List of NFL annual tackles leaders
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This is a list of National Football League (NFL) players who have led the regular season in solo and combined tackles each year.
The record for most solo tackles is held by Ray Lewis, who made 156 in the 1997 season, while the record for most combined tackles belongs to Hardy Nickerson, who made 214 in 1993.
According to Pro Football Reference, solo tackles have been tracked since 1994, and combined tackles since 1978. However, combined tackle numbers before the 1987 season are incomplete and limited to few players.[1]
Solo tackles leaders
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Leader | The player who recorded the most solo tackles in the NFL |
| Solo tackles | The total number of solo tackles the player had |
| GP | The number of games played by a player during the season |
| † | Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| ^ | Active player |
| * | Set the single-season solo tackle record |
| (#) | Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list |
Most seasons leading the league
| Count | Player | Seasons | Team(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Derrick Brooks | 1998, 2000, 2004 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Ray Lewis | 1997, 1999, 2001 | Baltimore Ravens | |
| 2 | Foyesade Oluokon | 2022, 2023 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Jordyn Brooks | 2021, 2025 | Seattle Seahawks / Miami Dolphins | |
| Patrick Willis | 2007, 2009 | San Francisco 49ers |
Source:[2]
Combined tackles leaders
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Leader | The player who recorded the most combined tackles in the NFL |
| Combined tackles | The total number of combined tackles the player had |
| GP | The number of games played by a player during the season |
| † | Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame |
| ^ | Active player |
| * | Set the single-season combined tackle record |
| (#) | Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list |
Note that the combined tackle totals from 1978 to 1986 are incomplete.[3]
Most seasons leading the league
| Count | Player | Seasons | Team(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Clay Matthews Jr. | 1978, 1979, 1981, 1984 | Cleveland Browns |
| Jessie Tuggle | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995 | Atlanta Falcons | |
| 3 | Bobby Wagner | 2016, 2019, 2023 | Seattle Seahawks |
| Kyle Clifton | 1985, 1986, 1988 | New York Jets | |
| Ray Lewis | 1997, 1999, 2001 | Baltimore Ravens | |
| 2 | Foyesade Oluokun | 2021, 2022 | Atlanta Falcons / Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Luke Kuechly | 2012, 2014 | Carolina Panthers | |
| Patrick Willis | 2007, 2009 | San Francisco 49ers | |
| Zach Thomas | 2002, 2006 | Miami Dolphins |
Source:[4]