NFL 1980s All-Decade Team

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The NFL 1980s All-Decade Team was chosen by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The team was composed of outstanding performers in the National Football League in the 1980s. [1] [2] [3] The squad consists of first- and second-team offensive, defensive and special teams units, as well as a first- and second-team head coaches.

Contents

Jerry Rice, Anthony Muñoz, and Lawrence Taylor were the only unanimous choices, being named on all 26 ballots. John Hannah was next with 25 votes, followed by Joe Montana at 24½ votes, Walter Payton at 23½ votes, and Ronnie Lott with 23 votes. The safety position was very close as Joey Browner made all decade second team as he came in with 22 votes. Kenny Easley got 22½ votes, just edging out Browner to make the first team. Easley of Seattle slipped between both in the voting as all three could have easily replaced the other in a very tight vote. Hall of Fame coach John Madden scoffed at the idea that Browner wasn't a member of the first team, Stating “I don’t know how anyone in that room says Joey Browner isn’t the best safety in football!” The overwhelming majority of NFL fans would likely argue that Ronnie Lott was the best Safety in the league during the 80's; likely due to the San Francisco 49ers dominance during the 80's, having won 4 Super Bowls.

Walter Payton, John Hannah, Mike Webster, Ted Hendricks, Jack Lambert, Billy Johnson, Rick Upchurch, and Chuck Noll had been previously named to the 1970s All-Decade Team. Jerry Rice, Gary Zimmerman, Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Ronnie Lott, Morten Andersen, Gary Anderson and Sean Landeta were also later named to the 1990s All-Decade Team.

Offense

*Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame ¤~Hall of Fame Finalist [4]
PositionFirst TeamVotesHall of Fame?Second TeamVotesHall of Fame?
Quarterback Joe Montana* (San Francisco 49ers)24½Yes Dan Fouts* (San Diego Chargers)1Yes
Running back Walter Payton* (Chicago Bears)23½Yes Roger Craig~ (San Francisco 49ers)52 time finalist
Eric Dickerson* (Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts)18Yes John Riggins* (Washington Redskins)3Yes
Wide receiver Jerry Rice* (San Francisco 49ers)26Yes James Lofton* (Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Raiders, Buffalo Bills)2Yes
Steve Largent* (Seattle Seahawks)22Yes Art Monk* (Washington Redskins)2Yes
Tight end Kellen Winslow* (San Diego Chargers)18½Yes Ozzie Newsome* (Cleveland Browns)2Yes
Tackle Anthony Muñoz* (Cincinnati Bengals)26Yes Gary Zimmerman* (Minnesota Vikings)7Yes
Jimbo Covert* (Chicago Bears)8Yes Joe Jacoby (Washington Redskins)53 time finalist
Guard John Hannah* (New England Patriots)25Yes Bill Fralic (Atlanta Falcons)4No
Russ Grimm* (Washington Redskins)16Yes Mike Munchak* (Houston Oilers)3Yes
Center Dwight Stephenson* (Miami Dolphins)13Yes Mike Webster* (Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs)10Yes

Defense

PositionFirst TeamVotesHall of Fame?Second TeamVotesHall of Fame?
Defensive end Reggie White* (Philadelphia Eagles)22Yes Lee Roy Selmon (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)3Yes
Howie Long* (Los Angeles Raiders)21Yes Bruce Smith* (Buffalo Bills)3Yes
Defensive tackle Randy White* (Dallas Cowboys)22Yes Keith Millard (Minnesota Vikings)7No
Dan Hampton* (Chicago Bears)12Yes Dave Butz (Washington Redskins)3No
Middle linebacker Mike Singletary* (Chicago Bears)21½Yes Jack Lambert* (Pittsburgh Steelers)4Yes
Outside linebacker Lawrence Taylor* (New York Giants)26Yes Andre Tippett* (New England Patriots)6Yes
Ted Hendricks* (Los Angeles Raiders)18Yes Carl Banks (New York Giants)1No
John Anderson (Green Bay Packers)1No
Cornerback Mike Haynes* (New England Patriots, Los Angeles Raiders)13Yes Frank Minnifield (Cleveland Browns)7No
Mel Blount* (Pittsburgh Steelers)9Yes Lester Hayes (Los Angeles Raiders)44 time finalist
Safety Ronnie Lott* (San Francisco 49ers)23Yes Deron Cherry (Kansas City Chiefs)5No
Kenny Easley* (Seattle Seahawks)22½Yes Nolan Cromwell (Los Angeles Rams)4No
Joey Browner (Minnesota Vikings)4No

Special teams

PositionFirst TeamVotesHall of Fame?Second TeamVotesHall of Fame?
Kicker Morten Andersen* (New Orleans Saints)12Yes Gary Anderson (Pittsburgh Steelers)4No
Eddie Murray (Detroit Lions)4No
Punter Sean Landeta (New York Giants)8No Reggie Roby (Miami Dolphins)6No
Kick Returner Mike Nelms (Washington Redskins)7½No Rick Upchurch (Denver Broncos)5No
Punt Returner Billy "White Shoes" Johnson (Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins)13No John Taylor (San Francisco 49ers)3No

Coach

PositionFirst TeamVotesHall of Fame?Second TeamVotesHall of Fame?
Coach Bill Walsh* (San Francisco 49ers)19Yes Chuck Noll* (Pittsburgh Steelers)3Yes

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References

  1. ↑ Staff writers (1990-03-15). "Already A Player Of The '70s, Payton Honored For Play In '80s". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. UPI. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  2. ↑ "1980s ALL-DECADE FIRST TEAM". NFL.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2010. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  3. ↑ "All-NFL Team of the 1980s". USA Today. Gannett. 1990-03-15. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  4. ↑ "Finalist list". Pro Football Hall of Fame.com. Retrieved 2012-09-14.
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