In American football, the best pass defense is said to be a good pass rush—not good pass protection. A good quarterback, if given enough time to operate, can beat good pass protection. The pass rush limits the quarterback’s time.
   
“A good rush is still the best pass defense” was cited in print in 1966. It’s not known if any particular person coined the football adage.
 
 
17 October 1966, Atlanta (GA) Constitution, “Hecker Raps 49ers” by Mickey McCarthy, pg. 40, col. 2:
“The pass rush is so important. A good rush is still the best pass defense.”
(Atlanta Falcons head coach Norb Hecker.—ed.)
 
8 October 1967, Austin (TX) American-Statesman, “Just Got Trimmed” by Fred Sanner, pg. D2, col. 6:
“In the second half, Texas was stunting more. And you know the best pass defense is a good pass rush.”
(Oklahoma State quarterback Bruce Scott.—ed.)
 
27 October 1968, Roselle (IL) Register, “Dragons Prepare…” by Chuck Willour, pg. B-4, col. 5:
“We’ll just have to try to get their quarterback — a good pass rush is the best pass defense,” (St. George head football coach Frank—ed.) Bauer added.
 
Google Books
A Wife’s Guide to Pro Football
By Elaine Tarkenton and Michael Rich
New York, NY: Viking Press
1969
Pg. 42:
The Blitz
It is an often repeated maxim of football that the best pass defense is a good pass rush.
 
Google News Archive
28 October 1970, Rome (GA) News-Tribune, “View From the Pressbox” by Don Biggers, pg. 10-A, col. 1:
The key, you feel, will again be the defensive front four. The best pass defense Is a strong pass rush, and you must constantly keep the pressure on Baker.
 
Google News Archive
10 January 1982, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA), “Bengals’ defense set for Chargers” by Will McDonough, pg. C2, col. 2:
“Our defensive coordinator will have a few things up his sleeve,” said Bengal linebacker Jim LeClair “the best pass defense is a good pass rush. With a great quarterback like FOuts, you have to keep the pressure on.”
 
Google News Archive
24 September 1987, Times Daily (Florence, AL), “Switch to defense paid dividends for Brooks” by Wayne Smith, pg. 1B, col. 3:
“As they say, the best pass defense is a good pass rush. And we had that.”
(Rod Brooks.—ed.)
   
Google Groups: alt.sports.football.pro.oak-raiders
Jets hype won’t overcome Raiders
The Shadow
1/12/03
http://www.bayarea.com
EAST COAST MEDIA BLITZ SHOULDN’T RATTLE FANS
By Skip Bayless
Mercury News Staff Columnist    
(...)
Translation: The best pass defense is a quarterback-pounding pass rush. The Raiders have one.
 
Google Groups: rec.sport.football.college
Leinart didn’t deserve it
StephenJ
12/14/04
(...)
The best pass defense is a pass rush. Does the Pac 10 have any?
 
Twitter
Justin
‏@JustinWendel904
Don’t get me wrong he’s a good corner but we all know the best pass defense is a pass rush and when you’ve got (cont) http://tl.gd/38h5ar
4:14 PM - 20 Aug 2010
 
Bleacher Report
NFL Draft 2012: Ranking the Top 10 Pass Rushers in the Draft
By Daniel Barnes , Correspondent Oct 30, 2011
They say that the best pass defense is a good pass rush, and as the NFL becomes more and more pass oriented, the other side of the ball has started to put more and more emphasis on rushing the passer.
 
Still Curtain
Steelers: Why Pittsburgh drafted Javon Hargrave
by Perry Biggerstaff
June 10, 2016
There were many fans and draft pundits who thought that the Pittsburgh Steelers might take a defensive lineman in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. After all, isnt the old adage “the best pass defense is a solid pass rush”?