Photo from the Vault

SI.com is showcasing their digital historical archive The Vault by listing the top-50 Old School Tough Guys. The compilation covers the most feared men (and woman – yes there’s one) in the history of professional sports. And guess who landed number fifteen…none other than Trojan safety Ronnie Lott. While at USC, Lott helped the Trojans to their share of the ’78 national championship and led them to the ’79 and ’80 Rose Bowls. But it didn’t end there.

Drafted 8th overall in 1981, Lott played safety/cornerback for 15 years in the NFL, foremost with the 49ers but also with the Raiders, Chiefs and Jets. Lott made the Pro Bowl his rookie year, and continued to do so 9 out of the next 10 years. Not only was he a 10X Pro Bowl Selection, but he helped the 49ers to eight division titles and four Super Bowls, ’81, ’84, ’88 and ’89. And when Lott retired he totaled a rediculous 63 interceptions.

SI Vault on Ronnie Lott: the USC product is widely considered the best secondary player in NFL history.