Let’s face it: when the Hall of Fame begins to feel a bit overcrowded, you know that it’s time to separate the legends from the mortals. The NFL defense has been a battleground for quarterbacks’ worst recurring nightmares, sideline-smotherers, and headhunters. But here’s the thing: ranking defensive greatness is a losing battle. Because how can you compare a defensive tackle who gets triple-teamed every play and still finds himself in the backfield to a cornerback that quarterbacks won’t throw at?

That’s where this list comes in. Aaron Donald’s retirement started this whole debate. Now that his resume was locked, the argument only got more heated. How does he stack up against such greats as Ray Lewis, Deion Sanders, Reggie White, and Lawrence Taylor? It’s time to find out. Here are the five defensive players that are unquestionable in the NFL unless you enjoy being wrong.

Aaron Donald: The wrecking ball in the middle

Let’s begin with the latest nightmare fuel for offensive coordinators. Aaron Donald managed to gatecrash the all-time list in just ten seasons. He wasted little time in earning three Defensive Player of the Year awards, eight First-Team All-Pro selections, and a Pro Bowl berth each season. Over ten seasons, he has the most sacks of any defensive tackle with 111. His 176 loss-causing tackles? All-time record. His QB hits of 260? Second most, and once more, as a defensive tackle.

Not to forget the Super Bowl ring and the fact that, in 11 postseason games, he led all defenders with 6 sacks and 17 quarterback hits. Donald basically made sure you didn’t keep your pocket. He accomplished more than just playing the position; he restored the importance of DTs. And he gets a place at this table just for that.

Deion Sanders: Prime time, all the time

Deion Sanders made you regret even looking in his direction, if Aaron Donald made you regret snapping the ball. “Prime Time” was more than just a nickname. It was a way of life. And yes, he backed it up. A real lockdown corner who established a no-fly zone in the airspace on his side of the pitch. During his career, he recorded 1,331 return yards (second-most when he retired) and 53 interceptions. That’s not a stat sheet, that’s a warning label.

Sanders recorded three total defensive touchdowns and two 90-yard pick-sixes in 1994 alone. The man’s career was essentially a highlight reel. Oh, and he was also one of two NFL players to score a touchdown six different ways. Prime didn’t just play defense. He made it cool.

Ray Lewis: The general who ruled with pain and film study

The only player in NFL history to record 40 sacks and 30 interceptions is Ray Lewis. He also led the league’s most oppressive defense in its history. Lewis was more than just a middle linebacker; he was a master of it. He holds the record for both combined tackles (2,059) and solo tackles (1,568) in the NFL. That’s bothersome; it goes beyond endurance. At least, for offenses. He was a 10-time All-Pro, a 12-time Pro Bowl winner, and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year winner. Ray Lewis not only lived in the minds of his opponents, but he also paid rent there.

Lawrence Taylor: The Edge Rusher who terrorized offenses 

To stop him, they had to come up with new plans. That isn’t a metaphor. Lawrence Taylor wasn’t just a linebacker. He was a living example of panic. In the same season, he recorded 20.5 sacks, won MVP (yep, as a defender), and his third Defensive Player of the Year award in 1986. His career total was 142 sacks, which at the time was the greatest by a linebacker.

He began his career with eight First-Team All-Pro selections and ten consecutive Pro Bowls. He was double-teamed by offensive lines. Triple-teamed sometimes. Taylor may be the most feared player in NFL history, so forget about being the best edge rusher. Taylor was the greatest football player of all time, according to even the most defensive-minded person, Bill Belichick. Not a defender. Player. But hey, when your nicknames are “Superman” and “Godzilla,” you kind of earn that respect.

Reggie White: The minister of destruction

Reggie White was known as the “Minister of Defense,” but don’t be fooled by the churchy nickname; his specialty was violent poetry. He held the NFL record for the most sacks through ten years (145), had 12 double-digit sack seasons, and retired as the all-time sack leader (198, now second). In a 15-year period, he also earned 13 Pro Bowls and eight First-Team All-Pro selections. During his time with the Eagles, White once averaged over a sack per game. For an entire era, the man averaged more than one sack per game. For a player with 100 or more games, his 0.85 sacks per game remains the highest in NFL history.

So, good luck in a debate about who is the best. Just don’t forget to include all five, or you’ll be the one getting hit next.