The National Football League 1970s All-Decade Team is a list of National Football League (NFL) players selected by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The squad consists of first- and second-team offensive, defensive, and special teams units, as well as a first- and second-team head coaches.
Punter Ray Guy was the leading vote-getter for the 1970s All-Decade Team, receiving 24 of a possible 25 votes. O. J. Simpson and Lynn Swann were next with 22 and 21 votes, respectively. Linebacker Jack Ham and Tight end Dave Casper each received 20 votes. Next were Defensive end Jack Youngblood and defensive tackle Joe Greene who each had 18 votes. Players that also made the National Football League 1960s All-Decade Team (the first NFL all-decade list) were Bob Lilly, Dick Butkus, Merlin Olsen, Larry Wilson, and Jim Bakken. Walter Payton, John Hannah, Mike Webster, Ted Hendricks, Jack Lambert, Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, Rick Upchurch, and Chuck Noll would also be named to the 1980s All-Decade Team.
Offense *Elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame¤ ~ Hall of Fame Finalist PositionFirst TeamVotesHall of Fame?Second TeamVotesHall of Fame?Quarterback Terry Bradshaw* (Pittsburgh Steelers)13Yes Roger Staubach* (Dallas Cowboys)3YesKen Stabler* (Oakland Raiders)3YesRunning back O. J. Simpson* (Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers)22Yes Earl Campbell* (Houston Oilers)8 Yes Walter Payton* (Chicago Bears)11Yes Franco Harris* (Pittsburgh Steelers)7YesWide receiver Lynn Swann* (Pittsburgh Steelers)21Yes Paul Warfield* (Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns)5Yes Drew Pearson* (Dallas Cowboys)7YesHarold Carmichael* (Philadelphia Eagles)2YesTight end Dave Casper* (Oakland Raiders)20Yes Charlie Sanders* (Detroit Lions)3YesTackle Art Shell* (Oakland Raiders)13Yes Dan Dierdorf* (St. Louis Cardinals)11Yes Rayfield Wright* (Dallas Cowboys)12Yes Ron Yary* (Minnesota Vikings)5YesGuard Larry Little* (Miami Dolphins)16Yes John Hannah* (New England Patriots)9Yes Joe DeLamielleure* (Buffalo Bills)12Yes Gene Upshaw* (Oakland Raiders)6YesCenter Jim Langer* (Miami Dolphins)15Yes Mike Webster* (Pittsburgh Steelers)6Yes
Defense PositionFirst TeamVotesHall of Fame?Second TeamVotesHall of Fame?Defensive end Jack Youngblood* (Los Angeles Rams)18YesL. C. Greenwood ~ (Pittsburgh Steelers)107 time finalist Carl Eller* (Minnesota Vikings)11YesHarvey Martin (Dallas Cowboys)5NoDefensive tackle Joe Greene* (Pittsburgh Steelers)18Yes Alan Page* (Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears)8Yes Bob Lilly* (Dallas Cowboys)16Yes Merlin Olsen* (Los Angeles Rams)5YesMiddle linebacker Dick Butkus* (Chicago Bears)9Yes Jack Lambert* (Pittsburgh Steelers)6YesOutside linebacker Jack Ham* (Pittsburgh Steelers)20YesRobert Brazile* (Houston Oilers)5Yes Ted Hendricks* (Baltimore Colts, Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders)8Yes Bobby Bell* (Kansas City Chiefs)4YesCornerback Willie Brown* (Oakland Raiders)13YesLouis Wright (Denver Broncos)7No Jimmy Johnson* (San Francisco 49ers)8Yes Roger Wehrli* (St. Louis Cardinals)7YesSafety Ken Houston* (Houston Oilers, Washington Redskins)16Yes Larry Wilson* (St. Louis Cardinals)7YesCliff Harris* (Dallas Cowboys)15YesDick Anderson (Miami Dolphins)3No
Special teams PositionFirst TeamVotesHall of Fame?Second TeamVotesHall of Fame?KickerGaro Yepremian (Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints)8NoJim Bakken (St. Louis Cardinals)7NoPunterRay Guy* (Oakland Raiders)24YesJerrel Wilson (Kansas City Chiefs)1NoKick ReturnerRick Upchurch (Denver Broncos)10NoBilly "White Shoes" Johnson (Houston Oilers)6No
Coach PositionFirst TeamVotesHall of Fame?Second TeamVotesHall of Fame?Coach Don Shula* (Miami Dolphins)11Yes Chuck Noll* (Pittsburgh Steelers)9Yes
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