From our recent study on the NFL All-Decade Teams, where we concentrated on mainly on the team make-up, here are some interesting facts:
- Cardinals kicker Jim Bakken was named to both the 1960s and the 1970s NFL All-Decade Team.
- Roger Staubach (from the 1970s team) and Ed Sprinkle (from the 1940s team), both graduates of Navy, are the only two graduates of military academies to be eventually named to an NFL All-Decade Team.
- Mel Gray is the only player named to the All-Decade Team in two different positions, both kick-returner and punt-returner on the 1990s team.
- The team that has put the most players on teams of the decade is the Green Bay Packers with 41.
- Through the 2007 season every team except one has had multiple players named to various All-Decade teams through the years. The only exception is the Cincinnati Bengals who are the only team to have only one player ever named to the All-Decade Team (Anthony Munoz).
A look at the NFL All-Decade Teams through the years is a fascinating look at the flow of the great players through time.
In our recent study of the NFL All-Decade Teams, our primary motivation was looking at the number of players that were good enough over the course of a decade to make the All-Decade Team, but were not good enough to be voted to the Hall of Fame. We decided to not do this analysis on the 1980s and 1990s teams as many of these players will eventually be in the Hall of Fame, but have not been voted in yet.
In any case, below are the rosters of the 1980s and 1990s NFL All-Decade Teams:
1980s
Offense:
Position Player: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Quarterback Dan Fouts San Diego Chargers Oregon Yes Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers Notre Dame Yes Running back Roger Craig San Francisco 49ers Nebraska Eric Dickerson Los Angeles RamsIndianapolis Colts Southern Methodist Yes Walter Payton Chicago Bears Jackson State Yes John Riggins New York JetsWashington Redskins Kansas Yes Wide receiver Steve Largent Seattle Seahawks Tulsa Yes James Lofton Green Bay PackersBuffalo BillsLos Angeles Raiders Stanford Yes Art Monk Washington Redskins Syracuse Yes Jerry Rice San Francisco 49ers Mississippi Valley State Tight end Ozzie Newsome Cleveland Browns Alabama Yes Kellen Winslow San Diego Chargers Missouri Yes Tackle Jim Covert Chicago Bears Pittsburgh Joe Jacoby Washington Redskins Louisville Anthony Muñoz Cincinnati Bengals USC Yes Gary Zimmerman Minnesota Vikings Oregon Yes Guard Bill Fralic Atlanta Falcons Pittsburgh Russ Grimm Washington Redskins Pittsburgh John Hannah New England Patriots Alabama Yes Mike Munchak Houston Oilers Penn State Yes Center Dwight Stephenson Miami Dolphins Alabama Yes Mike Webster Pittsburgh SteelersKansas City Chiefs Wisconsin Yes Defense:
Position Player: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Defensive end Reggie White Philadelphia Eagles Tennessee Yes Howie Long Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders Villanova Yes Lee Roy Selmon Tampa Bay Buccaneers Oklahoma Yes Bruce Smith Buffalo BillsWashington Redskins Virginia Tech Defensive tackle Randy White Dallas Cowboys Maryland Yes Dan Hampton Chicago Bears Arkansas Yes Keith Millard Minnesota Vikings Washington State Dave Butz Washington Redskins Purdue Linebacker Mike Singletary Chicago Bears Baylor Yes Lawrence Taylor New York Giants UNC Yes Ted Hendricks Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders Miami Yes Jack Lambert Pittsburgh Steelers Kent State Yes Andre Tippett New England Patriots Iowa Yes John Anderson Green Bay Packers Michigan Carl Banks New York Giants Michigan State Cornerback Mike Haynes New England PatriotsLos Angeles Raiders Arizona State Yes Mel Blount Pittsburgh Steelers Southern Yes Frank Minnifield Cleveland Browns Louisville Lester Hayes Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders Texas A&M Safety Ronnie Lott San Francisco 49ers USC Yes Kenny Easley Seattle Seahawks UCLA Deron Cherry Kansas City Chiefs Rutgers Joey Browner Minnesota Vikings USC Nolan Cromwell Los Angeles Rams Kansas Special Teams:
Position Player: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Punter Sean Landeta New York Giants Towson Reggie Roby Miami Dolphins Iowa Placekicker Morten Andersen New Orleans Saints Michigan State Gary Anderson Pittsburgh Steelers Syracuse Eddie Murray Detroit Lions Tulane Punt Returner Billy “White Shoes” Johnson Houston OilersAtlanta FalconsWashington Redskins Widener John Taylor San Francisco 49ers Delaware State Kick Returner Mike Nelms Washington Redskins BaylorTarrant JCSam Houston State Rick Upchurch Denver Broncos Indian Hills Community CollegeMinnesota Coaches:
Coach Team(s) coached for College Attended: Bill Walsh San Francisco 49ers San José State Chuck Noll Pittsburgh Steelers Dayton
1990s
Offense:
Position Player: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Quarterback Brett Favre Green Bay Packers Southern Mississippi Yes John Elway Denver Broncos Stanford Yes Running back Emmitt Smith Dallas CowboysArizona Cardinals Florida Thurman Thomas Buffalo Bills Oklahoma State Yes Barry Sanders Detroit Lions Oklahoma State Yes Terrell Davis Denver Broncos University of Georgia Wide receiver Michael Irvin Dallas Cowboys Miami Yes Tim Brown Oakland RaidersTampa Bay Buccaneers Notre Dame Cris Carter Minnesota Vikings Ohio State Jerry Rice San Francisco 49ersOakland Raiders Mississippi Valley State Tight end Shannon Sharpe Denver Broncos Savannah State Ben Coates New England Patriots Livingstone Tackle Willie Roaf New Orleans Saints Louisiana Tech Gary Zimmerman Minnesota VikingsDenver Broncos Oregon Yes Tony Boselli Jacksonville Jaguars USC Richmond Webb Miami Dolphins Texas A&M Guard Bruce Matthews Houston OilersTennessee OilersTennessee Titans USC Yes Larry Allen Dallas Cowboys Sonoma State Steve Wisniewski Los Angeles RaidersOakland Raiders Penn State Randall McDaniel Minnesota Vikings Arizona State Center Dermontti Dawson Pittsburgh Steelers Kentucky Mark Stepnoski Dallas CowboysHouston OilersTennessee Oilers Pittsburgh Defense:
Position Player: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Defensive end Bruce Smith Buffalo BillsWashington Redskins Virginia Tech Reggie White Philadelphia EaglesGreen Bay PackersCarolina Panthers Tennessee Yes Chris Doleman Minnesota VikingsAtlanta FalconsSan Francisco 49ers Pittsburgh Neil Smith Kansas City ChiefsDenver Broncos Nebraska Defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy Seattle Seahawks Miami John Randle Minnesota Vikings Texas A&I Warren Sapp Tampa Bay Buccaneers Miami Bryant Young San Francisco 49ers Notre Dame Linebacker Kevin Greene Los Angeles RamsPittsburgh SteelersCarolina Panthers San Francisco 49ers
Auburn Junior Seau San Diego Chargers USC Derrick Thomas Kansas City Chiefs Alabama Cornelius Bennett Buffalo BillsAtlanta Falcons Alabama Levon Kirkland Pittsburgh Steelers Clemson Hardy Nickerson Pittsburgh SteelersTampa Bay BuccaneersJacksonville Jaguars Green Bay Packers
California Cornerback Aeneas Williams Arizona CardinalsSt. Louis Rams Southern Deion Sanders Atlanta FalconsSan Francisco 49ersDallas Cowboys Florida State Rod Woodson Pittsburgh SteelersSan Francisco 49ersBaltimore Ravens Oakland Raiders
Purdue Darrell Green Washington Redskins Texas A&I Yes Safety LeRoy Butler Green Bay Packers Florida State Reese Sturdivant Denver BroncosNew York Jets Arkansas Carnell Lake Pittsburgh SteelersJacksonville JaguarsBaltimore Ravens UCLA Ronnie Lott San Francisco 49ersLos Angeles RaidersNew York Jets USC Yes Special Teams:
Position Player: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Kicker Morten Andersen New Orleans SaintsAtlanta Falcons Michigan State Gary Anderson Pittsburgh SteelersPhiladelphia EaglesSan Francisco 49ers Minnesota Vikings
Tennessee Titans
Syracuse Punter Darren Bennett San Diego Chargers none Sean Landeta New York GiantsSt. Louis RamsTampa Bay Buccaneers Green Bay Packers
Philadelphia Eagles
Towson Kick Returner Michael Bates Seattle SeahawksCleveland BrownsCarolina Panthers Arizona Mel Gray Detroit LionsHouston OilersPhiladelphia Eagles Purdue Punt Returner Deion Sanders Atlanta FalconsSan Francisco 49ersDallas Cowboys Florida State Mel Gray Detroit LionsHouston OilersPhiladelphia Eagles Purdue Coaches:
Coach Team(s) coached for College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Mike Jones New York GiantsNew England PatriotsNew York Jets Wichita State Rick James Buffalo Bills Coe College Yes
Other chapters in this study:
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1920s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1930s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1940s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1950s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1960s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1970s
Welcome to part 6 of our study looking at the NFL All-Decade Teams. Today, we look at the 1970s.
Offense:
Position Player Team(s) played for College In Hall of Fame? Quarterback Terry Bradshaw Pittsburgh Steelers Louisiana Tech Yes Ken Stabler Oakland Raiders Alabama No Roger Staubach Dallas Cowboys Navy Yes Running back Earl Campbell Houston Oilers Texas Yes Franco Harris Pittsburgh Steelers Penn State Yes Walter Payton Chicago Bears Jackson State Yes O.J. Simpson Buffalo Bills USC Yes Wide receiver Harold Carmichael Philadelphia Eagles Southern No Drew Pearson Dallas Cowboys Tulsa No Lynn Swann Pittsburgh Steelers USC Yes Paul Warfield Miami Dolphins Ohio State Yes Tight end Dave Casper Oakland Raiders Notre Dame Yes Charlie Sanders Detroit Lions Minnesota Yes Tackle Dan Dierdorf St. Louis Cardinals Michigan Yes Art Shell Oakland Raiders University of Maryland Eastern Shore Yes Rayfield Wright Dallas Cowboys Fort Valley State Yes Ron Yary Minnesota Vikings USC Yes Guard Joe DeLamielleure Buffalo Bills Michigan State Yes John Hannah New England Patriots Alabama Yes Larry Little Miami Dolphins Bethune-Cookman Yes Gene Upshaw Oakland Raiders Texas A&M-Kingsville Yes Center Jim Langer Miami Dolphins South Dakota State Yes Mike Webster Pittsburgh Steelers Wisconsin Yes Defense:
Position Player Team(s) played for College In Hall of Fame? Defensive end Carl Eller Minnesota VikingsSeattle Seahawks Minnesota Yes L.C. Greenwood Pittsburgh Steelers Alabama A&M No Harvey Martin Dallas Cowboys East Texas State No Jack Youngblood Los Angeles Rams Florida Yes Defensive tackle Joe Greene Pittsburgh Steelers North Texas State Yes Bob Lilly Dallas Cowboys Texas Christian Yes Merlin Olsen Los Angeles Rams Utah State Yes Alan Page Minnesota Vikings Notre Dame Yes Linebacker Bobby Bell Kansas City Chiefs Minnesota Yes Robert Brazile Houston Oilers Jackson State No Dick Butkus Chicago Bears Illinois Yes Jack Ham Pittsburgh Steelers Penn State Yes Ted Hendricks Baltimore ColtsGreen Bay PackersOakland Raiders Miami Yes Jack Lambert Pittsburgh Steelers Kent State Yes Cornerback Willie Brown Oakland Raiders Grambling State Yes Jimmy Johnson San Francisco 49ers UCLA Yes Roger Wehrli St. Louis Cardinals Missouri Yes Louis Wright Denver Broncos Bakersfield JCSan Jose StateArizona State No Safety Dick Anderson Miami Dolphins Colorado No Cliff Harris Dallas Cowboys Ouachita Baptist No Ken Houston Houston OilersWashington Redskins Prairie View A&M Yes Larry Wilson St. Louis Cardinals Utah Yes Special Teams:
Position Player Team(s) played for College Hall of Famer Kicker Jim Bakken St. Louis Cardinals Wisconsin No Kicker Garo Yepremian Miami Dolphins None No Punter Ray Guy Oakland Raiders Southern Mississippi No
As far as make-up of the 1970s NFL All-Decade Team, the two teams that have the most players represented are the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders with seven each. After that the next highest contributions are made by the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys with five players each. Eleven teams each contributed one player to the 1970s NFL All-Decade Team and a total of twenty teams are represented.
Besides the normal colleges represented, there are also some lesser known schools. The University of Tulsa, Fort Valley State, Bethune-Cookman, Bakersfield Junior College, Ouachita Baptist College and Prairie View State University all sent alumni to the 1970s NFL All-Decade Team. Another small college, Jackson State University, actually has two representatives on the team. Five other colleges had two players each make the team: Alabama, Penn State, USC, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin. The college with the most alumni on the 1970s NFL All-Decade Team is the University of Minnesota with three.
As we stated before, what prompted this look at the NFL’s All-Decade Team was the question as to how many players have made the All-Decade Team, meaning they’ve been a great player for roughly a decade if not more, but failed to make it into the Hall-of-Fame.
1970s All Decade Team Players Who Didn’t Make It Into The Hall Of FameKen Stabler – Quarterback – Oakland Raiders
Harold Carmichael – Wide Receiver – Philadelphia Eagles
Drew Pearson – Wide Receiver – Dallas Cowboys
L.C. Greenwood – Defensive End – Pittsburgh Steelers
Harvey Martin – Defensive End – Dallas Cowboys
Robert Brazile – Linebacker – Houston Oilers
Louis Wright – Cornerback – Denver Broncos
Dick Anderson – Safety – Miami Dolphins
Cliff Harris – Safety – Dallas Cowboys
Jim Bakken – Kicker – St. Louis Cardinals
Garo Yepremian – Kicker – Miami Dolphins
Ray Guy – Punter – Oakland RaidersPlayers selected: 48
Players not in Hall of Fame: 12
25% of 1970s All Decade team are not in the Hall of Fame
Other chapters in this study:
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1920s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1930s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1940s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1950s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1960s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1970s
Welcome to part 5 of our study looking at the NFL All-Decade Teams. Today, we examine the 1960s.
Offense:
Position Player Name: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Quarterback Sonny Jurgensen Philadelphia EaglesWashington Redskins Duke Yes Bart Starr Green Bay Packers Alabama Yes Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts Louisville Yes Half back John David Crow St. Louis CardinalsSan Francisco 49ers Texas A&M No Paul Hornung Green Bay Packers Notre Dame Yes Leroy Kelly Cleveland Browns Morgan State Yes Gale Sayers Chicago Bears Kansas Yes Full back Jim Brown Cleveland Browns Syracuse Yes Jim Taylor Green Bay PackersNew Orleans Saints Louisiana State Yes Split End Del Shofner Los Angeles RamsNew York Giants Baylor No Charley Taylor Washington Redskins Arizona State Yes Flanker Gary Collins Cleveland Browns Maryland No Boyd Dowler Green Bay Packers Colorado No Tight end John Mackey Baltimore Colts Syracuse Yes Tackle Bob Brown Philadelphia EaglesLos Angeles Rams Nebraska Yes Forrest Gregg Green Bay Packers Southern Methodist Yes Ralph Neely Dallas Cowboys Oklahoma No Guard Gene Hickerson Cleveland Browns Mississippi Yes Jerry Kramer Green Bay Packers Idaho No Howard Mudd San Francisco 49ersChicago Bears Michigan StateHillsdale No Center Jim Ringo Green Bay PackersPhiladelphia Eagles Syracuse Yes Defense:
Position Player Name: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Defensive end Doug Atkins Chicago BearsNew Orleans Saints Tennessee Yes Willie Davis Green Bay Packers Grambling State Yes David “Deacon” Jones Los Angeles Rams South Carolina State Yes Defensive tackle Alex Karras Detroit Lions Iowa No Bob Lilly Dallas Cowboys Texas Christian Yes Merlin Olsen Los Angeles Rams Utah State Yes Linebacker Dick Butkus Chicago Bears Illinois Yes Larry Morris Chicago Bears Georgia Tech No Ray Nitschke Green Bay Packers Illinois Yes Tommy Nobis Atlanta Falcons Texas No Dave Robinson Green Bay Packers Penn State No Cornerback Herb Adderley Green Bay Packers Michigan State Yes Lem Barney Detroit Lions Jackson State Yes Bobby Boyd Baltimore Colts Oklahoma No Safety Eddie Meador Los Angeles Rams Arkansas Tech No Larry Wilson St. Louis Cardinals Utah Yes Willie Wood Green Bay Packers USC Yes
If you’re wondering which NFL team has the most players represented on the 1960s NFL All-Decade Team, it doesn’t take much more than a quick glance to figure it out. While the Browns had four players making the team, and the Bears and Rams both have five players on the team, neither holds a candle to the Packers. Forty-one players were selected to the 1960s NFL All-Decade Team and thirteen of them come from the Green Bay Packers. Thirty-two percent of a team consisting of the best players in the NFL over the course of a decade all come from one team… the Green Bay Packers, and that is pretty amazing.
As far as college make-up of the 1960s NFL All-Decade Team, this decade shows even wider parity than some of the previous rosters. All the big name schools are represented: Alabama, Notre Dame, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, USC and more. Only three schools had multiple players named to the team: Illinois and Michigan State each had two players on the team and Syracuse University sits atop the heap with a whopping three players selected to the 1960s NFL All-Decade Team.
As we stated before, what prompted this look at the NFL’s All-Decade Team was the question as to how many players have made the All-Decade Team, meaning they’ve been a great player for roughly a decade if not more, but failed to make it into the Hall-of-Fame.
1960s All Decade Team Players Who Didn’t Make It Into The Hall Of Fame
John David Crow – Halfback – St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers
Del Shofner – Split End – Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants
Gary Collins – Flanker – Cleveland Browns
Boyd Dowler – Flanker – Green Bay Packers
Ralph Neely – Tackle – Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Kramer – Guard – Green Bay Packers
Howard Mudd – Guard – San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears
Alex Karras – Defensive Tackle – Detroit Lions
Larry Morris – Linebacker – Chicago Bears
Tommy Nobis – Linebacker – Atlanta Falcons
Dave Robinson – Linebacker – Green Bay Packers
Bobby Boyd – Cornerback – Baltimore Colts
Eddie Meador – Safety – Los Angeles Rams
Don Chandler – Punter – New York Giants, Green Bay Packers
Jim Bakken – Kicker – St. Louis CardinalsPlayers selected: 38
Players not in Hall of Fame: 15
39% of 1960’s All Decade Team Players are not in the Hall of Fame
The next chapter in this study will cover the 1970s.
Other chapters in this study:
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1920s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1930s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1940s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1950s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1960s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1970s
Welcome to part four of our study looking at the NFL All-Decade Teams. Today, we look at the 1950s.
Offense:
Position Player Name: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Quarterback Otto Graham Cleveland Browns Northwestern Yes Norm Van Brocklin Los Angeles Rams
Philadelphia EaglesOregon Yes Bobby Layne Detroit Lions
Pittsburgh SteelersTexas Yes Running back Frank Gifford New York Giants Southern California Yes Ollie Matson Chicago Cardinals
Los Angeles RamsSan Francisco Yes Hugh McElhenny San Francisco 49ers Washington Yes Lenny Moore Baltimore Colts Penn State Yes Fullback Alan Ameche Baltimore Colts Wisconsin No Joe Perry San Francisco 49ers
Baltimore ColtsCompton Community Yes End Raymond Berry Baltimore Colts South Methodist Yes Tom Fears Los Angeles Rams UCLA Yes Bobby Walston Philadelphia Eagles Georgia No Elroy Hirsch Los Angeles Rams Michigan Yes Tackle Roosevelt Brown New York Giants Morgan State Yes Bob St. Clair San Francisco 49ers Tulsa Yes Guard Dick Barwegan Chicago Bears
Baltimore ColtsPurdue No Jim Parker Baltimore Colts Ohio State Yes Dick Stanfel Detroit Lions
Washington RedskinsSan Francisco JC
San FranciscoNo Center Chuck Bednarik Philadelphia Eagles Pennsylvania Yes Defense:
Position Player Name: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Defensive end Len Ford Cleveland Browns
Green Bay PackersMichigan Yes Gino Marchetti Dallas Texans
Baltimore ColtsSan Francisco Yes Defensive tackle Art Donovan New York Yanks
Dallas Texans
Baltimore ColtsBoston Yes Leo Nomellini San Francisco 49ers Minnesota Yes Ernie Stautner Pittsburgh Steelers Boston Yes Linebacker Joe Fortunato Chicago Bears Virginia Military Institute
Mississippi StateNo Bill George Chicago Bears Wake Forest Yes Sam Huff New York Giants West Virginia Yes Joe Schmidt Detroit Lions Pittsburgh Yes Cornerback Dick “Night Train” Lane Los Angeles Rams
Chicago CardinalsScottsbluff Yes Jack Butler Pittsburgh Steelers St. Bonaventure No Safety Jack Christiansen Detroit Lions Colorado State Yes Yale Lary Detroit Lions Texas A&M Yes Emlen Tunnell New York Giants
Green Bay PackersIowa Yes Special Teams:
Position Player Team(s) played for College Hall of Famer Placekicker Lou Groza Cleveland Browns Ohio State Yes
Looking at the distribution of talent, the Baltimore Colts had eight former players represented on the 1950s All-Decade Team. The next closest in terms of players represented are the Rams and the Lions who have five each, who are then followed by the Giants and 49ers with four each. The 1950s NFL All-Decade Team marked the first time a special teams player (Lou Groza of the Browns) was named as a member.
By looking at the make-up of the 1950s All-Decade Team we can see that the college football landscape started to experience parity in the 1940s when most of these players were still in school. Many more of the schools we’ve come to think of as classic football universities are represented on this 1950s All-Decade Team, although there are still a number of non-football schools represented. Morgan State, Tulsa, Pennsylvania, Virginia Military Institute, Scottsbluff, St. Bonaventure, and Colorado State are all represented with former players making this list. Also two community colleges, Compton Community and San Francisco Junior College, are represented for the first time. But the most surprising thing, collegiately speaking, about the make-up of the 1950s NFL All-Decade Team is that the college most represented is the University of San Francisco.
As we stated before, what prompted this look at the NFL’s All-Decade Team was the question as to how many players have made the All-Decade Team, meaning they’ve been a great player for roughly a decade if not more, but failed to make it into the Hall-of-Fame.
1950s All Decade Team Players Who Didn’t Make It Into The Hall Of Fame:
Alan Ameche – Fullback – Baltimore Colts
Bobby Watson – End – Philadelphia Eagles
Dick Barwegan – Guard – Chicago Bears, Baltimore Colts
Dick Stanfel – Guard – Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins
Joe Fortunato – Linebacker – Chicago Bears
Jack Butler – Cornerback – Pittsburgh SteelersPlayers selected: 34
Players not in Hall of Fame: 6
18% of 1950s All Decade Team Players are not in the Hall of Fame
The next chapter will cover the 1960s NFL All-Decade Team.
Other chapters in this study:
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1920s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1930s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1940s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1950s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1960s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1970s
Welcome to part three of our six part series examining the NFL All-Decade teams. Today, we look at the 1940s NFL All-Decade Team.
Position Player Name: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Quarterback Sammy Baugh Washington Redskins Texas Christian Yes Sid Luckman Chicago Bears Columbia Yes Bob Waterfield Cleveland Rams
Los Angeles RamsUCLA Yes Running back Tony Canadeo Green Bay Packers Gonzaga Yes Bill Dudley Pittsburgh Steelers
Detroit LionsVirginia Yes George McAfee Chicago Bears Duke Yes Steve Van Buren Philadelphia Eagles Louisiana State Yes Charley Trippi Chicago Cardinals Georgia Yes Byron White Detroit Lions Colorado No Fullback Marion Motley Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh SteelersNevada Yes Pat Harder Chicago Cardinals
Detroit LionsWisconsin No Bill Osmanski Chicago Bears Holy Cross No End Mac Speedie Cleveland Browns Utah No Pete Pihos Philadelphia Eagles Indiana Yes Ed Sprinkle Chicago Bears Hardin-Simmons University
NavyNo Dante Lavelli Cleveland Browns Ohio State Yes Ken Kavanaugh Chicago Bears Louisiana State No Jim Benton Cleveland Rams
Chicago Bears
Los Angeles RamsUniversity of Arkansas No Jack Ferrante Philadelphia Eagles none No Tackle Al Blozis New York Giants Georgetown No George Connor Chicago Bears Notre Dame Yes Frank “Bucko” Kilroy Philadelphia Eagles Temple No Buford “Baby” Ray Green Bay Packers Vanderbilt No Vic Sears Philadelphia Eagles Oregon State No Al Wistert Philadelphia Eagles Michigan No Guard Bruno Banducci Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco 49ersStanford No Bill Edwards New York Giants Baylor No Garrard “Buster” Ramsey Chicago Cardinals William and Mary No Bill Willis Cleveland Browns Ohio State Yes Len Younce New York Giants Oregon State No Center Charley Brock Green Bay Packers Nebraska No Clyde “Bulldog” Turner Chicago Bears Hardin-Simmons Yes Alex Wojciechowicz Detroit Lions
Philadelphia EaglesFordham Yes
The 1940s NFL All-Decade team was highly affected by World War II. Some teams stopped playing while others merged so that they could still field a team of experienced players. Many teams contributed players to the All-Decade team, but two produced twice as many as the best of the rest of the NFL. The 1950s Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles each contributed eight players to the All-Decade team. The Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns were next in line, each contributing four players.
From a standpoint of colleges represented, the 1940s NFL All-Decade Team is starting to look a little more modern in terms of having players from what are considered classic football schools included. There are still a few smaller colleges that contributed players, colleges that today are not considered to be classic football schools. One of the more interesting facts is that the 1940s NFL All-Decade Team includes two players that attended Hardin-Simmons University, a small Baptist college in Abilene, Texas.
As we stated before, what prompted this look at the NFL’s All-Decade Team was the question as to how many players have made the All-Decade Team, meaning they’ve been a great player for roughly a decade if not more, but failed to make it into the Hall-of-Fame.
1940s All Decade Team Players Who Didn’t Make It Into The Hall Of Fame:
Byron White – Running Back – Detroit Lions
Pat Harder – Fullback – Chicago Cardinals, Detroit Lions
Bill Osmanski – Fullback – Chicago Bears
Mac Speedie – End – Cleveland Browns
Ed Sprinkle – End – Chicago Bears
Ken Kavanaugh – End – Chicago Bears
Jim Benton – End – Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears
Jack Ferrante – End – Philadelphia Eagles
Al Blozis – Tackle – New York Giants
Frank Kilroy – Tackle – Philadelphia Eagles
Buford Ray – Tackle – Green Bay Packers
Vic Sears – Tackle – Philadelphia Eagles
Al Wistert – Tackle Philadelphia Eagles
Bruno Banducci – Guard – Philadelphia Eagles/San Francisco 49ers
Bill Edwards – Guard – New York Giants
Garrard Ramsey – Guard – Chicago Cardinals
Len Younce – Guard – New York Giants
Charley Brock – Center – Green Bay PackersPlayers selected: 33
Players not in Hall of Fame: 18
54% of 1940s All Decade Team Players are not in the Hall of Fame
The next chapter will cover the 1950s NFL All-Decade Team.
Other chapters in this study:
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1920s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1930s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1940s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1950s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1960s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1970s
Welcome to the second part of our six part series taking a look at the NFL’s All-Decade teams, today… the 1930s NFL All-Decade Team:
Position Player Name: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Quarterback Arnie Herber Green Bay Packers Wisconsin Yes Cecil Isbell Green Bay Packers Purdue No Earl “Dutch” Clark Portsmouth Spartans
Detroit LionsColorado College Yes Running back Cliff Battles Boston Braves
Boston Redskins
Washington RedskinsWest Virginia Wesleyan Yes Beattie Feathers Chicago Bears
Brooklyn Dodgers
Green Bay PackersTennessee No Alphonse “Tuffy” Leemans New York Giants Oregon Yes Ken Strong Staten Island Stapletons
New York GiantsNew York University Yes Johnny “Blood” McNally Green Bay Packers
Pittsburgh SteelersSaint John’s University (MN) Yes Full back Bronko Nagurski Chicago Bears Minnesota Yes Clarke Hinkle Green Bay Packers Bucknell Yes End Bill Hewitt Chicago Bears
Philadelphia EaglesMichigan Yes Don Hutson Green Bay Packers Alabama Yes Wayne Millner Boston Redskins
Washington RedskinsNotre Dame Yes Gaynell Tinsley Chicago Cardinals Louisiana State University No Tackle George Christensen Portsmouth Spartans
Detroit LionsOregon No Frank Cope New York Giants Santa Clara No Albert Glen “Turk” Edwards Boston Braves
Boston Redskins
Washington RedskinsWashington State Yes Bill Lee Brooklyn Dodgers
Green Bay PackersAlabama No Guard Ox Emerson Portsmouth Spartans
Detroit LionsTexas No Dan Fortmann Chicago Bears Colgate Yes Charles Goldenberg Green Bay Packers Wisconsin No Russ Letlow Green Bay Packers San Francisco No Center Mel Hein New York Giants Washington State Yes George Svendsen Green Bay Packers Oregon State
MinnesotaNo
As far as NFL team distribution, the 1930s All-Decade team was vastly different from the 1920s. While the 1920s team showed pretty much even dispersal between three to five teams, the 1930s All-Decade team is heavily dominated by one NFL club. The Chicago Bears and New York Giants are tied for second place with the most representatives making the team with four players apiece. In first place are the Green Bay Packers who, on an All-Decade team that only consists of 24 players, had eleven players make the team. Almost 50% of the 1930s All-Decade roster is made up of players that spent time playing football for the Green Bay Packers.
As far as colleges represented, we are seeing more alumni of traditional football schools this time. Classic athletic schools such as Purdue, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Oregon, Michigan, Alabama, LSU, and Texas all have players making the team. There is still at this time in the history of football a good amount of talent coming from non-traditionally thought of football schools like: San Francisco, Saint John’s (Minnesota), Colorado College, West Virginia Wesleyan, New York University, Bucknell, Santa Clara, and Colgate. An interesting note, as far as college football was concerned, at this time Notre Dame is still the dominant program in the nation. The Univesities of Oregon, Alabama, Washington State, and Minnesota all have multiple alumni on the roster, while in this decade Notre Dame only placed one former player there.
As we stated before, what prompted this look at the NFL’s All-Decade Team was the question as to how many players have made the All-Decade Team, meaning they’ve been a great player for roughly a decade if not more, but failed to make it into the Hall-of-Fame.
1930s All Decade Team Players Who Didn’t Make It Into The Hall Of Fame:
Cecil Isbell – Quarterback – Green Bay Packers
Beattie Feathers – Running Back – Chicago Bears, Brooklyn Dodgers, Green Bay Packers
Gaynell Tinsley – End – Chicago Cardinals
George Christensen – Tackle – Portsmouth Spartans, Detroit Lions
Frank Cope – Tackle – New York Giants
Bill Lee – Tackle – Brooklyn Dodgers, Green Bay Packers
Ox Emerson – Guard – Portsmouth Spartans, Detroit Lions
Charles Goldenberg – Guard – Green Bay Packers
Russ Letlow – Guard – Green Bay Packers
George Svendsen – Center – Green Bay PackersPlayers selected: 24
Players not in Hall of Fame: 10
42% of 1930s All Decade Team Players are not in the Hall of Fame
The next chapter in this study involves the World War II affected 1940s NFL All-Decade team.
Other chapters in this study:
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1920s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1930s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1940s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1950s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1960s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1970s
We begin our series of examining the All-Decade teams with a look at the 1920s NFL All-Decade Team:
Position: Player Name: Team(s): College Attended: In Hall of Fame? Quarterback Jimmy Conzelman Decatur Staleys
Rock Island Independents
Milwaukee Badgers
Detroit Panthers
Providence Steam RollerWashington of St. Louis Yes Paddy Driscoll Chicago Cardinals
Chicago BearsNorthwestern Yes Running back Harold “Red” Grange Chicago Bears
New York YankeesIllinois Yes Jim Thorpe Canton Bulldogs
Cleveland Indians
Oorang Indians
Rock Island Independents
New York Giants
Chicago CardinalsCarlisle Indian Yes Joe Guyon Canton Bulldogs
Cleveland Indians
Oorang Indians
Rock Island Independents
Kansas City Cowboys
New York GiantsGeorgia Tech Yes Earl “Curly” Lambeau Green Bay Packers Notre Dame Yes Fullback Ernie Nevers Duluth Eskimos
Chicago CardinalsStanford Yes End George Halas Decatur Staleys
Chicago Staleys
Chicago BearsIllinois Yes Guy Chamberlin Chicago Staleys
Canton Bulldogs
Cleveland Bulldogs
Frankford Yellow Jackets
Chicago CardinalsNebraska Yes Lavern Dilweg Milwaukee Badgers
Green Bay PackersMarquette No Tackle Ed Healey Rock Island Independents
Chicago BearsDarmouth Yes Wilbur “Pete” Henry Canton Bulldogs
New York Giants
Pottsville MaroonsWashington & Jefferson Yes Cal Hubbard New York Giants
Green Bay PackersCentennary Yes Steve Owen Kansas City Blues
Cleveland Bulldogs
Kansas City Cowboys
New York GiantsPhillips Yes Guard Walt Kiesling Green Bay Packers St. Thomas (Min) Yes Hunk Anderson Chicago Bears
Cleveland IndiansNotre Dame No Mike Michalske New York Yankees
Green Bay PackersPenn State Yes Center George Trafton Chicago Bears Notre Dame Yes
Now, let’s look at some interesting facts regarding this team:
On the professional level, the 1920s All-Decade team was a pretty even distribution of the NFL’s member clubs without one NFL team dominating it’s make-up. The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants all tied for most players on the All-Decade team with five. The Chicago Cardinals were close behind with four players selected.
The colleges represented is another matter entirely. Other than three of the 18 players having come from Notre Dame, there are a lot of players that are from schools we don’t think of as the types of schools that turn out NFL player nowadays. You of course have your Illinois, Northwestern, Stanford, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, and Penn State representatives; but, it’s been a while since we’ve seen star football players come out of schools the likes of: Washington of St. Louis, Marquette, Dartmouth, William & Jefferson, Centennary, Phillips, St. Thomas, and of course Carlisle Indian.
One of the main reason for this in-depth look at the NFL All-Decade teams was to answer the question “How many players make it to the All-Decade team but don’t make it to the Hall-of-Fame?” This is an interesting question seeing as that to make it onto the All-Decade team you had to have been a great player for about a decade. You would think having been a great player for a decade would get you into the Hall-of-Fame, this is not always the case.
1920s All Decade Team Players Who Didn’t Make It Into The Hall Of Fame:
Lavern Dilweg – End – Milwaukee Badgers, Green Bay Packers
Hunk Anderson – Guard – Chicago Bears, Cleveland IndiansPlayers selected: 18
Players not in Hall of Fame: 2
11% of 1920s All Decade Team Players are not in the Hall of Fame
The next chapter of this study will involve the 1930s NFL All-Decade team.
Other chapters in this study:
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1920s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1930s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1940s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1950s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1960s
IQFB.com Examines The NFL All-Decade Teams: The 1970s
We’re sitting here in 2008, so there is not any reason to discuss the upcoming NFL All-Decade team… seeing as it is still two years away from being named. Let’s take a look back at All-Decade teams of the past.
Who is the only player to be named to two different All-Decade teams?
That and many other questions will be answered. To make the All-Decade team, you have to have been a great player (if not dominant player) during the decade. If you truly are a great player over the course of ten years, it seems to reason that would result in a Hall-of-Fame induction too. But, how many players made All-Decade teams and did not make it into the Hall-of-Fame? We’ll answer that one too. That analysis will only involve the 1920s through the 1970s, as there are many players not in the Hall-of-Fame from the 1980s and 1990s that will be one day.
So, it all starts tomorrow… IQFB.com examines the NFL All-Decade teams.
Copyright © 2007 Football Trivia & Facts From IQFB.com
Write Funny Poetry - Gizmos & Gadgets
31 queries. 0.590 seconds
