Green Bay Packers: Assembling an All-Decade Team, 2010-19
By Joe Kipp
Linebackers
Outside linebacker: Julius Peppers
One of the Packers’ prized free agents of the decade, Julius Peppers was brought in by former general manager Ted Thompson to be a veteran leader and bolster Green Bay’s pass-rush in 2014. During his time with the Packers, he racked up 28 regular-season sacks in three seasons (48 games). He was a key component to Green Bay’s NFC Championship run in 2014.
Outside linebacker: Za’Darius Smith
Unarguably the greatest free-agent signing for the Packers since Charles Woodson, Za’Darius Smith had an immediate impact in 2019. Smith was named to the Pro Bowl after finishing with 13.5 sacks, 37 quarterback hits and a league-leading 93 quarterback pressures. Additionally, Smith’s presence was extremely vital in shaping a winning culture under first-year coach Matt LaFleur. Though he’s only played one season as a Packer, he still earns a spot on the All-Decade team.
Inside linebacker: Clay Matthews
Though he played outside linebacker for the majority of his time with the Packers, Clay Matthews was technically utilized as an inside linebacker during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. It could be argued he played the best football of his career during that span. Matthews finished with five Pro Bowls for the Packers during the decade, and currently holds the Packers’ all-time mark for career sacks (83.5).