Former NFL QB Recalls Playing the Late Darrell Russell

Las Vegas Raiders great Darrell Russell was a defensive nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.

The Las Vegas Raiders have had some of the toughest defenders in league history throughout their 60-plus years, players who opposing offenses dreaded going against when their meetings with the Raiders would approach.

One Raider legend who truly embodies that culture of intimidation was defensive tackle Darrell Russell.

Russell was a Raider for all but one of his six active seasons in the league, having finished his short, yet very successful, career with two Pro Bowl honors and one AP first-team All-Pro selection.

The lineman was a crucial part of the Silver and Black's defense, particularly when he helped lead the club to the AFC Championship game in the 2000-01 season.

On Tuesday's episode of "Good Morning Football," Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett revealed his top-three favorite quarterbacks he has sacked, while former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf revealed his top-three defensive lineman he faced in his three-year career.

Russell was one of Leaf's three picks.

"This guy absolutely was a part of my life since I was about 18 years old: Darrell Russell," Leaf said. "Former USC Trojan, who just got after my tail in college and then was drafted by the Oakland Raiders, which meant I had to face him twice a year. He was a force in the middle. Very similar to what Grady does. Big, physical, just put guys to the side, and ultimately, got the quarterback on the ground. Unfortunately, we lost him in 2005. But this was a good way to remember him. He was an incredible player and someone that I really looked up to and enjoyed playing against every single time."

Russell was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1997 NFL Draft.

He would go on to record 228 combined tackles, 34 for losses, 28.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and 15 passes defensed as a Raider before finishing his career with a one-year stint with the Washington Redskins (now Commanders).

Russell tragically died in a car crash in December of 2005. He was only 29 years old.

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