Ranking the top 5 NFL rookie pass rushers in league history

Best rookie NFL pass rush season no. 2: Reggie White, Philadelphia Eagles

Reggie White, The Minister of Defense, maybe the greatest pass rusher of all time, depending on who you ask.

His stellar career started with a bang in his rookie year with the NFL.  He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1985 supplemental draft with the fourth overall pick; however, he spent the first two years of his professional career in the USFL, playing for the Memphis Showboats.

During his two seasons in Memphis, White recorded 23.5 sacks.

White’s rookie season would end with 13 sacks on the year and an eye-popping 100 tackles, which is unheard of for defensive linemen, who typically don’t produce that many tackles since they are down in the trenches.

The Philadelphia Eagles finished the season with a 7 – 9 record and despite the huge numbers from White, he was not voted the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award, and no All-Pro or Pro Bowl nods either.

What makes Reggie White’s rookie season that much more impressive is the fact he only started 12 games and played in 13 total, yet he was tied for the third-highest sack total by a rookie in league history and no one can touch him for total tackles.

Given that White’s rookie year was in 1985, defensive stats back then were primarily sacks, tackles, and interceptions.  Because of that, it’s harder to measure him against pass rushers in the 2000s.

You didn’t hear about tackles for loss or pressure rate, none of the stats you hear about today with advanced analytics.

Reggie White would finish his career with 198 sacks, second in league history, behind only Bruce Smith’s 200.

White was voted to an incredible 13 Pro Bowls, was a seven-time first-team All-Pro, and six second-team All-Pros.

He’s a two-time Defensive Player of the year and a top-10 finalist in seven different seasons.