Who makes the all-decade team for the 1970s — the decade of the Steel Curtain, the perfect ’72 Dolphins and smash-mouth football? Here is the starting nine, picked by their rating in 17-0 — the free game where you draft an all-time roster and simulate whether it can go a perfect 17-0 season. Walter Payton (Bears) leads the decade at 96.
The starting lineup
1970s all-decade team · rating out of 100
- QBRoger Staubach
Cowboys94 - RBWalter Payton
Bears96 - WRCliff Branch
Raiders89 - WRFred Biletnikoff
Raiders89 - TEDave Casper
Raiders89 - OLGene Upshaw
Raiders91 - LBJack Lambert
Steelers95 - DBMel Blount
Steelers92 - DLJoe Greene
Steelers96
Depth of the decade
The next-best of the 1970s at every position
Quarterback
Terry Bradshaw (Steelers, 90) · Fran Tarkenton (Vikings, 89) · Terry Bradshaw (Steelers, 89)
Running back
O.J. Simpson (Bills, 95) · O.J. Simpson (Bills, 95) · O.J. Simpson (Bills, 95)
Wide receiver
Lynn Swann (Steelers, 88) · John Stallworth (Steelers, 88) · Lynn Swann (Steelers, 88)
Tight end
Jackie Smith (Cardinals, 88) · Charlie Sanders (Lions, 86) · Charlie Sanders (Lions, 86)
Offensive line
John Hannah (Patriots, 91) · John Hannah (Patriots, 91) · Art Shell (Raiders, 90)
Linebacker
Jack Ham (Steelers, 92) · Jack Ham (Steelers, 90) · Willie Lanier (Chiefs, 90)
Defensive back
Ken Houston (Commanders, 90) · Ken Houston (Commanders, 90) · Willie Brown (Raiders, 90)
Defensive line
Alan Page (Vikings, 94) · Alan Page (Vikings, 94) · Jack Youngblood (Rams, 90)
Draft your own 1970s team
Nine picks, offense to defense. Can your roster go a perfect 17-0?
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