NFL: The 30 most incredible duos in league history

Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, New England Patriots. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, New England Patriots. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Clyde Simmons, Philadelphia Eagles
Clyde Simmons, Philadelphia Eagles. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

27. Reggie White and Clyde Simmons, Philadelphia Eagles

In the history of the Philadelphia Eagles franchise, there have been many iconic defensive players to put on the uniform. However, during the 1980s and early 1990s, the Eagles had incredible players on their defensive line, including two defensive ends that would go on to terrorize quarterbacks over a seven-year span together.

From 1986 through 1992, the combination of Reggie White and Clyde Simmons dominated for the Eagles, racking up 200 sacks as a tandem. In White, the Eagles had arguably the best defensive end in the history of the NFL. Nicknamed “The Minister of Defense,” White would go on to set numerous records, but it was with the Eagles where he made a name for himself originally.

Playing for the Eagles, White would go on to be named to seven straight Pro Bowls, while earning All-Pro honors in six straight seasons. For Simmons, he would be an All-Pro in both 1991 and 1992. In that 1992 NFL season, he would rack up 19 sacks, second to only White’s 21 in 1997 in terms of single-season records.

Tragedy would strike the Eagles in June 1992 when fellow All-Pro defensive lineman Jerome Brown was killed in an auto accident. Both Simmons and White would be gone from Philadelphia by the end of the 1993 NFL season. But for a time, they were the elite defensive end duo in the game, leading the Eagles to the playoffs in four of their last five seasons together.