Twice an All-Star with the Coyotes, Keith Yandle was dealt to the Florida Panthers after his second team, the New York Rangers, were concerned that they would not be able to re-sign the Defenseman when his contract expired after the season.  It worked out well for the Panthers, as they only gave up two middle-round picks, and they re-signed him for four more years.

An offensively gifted blueliner, Yandle became the top Defenseman instantly as soon as he donned Florida gear.  Yandle was not just a good hockey player; he became a modern ironman, setting the record for the most consecutive games played by a Defenseman.  He would score at least 40 Points in his first four years with the Panthers, with a 56-Point year in 2017-18, followed by a career-best 62 Points the year after.

An All-Star in 2019, Yandle joined Philadelphia as a Free Agent, but not before scoring 201 Points in 371 Games with Florida.

2025 Pre-Season Rank #39, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #62, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #92, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #133, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #146.  Peak Period: 2020-24

Smith was a Second-Team All-Pro for two years in a row (2020-21), but as good as he was, the Bears weren’t, and Smith and Chicago grew disenchanted with each other. Chicago traded Smith to the Ravens during the season, and it started the best run of his career. 

In the year he was traded (2022), Smith had career highs in Combined Tackles (169) and Solo Tackles (103), and was rewarded with his First Team All-Pro.  Smith has since followed that with his second and third First Team All-Pro selections, and his domination in the middle has continued the Baltimore defense's stellar reputation.

Last season, the streak of at least First Team All-Pro selections and 150 Combined Tackles ended, but he was a Pro Bowl selection for the fourth straight year.  His “down year” is still a dream season for most Middle Linebackers, and there is no reason to think that he won’t be one of the best MLBs in 2026. 

Pre-Season Rank #27, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #40, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #57, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #107, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #143. Peak Period 2017-18/2022-24

When you are on the same Offensive Line as Jason Kelce, you fall easily into the shadows.  As Kelce’s teammate, Johnson won a Super Bowl, went to five Pro Bowls (2017-19 & 2022-23), and was twice a First Team All-Pro, cementing him as one of the top Tackles in Football.  Following Kelce’s retirement in 2023, Johnson accomplished something that Kelce could not do: win a second Super Bowl.  That occurred in 2024, when Johnson added Pro Bowl number six.  How much does Johnson’s legacy increase if Philadelphia wins it all again this year? 

2025 Pre-Season Ranking #22, 2024 Pre-Season Rank #49, 2023 Pre-Season Rank #79, 2022 Pre-Season Rank #118, 2021 Pre-Season Rank #142.  Peak Period: 2020-24

From 2020 to 2024, Fred Warner assaulted this list and terrorized rushers as one of the best (if not the best) man-to-man interior forces in football.  It was an incredible run that yielded four First Team All-Pros, and the quick-as-a-cat Middle Linebacker had a fifth one in his sights in 2025 before an early-season broken ankle took him out for the rest of the campaign. 

That led to his first tumble on our Notinhalloffame Football Monitor, but he enters this season in perfect health and ready to anchor the 49ers defense and possibly make a Super Bowl run.  Barring injury, this is what we expect from Warner, who will likely get right back on track.  This is one player we would not bet against.