It may surprise you to learn The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee has an additional task every ten years. This distinguished group is also responsible for picking the National Football League’s All-Decade Teams. This is done after each decade and is considered a great honor for players. The first four All-Decade teams were picked retroactively in 1969 with the celebration of the NFL’s 50th Season. This honor is a tell-tale sign of being later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Let’s look at the rosters from each decade.
2000s
OFFENSE
WR – Randy Moss, Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens, Torry Holt
TE – Tony Gonzalez; Antonio Gates
T – Walter Jones, Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace, William Roaf
G – Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchinson, Will Shields, Larry Allen
C – Kevin Mawae, Olin Kreutz
QB – Tom Brady, Peyton Manning
RB – LaDainian Tomlinson, Edgerrin James, Jamal Lewis, Shaun Alexander
FB – Lorenzo Neal
DEFENSE
DE – Dwight Freeney, Michael Strahan, Jason Taylor, Julius Peppers
DT – Richard Seymour, Warren Sapp, Kevin Williams, La’Roi Glover
LB – Ray Lewis, Derrick Brooks, Brian Urlacher, Joey Porter, Zach Thomas, Demarcus Ware
CB – Champ Bailey, Charles Woodson, Ronde Barber, Ty Law
S – Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, Troy Polamalu, Darren Sharper
SPECIAL TEAMS
P – Shane Lechler, Brian Moorman
K – Adam Vinatieri, David Akers
PR – Dante Hall, Devin Hester
KR – Joshua Cribbs, Dante Hall
COACHES
Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy
1990s
OFFENSE
WR – Cris Carter, Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, Michael Irvin
TE – Shannon Sharpe, Ben Coates
T – William Roaf, Gary Zimmerman, Tony Boselli, Richmond Webb
G – Bruce Matthews, Randall McDaniel, Larry Allen, Steve Wisniewski
C – Dermontti Dawson, Mark Stepnoski
QB – John Elway, Brett Favre
RB – Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Terrell Davis, Thurman Thomas
DEFENSE
DE – Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Chris Doleman, Neil Smith
DT – Cortez Kennedy, John Randle, Warren Sapp, Bryant Young
LB – Kevin Greene, Junior Seau, Derrick Thomas, Cornelius Bennett, Hardy Nickerson, Levon Kirkland
CB – Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, Darrell Green, Aeneas Williams
S – Steve Atwater, LeRoy Butler, Carnell Lake, Ronnie Lott
SPECIAL TEAMS
P – Darren Bennett, Sean Landeta
K – Morten Andersen, Gary Anderson
PR – Deion Sanders, Mel Gray
KR – Michael Bates, Mel Gray
COACHES
Bill Parcells, Marv Levy
1980s
OFFENSE
WR – Jerry Rice, Steve Largent, James Lofton, Art Monk
TE – Kellen Winslow, Ozzie Newsome
T – Anthony Muñoz, Jim Covert, Gary Zimmerman, Joe Jacoby
G – John Hannah, Russ Grimm, Bill Fralic, Mike Munchak
C – Dwight Stephenson, Mike Webster
QB – Joe Montana, Dan Fouts
RB – Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson, Roger Craig, John Riggins
DEFENSE
DE – Reggie White, Howie Long, Lee Roy Selmon, Bruce Smith
DT – Randy White, Dan Hampton, Keith Millard, Dave Butz
LB – Mike Singletary, Lawrence Taylor, Ted Hendricks, Jack Lambert, Andre Tippett, John Anderson, Carl Banks
CB – Mike Haynes, Mel Blount, Frank Minnifield, Lester Hayes
S – Ronnie Lott, Kenny Easley, Deron Cherry, Joey Browner, Nolan Cromwell
SPECIAL TEAMS
P – Sean Landeta, Reggie Roby
K – Morten Andersen, Gary Anderson, Eddie Murray
PR – Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, John Taylor
KR – Mike Nelms, Rick Upchurch
COACHES
Bill Walsh, Chuck Noll
1970s
OFFENSE
WR – Lynn Swann, Drew Pearson, Harold Carmichael, Paul Warfield
TE – Dave Casper, Charlie Sanders
T – Art Shell, Ron Yary, Dan Dierdorf, Rayfield Wright
G – Larry Little, Joe DeLamielleure, John Hannah, Gene Upshaw
C – Jim Langer, Mike Webster
QB – Terry Bradshaw, Roger Staubach, Ken Stabler
RB – O.J. Simpson, Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, Franco Harris
DEFENSE
DE – Jack Youngblood, Carl Eller, L.C. Greenwood, Harvey Martin
DT – Joe Greene, Bob Lilly, Alan Page, Merlin Olsen
MLB – Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert
OLB – Jack Ham, Ted Hendricks, Robert Brazile, Bobby Bell
CB – Willie Brown, Jimmy Johnson, Louis Wright, Roger Wehrli
S – Ken Houston, Cliff Harris, Larry Wilson, Dick Anderson
SPECIAL TEAMS
K – Garo Yepremian, Jim Bakken
P – Ray Guy, Jerrel Wilson
KR – Rick Upchurch, Billy "White Shoes" Johnson
COACHES
Don Shula, Chuck Noll
1960s
SE – Del Shofner, Charley Taylor
FL – Gary Collins, Boyd Dowler
TE – John Mackey
T – Bob Brown, Forrest Gregg, Ralph Neely
G – Gene Hickerson, Jerry Kramer, Howard Mudd
C – Jim Ringo
QB – Sonny Jurgensen, Bart Starr, Johnny Unitas
HB – John David Crow, Paul Hornung, Leroy Kelly, Gale Sayers
FB – Jim Brown, Jim Taylor
K – Jim Bakken
DEFENSE
DE – Doug Atkins, Willie Davis, David (Deacon) Jones
DT – Alex Karras, Bob Lilly, Merlin Olsen
LB – Dick Butkus, Larry Morris, Ray Nitschke, Tommy Nobis, Dave Robinson
CB – Herb Adderley, Lem Barney, Bobby Boyd
S – Eddie Meador, Larry Wilson, Willie Wood,
P – Don Chandler
1950s
OFFENSE
E – Raymond Berry, Tom Fears, Bobby Walston
HB/E – Elroy (Crazylegs) Hirsch
T – Roosevelt Brown, Bob St. Clair
G – Dick Barwegan, Jim Parker, Dick Stanfel
C – Chuck Bednarik
QB – Otto Graham, Bobby Layne, Norm Van Brocklin
HB – Frank Gifford, Ollie Matson, Hugh McElhenny, Lenny Moore
FB – Alan Ameche, Joe Perry
K – Lou Groza
DEFENSE
DE – Len Ford, Gino Marchetti
DT – Art Donovan, Leo Nomellini, Ernie Stautner
LB – Joe Fortunato, Bill George, Sam Huff, Joe Schmidt
DHB – Jack Butler, Dick (Night Train) Lane
S -- Jack Christiansen, Yale Lary, Emlen Tunnell,
1940s
E – Jim Benton, Jack Ferrante, Ken Kavanaugh, Dante Lavelli, Pete Pihos, Mac Speedie, Ed Sprinkle
T – Al Blozis, George Connor, Frank (Bucko) Kilroy, Buford (Baby) Ray, Vic Sears, Al Wistert
G – Bruno Banducci, Bill Edwards, Garrard (Buster) Ramsey, Bill Willis, Len Younce
C – Charley Brock, Clyde (Bulldog) Turner, Alex Wojciechowicz
QB – Sammy Baugh, Sid Luckman, Bob Waterfield
HB – Tony Canadeo, Bill Dudley, George McAfee, Charley Trippi, Steve Van Buren, Byron (Whizzer) White
FB – Pat Harder, Marion Motley, Bill Osmanski
1930s
E – Bill Hewitt, Don Hutson, Wayne Millner, Gaynell Tinsley
T – George Christensen, Frank Cope, Glen (Turk) Edwards, Bill Lee, Joe Stydahar
G – Grover (Ox) Emerson, Dan Fortmann, Charles (Buckets) Goldenberg, Russ Letlow
C – Mel Hein, George Svendsen
QB – Earl (Dutch) Clark, Arnie Herber, Cecil Isbell
HB – Cliff Battles, Johnny (Blood) McNally, Beattie Feathers, Alphonse (Tuffy) Leemans, Ken Strong
FB – Clarke Hinkle, Bronko Nagurski
1920s
E – Guy Chamberlin, Lavern Dilweg, George Halas
T – Ed Healey, Wilbur (Pete) Henry, Cal Hubbard, Steve Owen
G – Hunk Anderson, Walt Kiesling, Mike Michalske
C – George Trafton
QB – Jimmy Conzelman, John (Paddy) Driscoll
HB – Harold "Red" Grange, Joe Guyon, Earl (Curly) Lambeau, Jim Thorpe
FB – Ernie Nevers
As you can see, many of these players have gone on to have a bronzed bust created and placed in the Hall for eternity. This year’s class includes LaDainian Tomlinson and Jason Taylor from the 2000s team, Morten Andersen and Terrell Davis from the 1990s team, Kenny Easley from the 1980s team. These men each typified the position they played in for the span of ten years. That means of all the players in their respective positions, these were the best from their decade – that’s phenomenal. Each of these players, along with Jerry Jones and Kurt Warner have truly brought something unique to the game of football and they are being honored for their contributions this August.
Join us in Canton, Ohio to celebrate the Class of 2017’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As a VIP, you have access to the best parties of the weekend, exclusive autograph sessions, extraordinary seating options for each event and so much more! For more information call 844.751.0532 or click the link below!