Christian McCaffrey #22 and Luke Kuechly #59 of the Carolina Panthers warms up during their game against the New Orleans Saints on December 29, 2019 (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Carolina Panthers great Luke Kuechly recognizes that there are a lot of great linebackers in the NFL.
The seven-time All-Pro selection and seven-time Pro Bowler was the best at his position during his eight-year playing career. Kuechly established himself as a tackling menace, leading the NFL in the category twice and becoming just the second player in league history to win Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year (2013) in back-to-back seasons.
When asked who is the best linebacker in the game today, Kuechly mentioned multiple great players.
”Oh man, the best guy today. Zack Baun had a great year, I think there's I think there are a handful of guys,” said Kuechly in a one-on-one interview with RG on behalf of his partnership with PXG. “Fred Warner is really good. Roquan Smith is a monster. The two guys I always go back to, we were all in the same class (2012), Bobby Wagner in Washington with Dan Quinn, that was his guy out in Seattle, been doing it a long time – and Lavonte David. That combination of those guys.”
Kuechly mentions the diverse mix of linebackers with the 28-year-old Baun having a career year in his first full season as a starter with the Philadelphia Eagles, the young, but established linebackers in Smith and Warner and the veterans who have been doing it for over a decade in Wagner and David.
”You got the young guys with Roquan and Fred, and then Zach Baun had a career year,” said Kuechly.
“You look at Bobby and Lavonte David, guys that have been doing it a long, long time in the league. That's a good combination of dudes right there.”
When asked specifically who is the best pass-rushing linebacker in the league, Kuechly obviously acknowledges Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons as one of them. The former Panthers linebacker previously met Parsons and studied film with him as part of an NFL Network series called “NFL Generations.”
Although Parsons is known for his pass-rushing ability, Kuechly makes sure to credit the young linebacker for being more than just that.
”I think labeling him one thing doesn't do him justice,” said Kuechly of Parsons. “He's so dynamic, he’s kind of everywhere. He's dynamic off the edge, he's dynamic off the ball, as just a run-and-chase linebacker. The thing, if you put him on the edge, he'd be a rusher, right?
“He's on the edge, he's physical, but when you line him up off the ball, he can run and chase, he can pressure inside, they can create one-on-one matchups with him and an offensive lineman. Mike Zimmer and that defense do a really good job of creating opportunities for him to just use his God-given ability, his athletic ability to go make plays.”
In other words, Kuechly makes sure to credit Parsons as an all-around linebacker rather than just excelling in one department.
“He's super dynamic,” said Kuechly of his fellow linebacker.
“I think he can line up all over the place when you have a guy like that. He’s hard to game plan against.”
While everyone is familiar with the four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro selection, not everyone is familiar with Frankie Luvu, a former Panthers linebacker who broke out with the Commanders this season.
Kuechly makes sure to give credit to his fellow Panthers alum, who isn’t a household name yet, even though he’s coming off of a career year. Luvu had a career-high eight sacks and was named a Second-Team All-Pro selection for the first time in his career.
While Kuechly remains young and still in excellent enough shape to play the game today, he has no interest in returning to football. The 33-year-old is currently an analyst for CBS Sports for college football games and was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame before barely missing the cut in his first year being eligible.
”For the first one or two years I was like, ‘Man, I can still do this. I can go play,’” said Kuechly. “Then year three came, I do radio with the Panthers, so I'm out there on the field pregame, some of those guys run by and I'm like, ‘I want nothing to do with that.’
”During the first couple years [after retirement], you're like, ‘I still got a little juice,’” said Kuechly. “Then as time progresses you're like, ‘Nah, I’m good.’”
Kuechly says there’s “no chance” he’ll make a return to the football field as he continues to embark on his broadcasting career.
“No chance,” said Kuechly when asked if he’ll ever return to the football field.
DJ Siddiqi is a sports reporter who focuses on football, basketball and pro wrestling. He has covered some of the biggest sporting events, including the NBA Finals and Wrestlemania and often interviews high-profile athletes on a weekly basis. Siddiqi has interviewed the likes of Dan Marino, Emmitt Smith, Shaquille O'Neal, Tony Hawk and Giannis Antetokounmpo. His previous experience includes working as a lead NBA writer at CBS Sports and 247 Sports in addition to working as a beat reporter covering the NFL and the Denver Broncos at Bleacher Report. Follow Siddiqi for exclusive one-on-one interviews and analysis on key topics in sports
