Mel Blount made the all decade team for the '80s but not the '70s. That surprised me. He made the 75th anniversary team.
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NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s - DEFENSE
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DEFENSIVE ENDS
(First Team)
JACK YOUNGBLOOD
College: Florida
Pro Career: 1971-1984 Los Angeles Rams. HOF: 2001
There was certainly a lot more to Youngblood’s career than the famous story of him playing with a broken leg in the 1979 playoffs. But it clearly symbolizes the toughness that helped him become a dominant force in the NFL. Two Hall of Fame teammates, Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen tutored Youngblood early in his career and helped him quickly get on track for a Hall of Fame career himself.
CARL ELLER
College: Minnesota
Pro Career: 1964-1978 Minnesota Vikings; 1979 Seattle Seahawks. HOF: 2004
Eller was a fixture at left defensive end on the Vikings’ vaunted “Purple People Eaters†defensive line that also included Hall of Fame DT Alan Page. The peak of his Hall of Fame career came at the end of the ’60s and spanned to the mid ‘70s at which time he received All-Pro honors each season from 1967 to 1973.
(Second Team)
L.C. GREENWOOD
College: Arkansas AM&N
Pro Career: 1969-1981 Pittsburgh Steelers
A big part of the front line to the Pittsburgh’s “Steel Curtain Defense,†Greenwood was named first-team All-Pro in each of the team’s first two Super Bowl seasons. A six-time Pro Bowl choice, he played in all six of the Steelers’ championship games and four Super Bowl victories.
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OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
(First Team)
JACK HAM
College: Penn State
Pro Career: 1971-1982 Pittsburgh Steelers. HOF: 1988
A second round pick in 1971, Ham turned into the quiet leader of the Steelers defense that dominated opponents during this decade. He was regarded as an intelligent linebacker who was as good against the run as he was the pass. Perhaps his greatest reputation came for making big plays at the right time. He was named All-AFC and/or All-NFL every season from 1973 to 1979.
TED HENDRICKS
College: Miami (FL)
Pro Career: 1969-1973 Baltimore Colts; 1974 Green Bay Packers; 1975-1983 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. HOF: 1990
At 6’7â€, Hendricks blocked 25 field goals or extra points during his Hall of Fame career. Noted for great speed and quickness, he reached the pinnacle of his career with the Raiders who he joined midway through the decade. In all, he played in eight Pro Bowls, seven AFC championship games, and four Super Bowls.
(Second Team)
ROBERT BRAZILE
College: Jackson State
Pro Career: 1975-1984 Houston Oilers
By his second season Brazile was regarded as an elite linebacker in the NFL. He earned All-Pro accolades for the first of four times in 1976. He was also voted to the first of seven straight Pro Bowls following that season.
BOBBY BELL
College: Minnesota
Pro Career: 1963-1974 Kansas City Chiefs. HOF: 1983
A member of the AFL’s All-Time Team, Bell continued to stay at the top of his game when he and the Chiefs became part of the NFL in 1970. Already a veteran of six AFL All-Star games, he played in three AFC-NFC Pro Bowls during this decade.
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