Greatest Defensive Backs

They’re the last line of defense, protecting the end zone with speed, vision, and the ability to anticipate offensive moves. Although the gridiron has seen outstanding defensive backs throughout pro football history, only a handful of the greatest players have been enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Photo-driven and stat-filled, this middle-grade sports title for fans of the NFL showcases 11 cornerbacks and safeties, ranked by induction year, from Emlen Tunnell and Dick Lane to Deion Sanders and Charles Woodson. Includes sidebars about the position’s role and how it’s changed over time.