Tackling grades for all 32 NFL teams: Broncos, Lions rank in top five for 2024 season

The Chiefs led the NFL in tackling efficiency (89.3%) this season, propelled by a 91.2% mark in Weeks 12-17, and they continued this trend into the playoffs, where they converted 90.9% of their tackle opportunities. In the regular season, Leo Chenal recorded more forced fumbles (three) than missed tackles (two). Of the Chiefs players to have 25-plus tackle opportunities, an astounding 10 converted at least 90.0% (Chenal, Mike Pennel, Michael Danna, Chris Jones, Nazeeh Johnson, Bryan Cook, Christian Roland-Wallace, Jaden Hicks, Joshua Williams and Trent McDuffie). That's two more such players than any other team had in 2024. Pending free agent Nick Bolton led Kansas City with 106 tackles, converting 86.9% of his attempts -- though both marks were well below his career highs (180 tackles in 2022 and 95.7% tackle efficiency in 2021). 

Zach Orr preached aggressiveness on defense after he replaced Mike Macdonald as coordinator last offseason, and the Ravens seemingly took to his philosophy in outstanding fashion, posting the league's second-highest tackle efficiency this season (89.2%). Baltimore also allowed just 544 yards off missed tackles, 98 fewer than any other team, for a league-low average of 4.5 yards allowed per missed tackle. Roquan Smith and Kyle Hamilton easily exceeded 100 tackles apiece, with strong efficiency rates (92.8% for Smith and 86.3% for Hamilton). However, neither player led the Ravens in the efficiency category (minimum of 25 attempts); that honor belongs to DT Travis Jones, who missed just two of his 44 tackle opportunities (95.5%).

In Week 18, the Broncos became the only team this season to convert every tackle opportunity in a game (zero missed tackles on 31 attempts in their win over the Chiefs), capping a campaign in which they generated the NFL's fourth-highest tackle efficiency rate (88.5%) one year after finishing 30th in that category (85.4%). Denver was also stingy when it came to yards allowed per missed tackle (4.9 yards, third fewest). Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II missed just one tackle on 46 attempts, making him among the most reliable tacklers in the league. Free agency could be interesting for this defense: two of the team's least efficient tacklers (Justin Strnad, 80.2% and D.J. Jones, 80.8%) are potentially on the way out -- but so is one of Denver's most efficient tacklers (Cody Barton, 92.0%). 

The Steelers' 89.1% tackling efficiency this season left them within 0.2 percentage points of the Chiefs for the league lead, and their 18 forced fumbles tied with the Eagles for most in the NFL. DeShon Elliott converted 108 of 111 tackle opportunities for a 97.3% efficiency mark, the highest in Next Gen Stats tackle data since 2018 (minimum of 100 attempts). He and Minkah Fitzpatrick (93.2%) might have formed the best-tackling safety duo in the league. If the Steelers can find an effective replacement for free-agent cornerback Donte Jackson (credited with 12 missed tackles for 111 extra yards), they could be positioned to reach even greater heights.

The Lions fought through a slew of injuries and did an excellent job playing as a unit defensively; just two players missed more than nine tackles, and nobody allowing more than 75 yards off their missed tackles. Star safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch led the way. Joseph missed just four of 86 tackle attempts on the season, and Branch was one of the most effective players in the league at quickly getting ball-carriers on the ground. With more development from their young defensive core -- and greater health -- next season, the Lions might be able to stay strong despite losing several members of the coaching staff, including coordinator Aaron Glenn. 

The Eagles' in-season defensive improvement was key to their dominant Super Bowl run, and their tackling was a major factor. Through the first six weeks of 2024, their missed tackle rate (15.7%) was the second-highest in the NFL, and they had forced only one fumble. From Week 7 through the Super Bowl, they cut their missed tackle rate to 12.7% and forced a spectacular 23 fumbles, nine more than any other team. During that span, Zack Baun led the NFL with 131 tackles and six forced fumbles. The Eagles will surely prioritize re-signing Baun following his wildly successful one-year deal. 

Tackling was a major strength for the Packers defense, as they finished with the seventh-lowest missed tackle rate (11.9%) and allowed the fifth-fewest yards after missed tackles (705). They were especially sharp down the stretch, leading the league with a 90.5% efficiency rate after their Week 10 bye to propel their playoff push. No Green Bay defender eclipsed 15 missed tackles on the season, a testament to the unit's consistency across the board -- and the team leaders in that category (LBs Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson, who both had 14) are set to hit free agency, presenting a chance to upgrade that position's depth. First-year coordinator Jeff Hafley has clearly put together a connected, fundamentally sound unit in Green Bay. 

Dan Quinn led the league's greatest turnaround in Washington this season, and one factor was his development of a disciplined tackling unit that improved from 22nd in the NFL in efficiency in 2023 to fifth this year. The Commanders' playoff campaign was keyed by a raft of veteran acquisitions, including Bobby Wagner and Jeremy Chinn, who were as impressive as anyone; they were two of four players in the league to convert over 100 tackles on an efficiency rate of 93% or better. Both cornerstones were on one-year deals, and Washington might need to pay up to retain them. 

Though the Vikings defense experienced some ups and downs throughout the season, it was one of the league's better units in the end, with Minnesota ranking fifth in points allowed. Blake Cashman made an immediate impact upon joining the team in 2024, leading the Vikings with 111 tackles -- the linebacker missed just nine tackles (7.5% of his opportunities). Safety Josh Metellus followed closely with 103 tackles, though it should also be noted that Metellus' season-high five missed tackles came in the Vikings' 31-29 loss to the Lions in Week 7, when Minnesota missed a season-worst 16 tackles collectively. The Vikings finished the season allowing 790 yards after missed tackles (ninth-fewest), with only one player allowing over 100 yards (Camryn Bynum, 148). 

The Cowboys' defense took a step back overall in 2024, finishing 28th in yards and 31st in points allowed, but in terms of tackling, the Mike Zimmer-led unit proved to be reliable after some early-season issues. From Week 7 onward, Dallas posted the NFL's second-highest tackling efficiency (89.1%). And while Micah Parsons recorded the least-efficient tackling season of his career, the team's tackling performance was notably better in games Parsons played in (87.6%) than in the games he missed (85.8%). Two pending free agents turned in impressive tackling performances this season. One-year rental Eric Kendricks remained among the top linebackers in the league in in both volume (138 tackles) and efficiency (92.6%), while Osa Odighizuwa missed just two tackles, by far his career low for a season. 

The Chargers climbed up the league's tackling efficiency ranks in their first campaign under Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, jumping from 17th in 2023 (87.0%) to eighth this year (88.0%). Four different Chargers defenders posted a missed tackle rate under 10 percent (Derwin James with 6.1%, Troy Dye with 7.1%, Kristian Fulton with 7.3%, Elijah Molden with 8.9%), tied for the second most by any team in the NFL (minimum 50 tackle attempts). However, the tackles the Bolts did miss were costly -- they allowed an extra 6.9 yards per missed tackle this season, the most in the league.  

For the most part, the Bills' defense held its own in the tackling department, finishing just above league average with an 86.8% efficiency mark. Dorian Williams was a steady force in the middle, leading the team with 113 tackles while missing just nine all season. Taylor Rapp was even more reliable, posting the fourth-lowest missed tackle rate in the NFL (4.7%, minimum of 50 tackle attempts). However, LB Terrel Bernard recorded the fifth-most missed tackles (24) in the NFL, while DB Cam Lewis whiffed on 22.5% of his tackle attempts. Cleaning up these individual inconsistencies could significantly help this defense improve further. 

Not a whole lot went right for the Patriots in Jerod Mayo's lone season as head coach, but their tackling -- which had been consistently elite under Bill Belichick -- remained solid in 2024, as they finished with the 12th-highest efficiency rate (87.6%) and 10th-fewest missed tackle yards allowed (811). Veteran run-stopper Davon Godchaux converted 94.4% of his tackle attempts, second-highest among DTs (minimum of 50 opportunities), while sophomore standout Keion White also finished among the top 10 defensive linemen with a 91.8% efficiency mark. New head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams could be poised to keep some positive momentum going; when both coaches were in Tennessee together (2018-2023), the Titans finished in the top half of the league in tackling efficiency in every season. 

The Seahawks recorded the 11th-lowest missed tackle rate this season (12.1%), thanks largely to their ability to convert on first-tackle opportunities at the sixth-highest rate (61.4%). A major factor in that success was midseason acquisition Ernest Jones, who finished third on the team in tackles (94) in just 10 games. His missed tackle rate with the Seahawks (6.0%) ranked as the third-lowest in the NFL (minimum of 100 tackle attempts). While Jones helped shore up the defense, Devon Witherspoon had a tough year tackling, registering the second-most missed tackles among NFL cornerbacks (21) after posting just 11 as a rookie last season. Jones is set to hit free agency, but keeping the stud tackler in place would help sustain Seattle's defensive progress.  

Through the first 10 weeks of the season, the Rams ranked 26th in the NFL in tackle efficiency, while no healthy starter posted a missed tackle rate below 9.5% and the team had a win-loss record of 4-5. In the last eight weeks of the regular season, they ranked eighth in tackle efficiency while finishing with a 6-2 record, then converted 70 of 74 tackle opportunities in their Wild Card Round win over the Vikings. From Week 11 through the playoffs, seven starters (Christian Rozeboom, Omar Speights, Quentin Lake, Kamren Kinchens, Kamren Curl, Darious Williams, Bobby Brown) recorded a missed tackle rate of 8.8% or lower.

Only seven teams surrendered more points per game in 2024 than the Cincinnati Bengals, but tackling wasn't the primary source of their troubles. The Bengals ranked sixth in tackle efficiency (88.3%) and didn't have a single defender dip below an 80% tackle rate (minimum of five opportunities). Leading the way was Logan Wilson, who posted the sixth-highest tackle efficiency rate in the NFL among inside linebackers (92.9%). However, while Cincinnati defenders didn't miss often, the consequences were significant when they did -- the Bengals allowed 6.3 yards per missed tackle, the third-most in the NFL.  

The Todd Bowles-led defense truly gained its identity during the Buccaneers’ playoff push, beginning with its ability to stabilize their tackling. With Lavonte David leading the way, the Bucs missed the third-fewest tackles in the league (40) and allowed the second-fewest extra yards (180) following their Week 11 bye after averaging the most extra yards per miss (6.9) through their first 10 games. DT Calijah Kancey was a breakout star in 2024, and he converted all 28 of his tackle opportunities, finishing as the only player in the NFL with a 100% tackle efficiency mark on such volume. 

The Titans featured a middle-of-the-road tackling unit in 2024. They had a brutal start to the season with a bottom-10 tackling efficiency before their Week 5 bye, but they were generally consistent from there on out and ultimately finished 13th by season's end. Their defensive line helped shore things up, as Harold Landry led all edge rushers in efficiency (94.7%) and T’Vondre Sweat topped the defensive tackle ranks (94.4%) among players with 50-plus chances. Cornerback Roger McCreary struggled, missing a team-high 18 tackles while converting only 50, and Tennessee was a bit shaky in allowing the league’s 11th-most rushing yards after contact.

A unit led by Fred Warner usually doesn't finish in the back half of the NFL in tackling, but with a disappointing campaign from DeVondre Campbell, who was signed to fill in for an injured Dre Greenlaw, and some inconsistency from Nick Bosa, that's exactly what happened to this season's 49ers. In Week 12 in Green Bay, they missed 24 tackles (four more than any other team in a single game this season) and they didn’t force a fumble in their final 10 games. Their saving grace was their ability to stem the damage, allowing 4.8 yards per missed tackle (second-fewest in the NFL). Robert Saleh’s return as defensive coordinator may be a sign of better things to come in 2025. However, he’ll face a challenge if San Francisco can’t retain Charvarius Ward, possibly the best tackling corner in the NFL, in free agency. 

The Bears often fell short of the sky-high expectations many had for them in 2024, but the defense and their tackling metrics landed near the middle of the league rankings. Their 87.9% tackling efficiency ranked 10th-highest in the NFL, and they fielded a defense that was just one of three units without a single player missing 15 or more tackles this season. However, every starter in the back seven missed at least nine tackles. Known for his elite coverage skills, top cornerback Jaylon Johnson struggled in this area, posting a 20.1% missed tackle rate, the 12th-highest among cornerbacks (minimum of 25 opportunities).  

DeMeco Ryans has emphasized physicality since taking over as head coach two seasons ago, but the Texans took a step back in 2024 when it came to tackling. Before his arrival in 2023, the Texans ranked dead last in tackling efficiency (84.7%). That number improved to eighth-lowest in his first season at the helm (86.3%), only to slide to fifth-lowest this year (85.5%) -- a somewhat disappointing regression for a team built on toughness. Linebacker Henry To’oTo’o led the team with 104 tackles but also missed the seventh-most in the NFL this season (23). Plus, his running mate Azeez Al-Shaair was limited to just 11 games due to injuries and a three-game suspension. On the bright side, Danielle Hunter posted a team-low 4.2% missed tackle rate (min. 10 attempts) in his first year as a Texan. 

Similar to their season as a whole, the Cardinals showed some promise and consistency in the tackling department but never reached the upper echelon. Outside linebacker Kyzir White and safety Jalen Thompson cemented themselves among the better tacklers at their respective positions. However, Budda Baker may have been tasked with too much responsibility, as his career-high 164 tackles were offset with 33 missed tackles for 250 extra yards, both most in the league. The team also missed 10 or more tackles in 10 of its first 14 games. 

The Jaguars’ 86.9% tackle efficiency was almost perfectly average. Unfortunately, they took a hit by forcing only five fumbles on the season, fewest in the NFL. Foye Oluokun posted some of the more notable tackling campaigns in the NGS era from 2021 through '23, but this season, he took a backseat to fellow linebacker Devin Lloyd, who led the Jaguars in tackles (113) and efficiency (91.1%). Meanwhile, a pair of mid-round rookies, LB Ventrell Miller and nickel Jarrian Jones, struggled as much as anyone at their positions. New DC Anthony Campanile led an effective, physical linebacking unit in Green Bay in 2024 and will attempt to spearhead a turnaround in Duval County. 

In an unfortunate turn of events, a defense that entered the season with a new Raheem Morris-led scheme and a lot of hope fell from the 11th-most efficient tackling outfit in 2023 to the sixth-least efficient in 2024. Kaden Elliss was a bright spot, converting 150 tackles while missing only 15, but newly acquired safety Justin Simmons missed 21.5% of his tackle attempts after logging an elite rate below 10% in his previous six straight seasons in Denver. With Simmons set to hit free agency, the Falcons may choose to move on from the veteran.

The Giants' defensive struggles in 2024 weren’t limited to just one area, but tackling was a clear issue. Though their 13.3% missed tackle rate hovered right around the league average (13%), the real problem was the damage those whiffs created. New York was just one of six teams to give up over 1,000 yards after missed tackles, finishing with the fourth-highest total in the league (1,081) and the second-highest average per miss (6.3). Rookie third-round cornerback Andru Phillips had a rough introduction to the NFL in that regard, accounting for 167 yards gained after missed tackles -- more than all but two corners across the league. 

The Saints' tackling took a noticeable step back in 2024, contributing to a season filled with defensive lapses. After missing tackles at the ninth-lowest rate (12.4%) in 2023, that number rose to the seventh-highest (14.2%) this season. In addition, New Orleans allowed the fifth-most yards after missed tackles (1,012). Alontae Taylor struggled in open space and led all cornerbacks with 23 missed tackles, while veteran linebacker Demario Davis wasn’t far behind, tying for eighth-most in the league with 21. The Saints were one of two teams (along with the Colts) to have multiple players miss more than 20 tackles this season. 

After boasting a top 10 defense in the back half of the 2023 season under then-interim HC Antonio Pierce, the Raiders regressed in his first and only season as the team's head coach, primarily due to tackling woes. The Silver and Black finished 2024 ranked in the bottom 10 in tackle efficiency, first tackle opportunity conversion rate, and yards allowed after missed tackles. One bright spot was team tackling leader Robert Spillane, the lone Raider to record a missed tackle rate under 10 percent; unfortunately for Las Vegas, he is due to hit free agency in March.

The Dolphins' season could best be described as disappointing, and their tackling struggles were no exception. The Miami defense missed tackles at the fourth-highest rate in the league (14.5%) while allowing the fifth-most extra yards after those misses (1,019). An alarming 10 Dolphins defenders surrendered 50 or more yards after missed tackles, a total surpassed only by the Panthers (11). The unit also forced just seven fumbles all year, the third-fewest in the NFL. David Long Jr. was cut midseason after missing 17 tackles on 55 attempts and finished the season with a 68.3% efficiency, the worst by any player in Next Gen Stats since 2018, the year tackle data began to be tracked (minimum of 50 attempts).

The Colts had four players record at least 100 tackles (most in NFL), but that volume didn’t translate to efficiency, as missed tackles plagued the defense throughout the season. The Colts allowed a league-high 1,183 yards after missed tackles and recorded 10 or more missed tackles in all but six games, posting a missed tackle rate below 10% just once. Linebacker Zaire Franklin led the NFL with 173 tackles, but such high volume came at a cost. Franklin and fellow linebacker E.J. Speed each missed 28 tackles, making them the only linebacker duo in the league to each miss more than 20. With Speed set to hit free agency and Lou Anarumo taking over for Gus Bradley as defensive coordinator, the Colts defense could look much different in 2025.

After the Jets became the only team to miss 20 tackles in a game twice this season (Week 1 in San Francisco, Week 10 in Arizona), interim HC Jeff Ulbrich referred to their tackling as “egregious” and “criminal.” Quincy Williams had been establishing himself as one of the league’s better tacklers but missed 27 this season, and Will McDonald IV missed one-third of his 42 tackle attempts. New head coach Aaron Glenn is known for crafting reliable defenses, but he’ll be hard-pressed to turn this unit around. He’ll have a building block if New York re-signs free agent linebacker Jamien Sherwood, who recorded 154 tackles and missed only 13 in a breakout campaign. 

The Panthers led the NFL in both successful tackles (1,189) and missed tackles (208) this season. However, their conversion rate was the third-lowest in the league at 85.1%, they were rarely able to force fumbles (eight), and their tendency to allow explosive plays off missed tackles left much to be desired. They had a high volume of players who were not needle-movers, as a whopping 30 Panthers defenders missed multiple tackles. Now, they must deal with leading tackler Xavier Woods reaching free agency while trying to turn around Josey Jewell’s struggles in his second season in Charlotte. 

The Browns posted an 83.7% tackle efficiency, finishing last in the NFL for the second consecutive season and posting the lowest mark since the 2020 Raiders. Their issues were most distinct late in the season, as they missed at least nine tackles in every game after their Week 10 bye, including 18 in the final week of the season. Denzel Ward’s prowess in coverage helped him make his fourth Pro Bowl, but he missed a team-high 20 tackles, tied for third-most among cornerbacks. A league-high 10 Browns players missed at least 10 tackles this season, and three of them didn’t convert even 70% of their tackle attempts.