Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

I took a look at the Associated Press All pro selections for each season since the merger.

The following 20 teams each had seven players named first or second team all-pro by the Associated Press in their respective seasons.

All 20 of these teams made at least the conference championship game or were within a year of having done so, and I’m pretty sure you could say they did so with the group of players listed.

One team that deserves a shoutout is the 1973 Dolphins who might very well have also had seven all pro selections, but for reasons that I don’t know, the AP didn’t pick a second team of players in 1973.

Either way, here are the 20 teams and their all pro players:

1972 Dolphins

1st Team:
QB - Earl Morrall
G - Larry Little
RDE - Bill Stanfill
SS - Dick Anderson

2nd Team:
FB - Larry Csonka
WR - Paul Warfield
MLB - Nick Buoniconti
FS - Jake Scott

1975 Steelers

1st Team:
DE - L.C. Greenwood
RLB - Jack Ham
RCB - Mel Blount

2nd Team:
FB - Franco Harris
WR - Lynn Swann
MLB - Jack Lambert
LDT - Joe Greene

1977 Broncos

1st Team:
SS - Bill Thompson
RILB - Randy Gradishar
ROLB - Tom Jackson
RDE - Lyle Alzado

2nd Team:
TE - Riley Odoms
NT - Rubin Carter
KR - Rick Upchurch

1979 Oilers

1st Team:
RB - Earl Campbell
LT - Leon Gray
FS - Mike Reinfeldt
ROLB - Robert Brazille
K - Toni Fritsch

2nd Team:
NT - Curley Culp
DE - Elvin Bethea

1980 Chargers

1st Team:
WR - Charlie Joiner
TE - Kellen Winslow
WR - John Jefferson
RDT - Gary Johnson
RDE - Fred Dean

2nd Team:
QB - Dan Fouts
LDT - Louie Kelcher
K - Rolf Benirschke

1982 Chargers

1st Team:
QB - Dan Fouts
WR - Wes Chandler
TE - Kellen Winslow
LG - Doug Wilkerson

2nd Team:
OT - Russ Washington
S - Tim Fox
DT - Gary Johnson


1983 Redskins

1st Team:
QB - Joe Theismann
RB - John Riggins
LT - Joe Jacoby
LG - Russ Grimm
FS - Mark Murphy
LDT - Dave Butz
KR/PR - Mike Nelms

2nd Team: None

1985 Bears

1st Team:
RB - Walter Payton
LT - Jimbo Covert
MLB - Mike Singletary
RDE - Richard Dent
LDT - Steve McMichael

2nd Team:
LLB - Otis Wilson
LDE/RDT - Dan Hampton
FS - Gary Fencik

1986 Bears

1st Team:
LT - Jimbo Covert
RLB - Wilber Marshall
MLB - Mike Singletary

2nd Team:
RB - Walter Payton
C - Jay Hilgenberg
LDE - Dan Hampton
LDT - Steve McMichael
SS - Dave Duerson

1991 Redskins

1st Team:
LT - Jim Lachey
RCB - Darrell Green

2nd Team:
QB - Mark Rypien
RB - Earnest Byner
WR - Gary Clark
DE - Charles Mann
LLB - Wilber Marshall
KR - Brian Mitchell
K - Chip Lohmiller

1995 49ers

1st Team:
WR - Jerry Rice
MLB - Ken Norton Jr.
FS - Merton Hanks
LCB - Eric Davis

2nd Team:
QB - Steve Young
RDT - Dana Stubblefield
SS - Tim McDonald

1998 Vikings

1st Team:
QB - Randall Cunningham
WR - Randy Moss
LG - Randall McDaniel
RDE - John Randle
K - Gary Anderson

2nd Team:
LT - Todd Steussie
C - Jeff Christy
S - Robert Griffith
OLB - Dwayne Rudd

1999 Rams

1st Team:
QB - Kurt Warner
RB - Marshall Faulk
LT - Orlando Pace
LDE - Kevin Carter

2nd Team:
WR - Isaac Bruce
LCB - Todd Lyght
KR - Tony Horne

2000 Titans

1st Team:
RB - Eddie George
WR - Derrick Mason
LG - Bruce Matthews
RCB - Samari Rolle

2nd Team:
TE - Frank Wycheck
S - Blaine Bishop
MLB - Randall Godfrey

2007 Patriots

1st Team:
QB - Tom Brady
WR - Randy Moss
OT - Matt Light
CB - Asante Samuel
OLB - Mike Vrabel

2nd Team:
WR - Wes Welker
OG - Logan Mankins
C - Dan Koppen
DT - Vince Wilfork

2011 49ers

1st Team:
DT - Justin Smith
ILB - NaVorro Bowman
MLB - Patrick Willis
P - Andy Lee
K - David Akers

2nd Team:
OT - Joe Staley
CB - Carlos Rogers

2012 49ers

1st Team:
G - Mike Iupati
OLB - Aldon Smith
ILB - NaVorro Bowman
MLB - Patrick Willis
S - Dashon Goldson
P - Andy Lee

2nd Team:
OT - Joe Staley
DT - Justin Smith
OLB - Ahmad Brooks

2015 Panthers

1st Team:
QB - Cam Newton
FB - Mike Tolbert
C - Ryan Kalil
MLB - Luke Kuechly
OLB - Thomas Davis
CB - Josh Norman

2nd Team:
TE - Greg Olson
DT - Kawann Short

2016 Patriots

1st Team:
ST - Matthew Slater

2nd Team:
QB - Tom Brady
RT - Marcus Cannon
MLB - Dont’a Hightower
CB - Malcolm Butler
S - Devin McCourty
ST - Nate Ebner

2017 Rams

1st Team:
RB - Todd Gurley
OT - Andrew Whitworth
DT - Aaron Donald
P - Johnny Hekker
KR - Pharoh Cooper
K - Greg Zuerlein

2nd Team:
LG - Rodger Saffold

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Sat Jul 20, 2024 1:34 pm I took a look at the Associated Press All pro selections for each season since the merger.

The following 20 teams each had seven players named first or second team all-pro by the Associated Press in their respective seasons.

All 20 of these teams made at least the conference championship game or were within a year of having done so, and I’m pretty sure you could say they did so with the group of players listed.

One team that deserves a shoutout is the 1973 Dolphins who might very well have also had seven all pro selections, but for reasons that I don’t know, the AP didn’t pick a second team of players in 1973.

Either way, here are the 21 teams and their all pro players:

1972 Dolphins

1st Team:
QB - Earl Morrall
G - Larry Little
RDE - Bill Stanfill
SS - Dick Anderson

2nd Team:
FB - Larry Csonka
WR - Paul Warfield
MLB - Nick Buoniconti
FS - Jake Scott


1979 Oilers

1st Team:
RB - Earl Campbell
LT - Leon Gray
FS - Mike Reinfeldt
ROLB - Robert Brazille
K - Toni Fritsch

2nd Team:
NT - Curley Culp
DE - Elvin Bethea

1983 Redskins

1st Team:
QB - Joe Theismann
RB - John Riggins
LT - Joe Jacoby
LG - Russ Grimm
FS - Mark Murphy
LDT - Dave Butz
KR/PR - Mike Nelms

2nd Team: None

The most surprising team on the list to me is the 79 Oilers. They were portrayed as overachievers, and maybe they were to some extent, but they also had a lot of talent on that roster. 4 of their all pro guys were originally from other teams, which is also interesting. Same with the 72 Dolphins. And the only team with 7 first teamers is....the 1983 Redskins! I did not see that one coming, either.

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Sat Jul 20, 2024 1:34 pm
1979 Oilers

1st Team:
RB - Earl Campbell
LT - Leon Gray
FS - Mike Reinfeldt
ROLB - Robert Brazille
K - Toni Fritsch

2nd Team:
NT - Curley Culp
DE - Elvin Bethea

Bethea got a gift. 1979 was not one of his best years. A rookie got more of a rush than Bethea at that point. I don't know what happened but he was more of a blocker eater/run defender at that point.

Still, he got the votes. he was also a Pro Bowler ... I am not one to say Pro Bowl or All-Pros are a "popularity contest". Yes, there are guys who get credit for a year or a couple after their prime, and miss out on the year or two before their "prime"

So, while there are mistakes --- usually the "most popular" guys are also among the best. So, I am more in favor of reviewing the "gifts" on a case-by-case basis.

That said --- 1979 would have been a good year for a Fred Cook or Vern Den Herder to get a Pro Bowl. Colts were bad, so that had to hurt Cook or maybe a 2nd year Art Still

Bryan wrote: ↑Sun Jul 21, 2024 11:00 am

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Sat Jul 20, 2024 1:34 pm I took a look at the Associated Press All pro selections for each season since the merger.

The following 20 teams each had seven players named first or second team all-pro by the Associated Press in their respective seasons.

All 20 of these teams made at least the conference championship game or were within a year of having done so, and I’m pretty sure you could say they did so with the group of players listed.

One team that deserves a shoutout is the 1973 Dolphins who might very well have also had seven all pro selections, but for reasons that I don’t know, the AP didn’t pick a second team of players in 1973.

Either way, here are the 21 teams and their all pro players:

1972 Dolphins

1st Team:
QB - Earl Morrall
G - Larry Little
RDE - Bill Stanfill
SS - Dick Anderson

2nd Team:
FB - Larry Csonka
WR - Paul Warfield
MLB - Nick Buoniconti
FS - Jake Scott


1979 Oilers

1st Team:
RB - Earl Campbell
LT - Leon Gray
FS - Mike Reinfeldt
ROLB - Robert Brazille
K - Toni Fritsch

2nd Team:
NT - Curley Culp
DE - Elvin Bethea

1983 Redskins

1st Team:
QB - Joe Theismann
RB - John Riggins
LT - Joe Jacoby
LG - Russ Grimm
FS - Mark Murphy
LDT - Dave Butz
KR/PR - Mike Nelms

2nd Team: None

The most surprising team on the list to me is the 79 Oilers. They were portrayed as overachievers, and maybe they were to some extent, but they also had a lot of talent on that roster. 4 of their all pro guys were originally from other teams, which is also interesting. Same with the 72 Dolphins. And the only team with 7 first teamers is....the 1983 Redskins! I did not see that one coming, either.

The team that surprised me the most was the 1982 Chargers.

They admittedly had a number one offense, but whenever the Air Coryell Chargers are brought up I never hear anyone mentioning if their offensive line was anything exceptional, and defensively they ranked 24th so I was surprised to see two all-pro defensive players on that team, but then again maybe the guys next to those players weren’t as good.

JohnTurney wrote: ↑Sun Jul 21, 2024 2:30 pm

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Sat Jul 20, 2024 1:34 pm
1979 Oilers

1st Team:
RB - Earl Campbell
LT - Leon Gray
FS - Mike Reinfeldt
ROLB - Robert Brazille
K - Toni Fritsch

2nd Team:
NT - Curley Culp
DE - Elvin Bethea

Bethea got a gift. 1979 was not one of his best years. A rookie got more of a rush than Bethea at that point. I don't know what happened but he was more of a blocker eater/run defender at that point.

Still, he got the votes. he was also a Pro Bowler ... I am not one to say Pro Bowl or All-Pros are a "popularity contest". Yes, there are guys who get credit for a year or a couple after their prime, and miss out on the year or two before their "prime"

So, while there are mistakes --- usually the "most popular" guys are also among the best. So, I am more in favor of reviewing the "gifts" on a case-by-case basis.

That said --- 1979 would have been a good year for a Fred Cook or Vern Den Herder to get a Pro Bowl. Colts were bad, so that had to hurt Cook or maybe a 2nd year Art Still

The thing that surprised me the most about the 79 Oilers was that Curley Culp played that late into the 70’s. He’s typically mentioned as part of the Red Wood Forest Chiefs, and I didn’t realize he played that far after that.

Bryan wrote: ↑Sun Jul 21, 2024 11:00 am

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Sat Jul 20, 2024 1:34 pm I took a look at the Associated Press All pro selections for each season since the merger.

The following 20 teams each had seven players named first or second team all-pro by the Associated Press in their respective seasons.

All 20 of these teams made at least the conference championship game or were within a year of having done so, and I’m pretty sure you could say they did so with the group of players listed.

One team that deserves a shoutout is the 1973 Dolphins who might very well have also had seven all pro selections, but for reasons that I don’t know, the AP didn’t pick a second team of players in 1973.

Either way, here are the 21 teams and their all pro players:

1972 Dolphins

1st Team:
QB - Earl Morrall
G - Larry Little
RDE - Bill Stanfill
SS - Dick Anderson

2nd Team:
FB - Larry Csonka
WR - Paul Warfield
MLB - Nick Buoniconti
FS - Jake Scott


1979 Oilers

1st Team:
RB - Earl Campbell
LT - Leon Gray
FS - Mike Reinfeldt
ROLB - Robert Brazille
K - Toni Fritsch

2nd Team:
NT - Curley Culp
DE - Elvin Bethea

1983 Redskins

1st Team:
QB - Joe Theismann
RB - John Riggins
LT - Joe Jacoby
LG - Russ Grimm
FS - Mark Murphy
LDT - Dave Butz
KR/PR - Mike Nelms

2nd Team: None

The most surprising team on the list to me is the 79 Oilers. They were portrayed as overachievers, and maybe they were to some extent, but they also had a lot of talent on that roster. 4 of their all pro guys were originally from other teams, which is also interesting. Same with the 72 Dolphins. And the only team with 7 first teamers is....the 1983 Redskins! I did not see that one coming, either.

The 79 Oilers were said to be overachievers? How so?

They made the conference championship game the prior year (got blown out but it was to the 78 Steelers).

I believe the Chargers offensive line was special but hard to garner accolades for the linemen with names like Webster, Shell, Hannah, Stephenson, Upshaw, Deirdorf, Langer and others getting attention.

Russ Washington came close to HOVG election last year but wasn't nominated this year. Go figure?

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Sun Jul 21, 2024 4:57 pm
The thing that surprised me the most about the 79 Oilers was that Curley Culp played that late into the 70’s. He’s typically mentioned as part of the Red Wood Forest Chiefs, and I didn’t realize he played that far after that.

He did. Was part of Oilers' push in mid-1970s ... Hewas traded for Tooz and a swap of high picks ... kind of put NTs back in play. Funny, though. After 1979 was waived -- in 1980 ... and signed by Lions where he was back to a 4-3 defense ... Lions had hard time finding a replacement for Doug English and CUlp, though not longer an All-Pro (prob wasn't in 1979, either --- but that's another debate) he filled in in 1980 for Baughan and Peters' defense

JohnTurney wrote: ↑Sun Jul 21, 2024 11:05 pm

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Sun Jul 21, 2024 4:57 pm
The thing that surprised me the most about the 79 Oilers was that Curley Culp played that late into the 70’s. He’s typically mentioned as part of the Red Wood Forest Chiefs, and I didn’t realize he played that far after that.

He did. Was part of Oilers' push in mid-1970s ... Hewas traded for Tooz and a swap of high picks ... kind of put NTs back in play. Funny, though. After 1979 was waived -- in 1980 ... and signed by Lions where he was back to a 4-3 defense ... Lions had hard time finding a replacement for Doug English and CUlp, though not longer an All-Pro (prob wasn't in 1979, either --- but that's another debate) he filled in in 1980 for Baughan and Peters' defense

Would that make Culp one of the last players to retire who had played in the old AFL pre-merger?

SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Mon Jul 22, 2024 2:16 am
Would that make Culp one of the last players to retire who had played in the old AFL pre-merger?

I'd suppose that's Charlie Joiner.