT who made edge rushers disappear with elite technique and timing.

Gregg brought the rings, Brown brought the reliability, and Bakhtiari brought the balance — this LT trio gives the NFC North a fortress on the blindside.

Left Guards

Randall McDaniel – Minnesota Vikings

• 12-time Pro Bowler and 7-time First-Team All-Pro
• Started 202 consecutive games for the Vikings
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2009)

McDaniel was a freak athlete in a guard’s body — explosive off the line, technically perfect, and nearly impossible to beat one-on-one.

Mark Bortz – Chicago Bears

• 2-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XX champion
• Part of the legendary 1985 Bears offensive line
• Started 155 games during his 12-year career

Bortz was rugged and reliable — a blue-collar mauler who helped power the most feared rushing attack of the ’80s.

Josh Sitton – Green Bay Packers

• 4-time Pro Bowler and 2014 First-Team All-Pro
• Super Bowl XLV champion with the Packers
• Known for elite pass protection and toughness

Sitton was a wall inside — rarely beaten, always steady, and a huge part of Rodgers’ MVP-level protection during Green Bay’s dominance.

McDaniel had the feet, Bortz had the fists, and Sitton had the smarts — this LG trio gives the NFC North brains and brawn in the trenches.

Centers

Jim Ringo – Green Bay Packers

• 10-time Pro Bowler and 6-time First-Team All-Pro
• 2-time NFL champion with the Packers
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (1981)

Ringo was ahead of his time — fast, smart, and technically brilliant, he anchored Lombardi’s line through Green Bay’s glory years.

Mick Tingelhoff – Minnesota Vikings

• 6-time Pro Bowler and 5-time First-Team All-Pro
• Started 240 consecutive games — never missed a start
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2015)

Tingelhoff was the definition of dependable — an ironman at the pivot who commanded the Vikings’ offense for over a decade.

Jay Hilgenberg – Chicago Bears

• 7-time Pro Bowler and 2-time First-Team All-Pro
• Super Bowl XX champion and staple of the 1985 Bears O-line
• Started 130 straight games from 1984 to 1991

Hilgenberg was agile and nasty — a key cog in the engine room of one of the most balanced and brutal offenses of the ’80s.

Ringo was the technician, Tingelhoff was the warrior, and Hilgenberg was the anchor — this NFC North center trio can handle anything thrown their way.

Right Guards

Jerry Kramer – Green Bay Packers

• 5-time First-Team All-Pro and 3-time NFL champion
• Key blocker on Lombardi’s legendary “Packer Sweep”
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2018)

Kramer was the pulling guard prototype — athletic, intelligent, and nasty. His blocks were the backbone of Green Bay’s dynasty.

Ed White – Minnesota Vikings

• 4-time Pro Bowler with over 240 career starts
• Played in 4 Super Bowls with the Vikings
• One of the most respected linemen of his era

White was a road grader — powerful and precise, he brought the thunder inside for Minnesota’s physical run game.

Andy Maurer – Minnesota Vikings

• Started Super Bowls for both the Vikings and Broncos
• Key part of the Vikings’ 1970s offensive line rotation
• Respected veteran with playoff pedigree

Maurer was the ultimate plug-and-play guard — a steady, experienced presence who stepped up when it mattered most.

Kramer delivered history, White delivered power, and Maurer delivered steadiness — this RG group keeps the pocket clean and the chains moving.

Right Tackles

Ron Yary – Minnesota Vikings

• 7-time Pro Bowler and 6-time First-Team All-Pro
• Started in four Super Bowls for the Vikings
• Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee (2001)

Yary was the prototype RT — strong, athletic, and aggressive. He locked down the edge for Minnesota’s dominant teams of the 1970s.

Cal Hubbard – Green Bay Packers

• 4-time NFL champion and charter Hall of Famer (1963)
• Played both tackle and defensive line
• Also a Hall of Fame MLB umpire — the only person in both Halls

Hubbard was a giant of his time — a two-way force and fierce competitor whose name still echoes through football history.

Bryan Bulaga – Green Bay Packers

• Super Bowl XLV champion and longtime starter at RT
• Started 122 games over 10 seasons with Green Bay
• Known for his poise, technique, and big-game experience

Bulaga was steady and dependable — a reliable pass protector who helped anchor the line during Aaron Rodgers’ prime.

Yary brought dominance, Hubbard brought legacy, and Bulaga brought balance — this right tackle unit is built to handle the fiercest edge threats in NFL history.

Offensive Coordinator

Scott Linehan – Detroit Lions

• Offensive coordinator for the Lions from 2009–2013
• Oversaw the rise of Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson
• Led Detroit to a top-5 passing offense multiple times

Linehan orchestrated one of the most explosive aerial attacks of the early 2010s, unleashing Megatron to the tune of 1,964 yards in 2012.

Kevin Stefanski – Minnesota Vikings

• OC in 2019 before becoming Browns head coach
• Helped Minnesota reach the NFC Divisional Round
• Known for balance, play-action, and QB-friendly designs

Stefanski brought a calming, modern edge to the Vikings’ offense — the bridge between old-school toughness and new-school tactics.

Norv Turner – Minnesota Vikings

• OC for the Vikings (2014–2016)
• Former NFL head coach and Super Bowl-winning OC
• Helped groom Teddy Bridgewater while maximizing AP’s late prime

Turner brought veteran savvy and West Coast wrinkles to the Vikings, building functional offenses even with limited tools.

With Linehan’s fireworks, Stefanski’s structure, and Turner’s experience — this OC trio can scheme success in any era.

Top defensive players in NFC North history — this graphic showcases the all-time starting defensive lineup with legends from the Bears, Packers, Vikings, and Lions

All-Time NFC North Defense

Free Safeties

Paul Krause – Minnesota Vikings

• All-time NFL leader with 81 career interceptions
• 8× Pro Bowl selection and 6× All-Pro
• Key piece of the “Purple People Eaters” defense

Krause had a sixth sense for reading quarterbacks, always in the right place at the right time. His instincts were generational.

Willie Wood – Green Bay Packers

• 5× NFL Champion and 2× Super Bowl winner under Lombardi
• 9× Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer
• Recorded 48 INTs and revolutionized the safety position

Wood was a field general and clutch performer. If there was a big game, you could bet he was making a big play.

Yale Lary – Detroit Lions

• 3× NFL Champion and 9× Pro Bowl selection
• Played safety and punter — true two-way threat
• Hall of Famer with 50 career interceptions

Lary could change games on defense or special teams. A dual-role weapon before that was even a concept.

The NFC North’s FS trio is a legacy of vision, leadership, and ball-hawking greatness — all in gold jackets.

Strong Safeties

Harrison Smith – Minnesota Vikings

• 6× Pro Bowl selection and 3× Second-team All-Pro
• Over 1,000 tackles, 34 interceptions, and 16.5 sacks
• Vocal leader and enforcer in the Vikings’ secondary

Smith is one of the smartest and most consistent safeties of his era — a true Swiss army knife on defense.

Leroy Butler – Green Bay Packers

• Super Bowl XXXI Champion and 4× All-Pro
• Invented the Lambeau Leap
• Member of the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team

Butler was a playmaker before it was trendy — and his versatility helped define the modern strong safety role.

Emlen Tunnell – Detroit Lions (briefly), better known for Giants

• First African-American player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• 79 career interceptions
• 9× Pro Bowl and 6× All-Pro

Though best known as a Giant, Tunnell’s legend echoes across the league. He was simply ahead of his time.

Hard hitters, turnover artists, and leaders — this SS group can stop the run and flip the game with one hit.

Cornerbacks

Charles Woodson – Green Bay Packers

• 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• 4× First-team All-Pro, 9× Pro Bowler
• 38 interceptions and 11.5 sacks with the Packers

Woodson was a ballhawk with elite instincts — capable of locking down receivers or blitzing off the edge with force.

Dick LeBeau – Detroit Lions

• 62 career interceptions in 14 seasons
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010
• 3× Pro Bowl selection and longtime defensive coach

LeBeau combined smarts with skill — both as a player and as a future architect of zone blitz schemes.

Dick “Night Train” Lane – Chicago Bears / Detroit Lions

• 14 INTs as a rookie — still an NFL record
• 7× Pro Bowl and 3× First-team All-Pro
• Feared tackler with revolutionary style

Night Train Lane was pure chaos for opposing offenses, with his brutal hits and unmatched ball-hawking ability.

Herb Adderley – Green Bay Packers

• 5× NFL Champion including 2 Super Bowls
• 48 career interceptions and 7 defensive TDs
• Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1980

Adderley was the perfect fit for Lombardi’s defense — fast, physical, and always around the ball.

Lem Barney – Detroit Lions

• 7× Pro Bowl selection and 3× All-Pro
• 56 career interceptions and 7 return touchdowns
• Rookie Defensive Player of the Year (1967)

Barney had elite athleticism and charisma — a lockdown corner who doubled as a dangerous return man.

Bobby Bryant – Minnesota Vikings

• 51 career interceptions over 13 seasons
• 2× Pro Bowl and leader of the “Purple People Eaters”
• Scored 3 defensive touchdowns in 1975

Bryant was underrated even in his own era — but his consistency and production speak volumes.

Ballhawks, bruisers, and brainiacs — this cornerback unit could take on any era of offense and make them pay.

Outside Linebackers

Lance Briggs – Chicago Bears

• 7× Pro Bowl selection and 1× First-team All-Pro
• Over 1,100 tackles, 15 interceptions, and 16 forced fumbles
• Anchor of the Bears’ defense during their 2006 Super Bowl run

Briggs was a sideline-to-sideline missile, combining speed and smarts to patrol the weak side like few others in Bears history.

Matt Blair – Minnesota Vikings

• 6× Pro Bowl selection and 1× All-Pro
• Over 1,400 tackles and 16 career interceptions
• Key part of the Vikings’ “Purple People Eaters” era

Blair could blitz, cover, and hit — a versatile backer who helped define Minnesota’s dominant 1970s defenses.

George Connor – Chicago Bears

• 4× First-team All-Pro and Hall of Fame inductee
• Played both linebacker and tackle during the 1940s–50s
• Part of two NFL Championship teams with the Bears

Connor brought old-school toughness to the gridiron — a true two-way legend whose instincts and power set the tone for his era.

From sideline speed to old-school grit, these NFC North OLBs were enforcers with elite instincts and a nose for the football.

Inside Linebackers

Dick Butkus – Chicago Bears

• 8× Pro Bowl selection and 5× First-team All-Pro
• Over 1,000 tackles, 22 interceptions, and 27 fumble recoveries
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979

Butkus wasn’t just a linebacker — he was a force of nature, terrorizing ball carriers and quarterbacks with unrivaled aggression.

Ray Nitschke – Green Bay Packers

• 5× NFL Champion and Super Bowl I & II winner
• 2× First-team All-Pro and member of NFL 50th Anniversary Team
• Leader of Vince Lombardi’s feared Packers defenses

Nitschke played with fury and brains — a no-nonsense enforcer who brought titles and toughness to Green Bay’s golden era.

Mike Singletary – Chicago Bears

• 10× Pro Bowl selection and 2× NFL Defensive Player of the Year
• Led the 1985 Bears defense to a Super Bowl XX title
• Member of the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team

Singletary’s intensity, leadership, and signature stare were the heartbeat of one of the most feared defenses in NFL history.

Whether barking signals or busting heads, this ILB trio brought fire and ferocity — the NFC North middle is built like a brick wall.

Slot Cornerbacks

Antoine Winfield – Minnesota Vikings

• 3× Pro Bowl selection and one of the league’s most physical slot corners
• Over 1,000 career tackles and 14 career forced fumbles
• Known for his tackling, blitzing ability, and slot shutdown coverage

Winfield played the slot like a linebacker in a cornerback’s body — fearless, feisty, and fundamentally sound.

Charles Tillman – Chicago Bears

• 2× Pro Bowl selection and 2013 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year
• 38 career forced fumbles, including the legendary “Peanut Punch” technique
• Member of the 2000s All-Decade Defensive Back conversation

Tillman’s ability to punch out footballs changed how corners play the position — a true turnover machine in the nickel or outside.

Captain Munnerlyn – Minnesota Vikings

• Career nickelback with over 500 tackles and 12 interceptions
• Best known for his aggressive coverage and quick first step
• Scored 5 career defensive touchdowns, including 3 pick-sixes

Munnerlyn patrolled the slot with swagger and speed — the kind of guy who made you think twice before running a slant.

This trio brings a unique blend of physicality, ball skills, and football IQ — the slot is officially on lockdown in the NFC North.

Edge Rushers

Chris Doleman – Minnesota Vikings

• 8× Pro Bowl selection and 3× First-team All-Pro
• 150.5 career sacks, ranking top 5 all-time at retirement
• Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2012

Doleman was a relentless edge force, dominating with speed and power — a prototype for the modern pass rusher.

Jared Allen – Minnesota Vikings

• 5× Pro Bowl and 4× First-team All-Pro
• Led NFL in sacks twice; 136 total in his career
• 2011: Nearly broke single-season sack record with 22.0

Allen was a sack machine with a mullet and a motor — his energy lifted the entire Vikings defense.

Willie Davis – Green Bay Packers

• 5× NFL Champion and 2× Super Bowl winner
• Member of the 1960s All-Decade Team
• Hall of Fame inductee known for leadership and relentless pressure

Davis was the heart of Lombardi’s pass rush — a classy captain who set the tone with consistent excellence.

Doug Atkins – Chicago Bears

• 8× Pro Bowl selection and 10× All-Pro honors (First & Second team)
• Key part of the Bears’ fearsome 1950s–60s defensive fronts
• Hall of Fame inductee and one of the most physically imposing ends of his era

Atkins was a towering menace — his brute strength and attitude made quarterbacks miserable for over a decade.

Julius Peppers – Chicago Bears

• 9× Pro Bowl selection and 6× All-Pro
• 159.5 career sacks, 3rd-most in NFL history at retirement
• Played for both Bears and Packers in the NFC North

Peppers brought freakish athleticism to the edge — a rare blend of size, agility, and consistency across eras.

Robert Porcher – Detroit Lions

• 3× Pro Bowl selection
• Detroit Lions’ all-time sack leader with 95.5
• Anchored the Lions’ defensive line through the 1990s

Porcher quietly terrorized quarterbacks in Detroit — underrated but wildly productive off the edge.

Power. Speed. Longevity. This NFC North edge group brings a terrifying combination of Hall of Fame pedigree and sack production that spans eras and styles.

Nose Tackles

Pat Williams – Minnesota Vikings

• 3× Pro Bowl selection with the Vikings
• Key piece of the “Williams Wall” run defense in Minnesota
• Over 500 tackles from the interior line

Williams was a human bulldozer — immovable in the trenches and the soul of a dominant Vikings run D.

Gilbert Brown – Green Bay Packers

• Super Bowl XXXI Champion with the Packers
• Nicknamed “The Gravedigger” for his punishing hits
• Fan favorite and legendary run-stuffer of the 1990s

Brown anchored the Packers’ line like a concrete wall — few could move him, fewer dared to try.

Jerry Ball – Detroit Lions

• 3× Pro Bowl selection (2 with Detroit)
• Played nose tackle at a dominant 330+ lbs
• Disrupted both run and pass plays from the interior

Ball brought size and surprising quickness, clogging lanes and collapsing pockets with brute force.

Built like tanks and just as tough to move — this trio of NFC North nose tackles made life miserable in the A-gaps for decades.

Interior Defensive Linemen

Alan Page – Minnesota Vikings

• 1971 NFL MVP — one of only two defensive players ever to win it
• 9× Pro Bowl and 6× First-team All-Pro
• 148.5 career sacks (unofficial stat era)

Page was the heart of the Purple People Eaters and remains one of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history — explosive, cerebral, and unstoppable.

Ndamukong Suh – Detroit Lions

• 2010 Defensive Rookie of the Year
• 5× Pro Bowl, 3× First-team All-Pro
• Known for his power, violence, and disruptive dominance

Suh was chaos in cleats — a nightmare for guards and quarterbacks alike during his prime Lions years.

Henry Jordan – Green Bay Packers

• 4× NFL Champion and 5× Pro Bowl selection
• Hall of Fame inductee (1995)
• Key figure on Vince Lombardi’s iconic Packers defense

Jordan was quick off the snap and a foundational piece of one of the greatest dynasties in football history.

Page’s brilliance, Suh’s fury, and Jordan’s championship pedigree — this IDL trio mixes brains, brawn, and banners.

Defensive Coordinators

Buddy Ryan – Chicago Bears

• Architect of the legendary 1985 Bears defense
• Inventor of the aggressive and iconic 46 defense
• Led Chicago to a Super Bowl XX win with one of the most dominant units ever

Buddy Ryan didn’t just coach defense — he revolutionized it. His schemes confused offenses and empowered his players to attack relentlessly.

Fritz Shurmur – Green Bay Packers

• Defensive coordinator for the Super Bowl XXXI champion Packers
• Known for disguising coverages and maximizing talent
• Coached elite defenses across multiple decades

Shurmur was a cerebral defensive mind whose units thrived on flexibility, discipline, and creating turnovers.

Tony Dungy – Minnesota Vikings

• Vikings DC in the late 80s, building elite defenses
• Known for crafting the Tampa 2 defensive scheme
• Later became a Super Bowl-winning head coach

Before he was hoisting Lombardis, Dungy was laying the foundation for modern zone schemes as a soft-spoken mastermind in Minnesota.

Ryan’s fire, Shurmur’s brain, and Dungy’s vision — this DC trio represents innovation, intimidation, and defensive excellence.

Conclusion

The NFC North is a division steeped in tradition, toughness, and legends. From the icy fields of Lambeau to the raucous domes of Minnesota and Detroit, this depth chart represents a football heritage second to none. The offense dazzles with names like Rodgers, Sanders, and Moss, while the defense punishes with icons like Butkus, Krause, and Jared Allen. It’s a lineup built for frozen tundras, Thanksgiving Day classics, and Sunday night showdowns.

FAQs – All-Time NFC North Depth Chart

Which team has the most players on the All-Time NFC North team?

The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings dominate the list, thanks to their rich histories and numerous Hall of Famers. Names like Aaron Rodgers, Forrest Gregg, and Paul Krause helped solidify their presence.

Why is Aaron Rodgers the starting quarterback?

Rodgers earned the QB1 spot due to his multiple MVP awards, Super Bowl win, and remarkable statistical consistency over nearly two decades with the Packers.

Was Barry Sanders unanimously chosen at running back?

Yes — Barry Sanders is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. His explosive style and legendary highlight reel made him a lock for the RB1 slot.

How were players selected for this depth chart?

Players were chosen based on individual accolades, team impact, longevity, and legacy within the NFC North. Every selection reflects accomplishments made while on a team in the division.

Are current players considered?

Yes, if their careers have already made a significant impact. Players like Harrison Smith and Aaron Rodgers were included due to their dominant performances and leadership.

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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