Tennessee Titans: 30 greatest players in franchise history

• Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 2013)
• NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
• 2x First-Team All-Pro (1978-79)
• 7x Pro Bowl (1976-82)
• 3x Second-Team All-Pro (1976-77, 1980)
• 1975 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

Robert Brazile spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Oilers organization. Houston used its No. 6 overall pick in the 1975 NFL Draft to draft the phenomenal outside linebacker out of Jackson State. All Brazile did in his 10 years with the Oilers was terrify quarterbacks with his elite pressure coming from the outside.

Brazile was initially part of the deal that sent defensive lineman John Matuszak to the Kansas City Chiefs for defensive lineman Curley Culp. He was the future first-round pick that came to Houston via the lopsided deal with Kansas City.

As a rookie in 1975, Brazile would be named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year playing for then-new head coach Bum Phillips. Phillips was instrumental in the Oilers moving from a 4-3 defensive front to a 3-4. Brazile thrived in this role, as he was effective in rushing the passer, stopping the run and dropping back into coverage.

During his playing days, Brazile was known as “Dr. Doom” for his fearsome on-field playing style. As being named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Brazile rattled off seven-straight trips to the Pro Bowl from 1976 to 1982.

Brazile was a two-time First-Team All-Pro, coming in 1978 and 1979. He was also part of the All-Pro Second-Team three other times, coming in 1976, 1977 and 1980. While sacks were not an official NFL stat until 1982, Brazile registered 48 unofficially. But that wasn’t even half of what he did on the field for Houston.

Brazile totaled 1,281 total tackles and 13 interceptions in his illustrious NFL career. Along with the more popular Lawrence Taylor of the New York Giants, they helped usher in an era of defenses sending pressure from the outside at linebacker out of the 3-4, instead of solely from defensive ends.

Sadly, Brazile retired after the 1984 NFL season due in large part to his wife passing away in a car accident. He would be named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team, but would have to wait longer to earn his spot in Canton.

In 2018, Brazile finally got the call from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was enshrined this past summer with the likes of Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens. Though the days of “Dr. Doom” are long gone, Brazile has finally earned his rightful place in Canton among the legends of the game.