NFL Greatest Players

Ronnie Lott: The footsteps wide receivers often heard in their worst nightmares belonged to Ronnie Lott, who left a black-and-blue imprint on the NFL over an outstanding 14-season career.

He was the last line of defense, an enforcer who had to make every hit count. Nobody did that better than Lott and nobody who ventured into his area of concern escaped without paying a stiff price.

Nothing personal, but the talented cornerback-turned-safety took his job seriously.

Lott was competitive and resourceful and his never-give-an-inch style helped inspire the 49ers to four Super Bowl championships.

He was a throwback, a ballhawking defender who threw his 6-foot, 203-pound body around like a middle linebacker.

Though it seemed as though Lott played with reckless abandon, his style was actually crafted out of his amazing sense and feel for what was about to happen on every play.

Any quarterback who threw a ball into the secondary did so with full knowledge that Lott would be ready to pounce.

Every receiver who reached for a pass did so in fear of a torpedo-like shot to the ribs. He was successful as a cornerback early in his career, but his reputation grew with the 1985 move to free safety and a later shift to strong safety.

Lott, a former USC star who was as gentle and soft-spoken off the field as he was intimidating on it, completed his career in 1994 after 10 seasons with the 49ers and two-year stints with the Los Angeles Raiders and New York Jets.

He finished with 63 interceptions, good for fifth place on the all-time list. He also finished with 10 Pro Bowl selections and recognition as one of the best safeties ever to play the game.