The 1979 Pro Bowl was the NFL's 29th annual all-star game which featured the outstanding performers from the 1978 season. The game was played on Monday, January 29, 1979, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California before a crowd of 38,333. The final score was NFC 13, AFC 7.
Chuck Fairbanks of the New England Patriots lead the AFC team against an NFC team coached by Minnesota Vikings head coach Bud Grant. The referee was Jerry Markbreit in his second year as a referee.
Ahmad Rashad of the Minnesota Vikings was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Players on the winning NFC team received $5,000 apiece while the AFC participants each took home $2,500.
As of 2019, this was the last Pro Bowl to be played on a Monday, and the last one to be played in Los Angeles. It was the last one to be played outside Hawaii until the 2010 Pro Bowl which was in Miami Gardens, Florida.
This was also the first Pro Bowl to have players sport their respective team helmets, a custom that still stands today.
Rosters AFC
1979 AFC Pro Bowl roster Quarterbacks 12 Terry Bradshaw (PIT) 13 Dan Fouts (SD)
Running backs 20 Joe Washington (BAL) HB / KR 34 Earl Campbell (HOU) FB 32 Franco Harris (PIT) FB 43 Mike Pruitt (CLE) FB
Wide receivers 80 Rick Upchurch (DEN) KR / PR 81 Steve Largent (SEA) KR 18 Charlie Joiner (SD) 82 John Stallworth (PIT) 83 John Jefferson (SD) 84 Stanley Morgan (NE)
Tight ends 88 Raymond Chester (OAK) 87 Dave Casper (OAK) Offensive linemen 67 Ed White (SD) G 71 Leon Gray (NE) G / T 73 John Hannah (NE) G 70 Russ Washington (SD) T / G 52 Mike Webster (PIT) C 54 Tom DeLeone (CLE) C 79 Marvin Powell (NYJ) T 64 Joe Delamielleure (BUF) G
Defensive linemen 68 L. C. Greenwood (PIT) DE 75 Joe Greene (PIT) DE 71 Fred Dean (SD) DE 72 Gary Johnson (SD) DE 65 Elvin Bethea (HOU) DT 74 Louie Kelcher (SD) DT 72 Bob Baumhower (MIA) NG / DT Linebackers 53 Randy Gradishar (DEN) ILB / MLB 58 Jack Lambert (PIT) MLB 57 Tom Jackson (DEN) OLB 52 Robert Brazile (HOU) OLB 59 Jack Ham (PIT) ILB 56 Kim Bokamper (MIA) ILB
Defensive backs 20 Louis Wright (DEN) CB 27 Mike Reinfeldt (HOU) FS 22 Mike Haynes (NE) CB 47 Mel Blount (PIT) CB 43 Tim Foley (MIA) SS 31 Donnie Shell (PIT) FS
Special teams 1 Bob Grupp (KC) P 15 Toni Fritsch (HOU) K
Rookies in Italics
NFC 1979 NFC Pro Bowl roster Quarterbacks 12 Roger Staubach (DAL) 8 Archie Manning (NO)
Running backs 31 Wilbert Montgomery (PHI) HB / PR 32 Ottis Anderson (STL) 42 Chuck Muncie (NO) RB / KR 34 Walter Payton (CHI) HB
Wide receivers 17 Harold Carmichael (PHI) WR / FL / TE 89 Wes Chandler (NO) 88 Wally Henry (NO) WR / KR 28 Ahmad Rashad (MIN) 82 Tony Hill (DAL)
Tight ends 85 Henry Childs (NO) 81 David Hill (DET) Offensive linemen 67 Pat Donovan (DAL) T 68 Herbert Scott (DAL) G 76 Jerry Sisemore (PHI) T 75 Stan Walters (PHI) T 60 Dennis Harrah (RAM) T/G 61 Rich Saul (RAM) C 64 Bob Young (STL) G / DL 72 Dan Dierdorf (STL) T
Defensive linemen 85 Jack Youngblood (RAM) DE 79 Harvey Martin (DAL) DE 54 Randy White (DAL) DT 90 Larry Brooks (RAM) DT 63 Lee Roy Selmon (TB) DE / DT 60 Al Baker (DET) DE 65 Charlie Johnson (PHI) DT Linebackers 10 Brad Van Pelt (NYG) ILB 51 Jim Youngblood (RAM) MLB 59 Matt Blair (MIN) ILB 52 Bob Breunig (DAL) MLB 53 Harry Carson (NYG) ILB / MLB
Defensive backs 37 Tom Myers (NO) S 22 Roger Wehrli (STL) CB 29 Ken Houston (WAS) CB / S 43 Cliff Harris (DAL) FS 20 Joe Lavender (WAS) CB 49 Rod Perry (RAM) SS
Special teams 13 Dave Jennings (NYG) P 3 Mark Moseley (WAS) K
Rookies in Italics
References
External links