The 1976 Pro Bowl was the NFL's 26th annual all-star game which featured the outstanding performers from the 1975 season. The game was played on Monday night, January 26, 1976, at the new Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, with 32,108 in attendance. The final score was NFC 23, AFC 20. It was also the first Pro Bowl game played indoors.
The game featured the best players in the National Football League as selected by the league's coaches. John Madden of the Oakland Raiders led the AFC team against an NFC team led by Los Angeles Rams head coach Chuck Knox.
The AFC's Billy "White Shoes" Johnson was named the game's MVP on the strength of a 90-yard punt return touchdown and a second punt return of 55 yards that set up a field goal. The referee was Fred Silva.
Players on the winning NFC team received $2,000 apiece while the AFC participants each took home $1,500.
Rosters The 40-man Pro Bowl squads consisted of the following players:
Offense PositionAFCNFCQuarterbackTerry Bradshaw – PittsburghKen Anderson – CincinnatiDan Pastorini – HoustonFran Tarkenton – Minnesota Jim Hart – St. Louis Roger Staubach – Dallas Mike Boryla – PhiladelphiaRunning backO. J. Simpson – Buffalo Franco Harris – Pittsburgh Lydell Mitchell – Baltimore John Riggins – NY JetsChuck Foreman – MinnesotaTerry Metcalf – St. LouisLawrence McCutcheon – Los AngelesJim Otis – St. Louis Wide receiverLynn Swann – PittsburghIsaac Curtis – CincinnatiCliff Branch – OaklandKen Burrough – HoustonMel Gray – St. LouisJohn Gilliam –MinnesotaHarold Jackson – Los AngelesCharley Taylor – WashingtonTight endRiley Odoms – DenverRich Caster – NY JetsCharle Young – PhiladelphiaCharlie Sanders – DetroitTackleArt Shell – OaklandGeorge Kunz – BaltimoreRuss Washington – San DiegoRon Yary – MinnesotaDan Dierdorf – St. LouisRayfield Wright – Dallas GuardBob Kuechenberg – MiamiGene Upshaw – OaklandJoe DeLamielleure – Buffalo Ed White – MinnesotaConrad Dobler – St. LouisTom Mack – Los Angeles CenterJim Langer – MiamiJack Rudnay – Kansas CityTom Banks – St. LouisJeff Van Note – Atlanta
Defense PositionAFCNFCDefensive end John Dutton – BaltimoreL. C. Greenwood – PittsburghElvin Bethea – Houston Jack Youngblood – Los AngelesCedrick Hardman – San Francisco Fred Dryer – Los Angeles Defensive tackleJerry Sherk – ClevelandJoe Greene – PittsburghCurley Culp – Houston Alan Page – MinnesotaMerlin Olsen – Los AngelesWally Chambers – ChicagoMiddle linebackerWillie Lanier – Kansas CityJack Lambert – PittsburghRandy Gradishar – Denver Jeff Siemon – MinnesotaJack Reynolds – Los Angeles Outside linebackerAndy Russell – PittsburghJack Ham – PittsburghPhil Villapiano – Oakland Chris Hanburger – WashingtonIsiah Robertson – Los Angeles Fred Carr – Green BayCornerbackMel Blount – PittsburghLemar Parrish – CincinnatiEmmitt Thomas – Kansas City Roger Wehrli – St. LouisLem Barney – DetroitBobby Bryant – MinnesotaSafetyMike Wagner – PittsburghJake Scott – MiamiJack Tatum –OaklandGlen Edwards – PittsburghCliff Harris – DallasKen Houston – WashingtonPaul Krause – Minnesota
Special teams PositionAFCNFCKickerJan Stenerud – Kansas City Jim Bakken – St. Louis PunterRay Guy – Oakland John James – Atlanta Return specialistBilly Johnson – HoustonSteve Odom – Green Bay
Roster Notes: bold denotes player who participated in game Injured player; selected but did not play Replacement selection due to injury or vacancy
Number of selections by team Note: these numbers include players selected to the team but unable to play as well as replacements for these injured players, so there are more than 40 players in each conference.
AFC team Selections Pittsburgh Steelers 11 Oakland Raiders 6 Houston Oilers 5 Kansas City Chiefs 4 Baltimore Colts 3 Cincinnati Bengals 3 Miami Dolphins 3 Buffalo Bills 2 Denver Broncos 2 New York Jets 2 Cleveland Browns 1 San Diego Chargers 1 New England Patriots — NFC team Selections Minnesota Vikings 9 St. Louis Cardinals 9 Los Angeles Rams 8 Dallas Cowboys 3 Washington Redskins 3 Atlanta Falcons 2 Detroit Lions 2 Green Bay Packers 2 Philadelphia Eagles 2 Chicago Bears 1 San Francisco 49ers 1 New Orleans Saints — New York Giants —
References