Rethinking NFL All-Decade Teams: Why Mid-Decade Rosters Capture Peak Greatness

 By John Turney 

AI graphic

Traditional All-Decade teams have always been locked into neat calendar boxes — 2000-2009, 2010-2019, 2020-2029. It sounds clean on paper, but it brutally shortchanges guys whose careers ignite right in the middle of a decade. A stud who breaks out in 2015 or 2022 often gets split across two arbitrary lists, robbed of his full shine.

That’s why we’re flipping the script a little bit. As we did for 2005-15, 1995-05, etc., he did it for the last ten years.

Welcome to the 2015-2025 Mid-Decade All-NFL Team—a celebration built strictly around peak performance, not career longevity. We didn’t just tally All-Pro votes or count Pro Bowl invites. Eye test, advanced stats, dominance in the biggest moments, leadership, and that unquantifiable “he changed the game” factor were considered. The result? A pair of rosters that feels fair to what actually happened on the field over the last ten-plus years.

Here they are—First-team and Second-team—with a bright, vivid thumbnail sketch for every single pick.

OFFENSE

First Team

C – Jason Kelce

The ultimate undersized fireplug who played like a 300-pound wrecking ball. Kelce's explosive first step, football IQ, and nasty streak turned the Eagles’ line into a mauling machine. Six-time All-Pro, Super Bowl LII anchor, and the heartbeat of one of the most fun offenses of the era.

G – Zack Martin

Silent assassin on the right side for Dallas. Martin's textbook technique, power in the run game, and near-perfect pass protection made him the gold standard at guard. Multiple All-Pro nods and zero flash — just decade-long dominance. Should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2030. 

G – Joe Thuney

The ultimate lunch-pail mauler who went from undrafted afterthought to two-time Super Bowl champion. Thuney's balance, quickness off the snap, and ability to dominate bigger defenders made him the perfect fit on this team.

LT – Trent Williams

A mountain of a man with the feet of a guard. Williams hit his absolute apex in his 30s — elite athleticism, nasty run blocking, and shutdown pass pro that forced defenses to game-plan around him every single week.

RT – Lane Johnson

The most complete and likely athletic right tackle of the decade. Johnson's rare blend of length, power, and elite quickness protected Carson Wentz, Jalen Hurts, and everyone in between while opening massive holes in the run game. A true technician with attitude who owns two Super Bowl rings.

TE – Travis Kelce

The tight end who became an offense unto himself. Kelce’s route-running, yards-after-catch wizardry, and chemistry with Patrick Mahomes turned him into the most unstoppable mismatch weapon in football. Kelce averaged 98 catches for 1,179 yards and 7.5 touchdown catches per season, and in the playoffs, per 17 games caught 121 passes for just over 1,400 yards and 13.6 touchdowns. 

QB –  Patrick Mahomes

Super Bowl-winning and MVP-level play year after year made him must-watch football every Sunday. Pretty easy choice. Mahomes draws a lot of ire from anti-Chiefs fans, but three rings and a couple of MVPs cannot be dismissed. 

FB – Kyle Juszczyk

The best fullback in football, period. "Juice" is a Swiss Army knife — devastating lead blocker, reliable receiver, and occasional ball-carrier who made the position cool again in the modern NFL. John Madden would have loved this guy.

RB – Derrick Henry

A human freight train that broke the game. Though not what you'd call a complete running back, Henry’s 6-3, 247-pound frame combined with shocking long speed and stiff-arm violence produced multiple 2,000-yard rushing seasons and playoff destruction. When he got going, nobody—and we mean nobody—could stop him.

WR – Davante Adams

The technician. Adams' route-running precision, body control, and contested-catch ability made him the most reliable target in football during the last ten years. A walking highlight reel of separation and hands, from 2016-2025, he caught 113 touchdown passes. 

WR – Julio Jones

The physical freak who made cornerbacks look small. Jones' combination of size, speed, and leaping ability produced some of the most absurd catch-and-run plays of the decade. When healthy, he was unguardable and even though he tailed off at the end, his peak performance lands him on the first team of our team.

WR – Tyreek Hill

"Cheetah" redefined the position. Blazing speed, shifty quickness, and home-run ability every single touch made Hill the ultimate big-play weapon. Whether stretching the field or working underneath, he changed defensive schemes forever. You can not love his off-field game but his on-field game is worthy of being first team here.

Second Team

C – Alex Mack

The steady, cerebral anchor who made the Browns' line respectable and the Falcons' offense hum. Mack's intelligence and consistency were elite. Four of his seven career Pro Bowls came from 2015 and after. 

G – Quenton Nelson

A 330-pound road grader who pancakes defenders for fun. Nelson’s power and aggression made him a most dominant guard and a perennial Pro Bowler..

G – Joel Bitonio

Underrated technician who quietly dominated for the Browns. Bitonio's balance and football smarts made him a coach’s dream. While playing on mostly poor teams, he racked up seven Pro Bowls.

LT – Andrew Whitworth

The late-blooming legend who dominated into his late 30s. Whitworth’s length, strength, and leadership anchored two different Super Bowl teams. Seven seasons in this "decade" and in it he got himself a ring and a few All-Pro honors. 

RT – Ryan Ramczyk

The quiet Saints technician who became an instant star in New Orleans. Ramczyk's footwork and power made him one of the league’s best right tackles from day one. He only played seven seasons but in that time he made first- or second-team All-Pro three times. Oddly, no Pro Bowl invites came his way. But his peak makes him the backup to Lane Johnson at right tackle.

TE – George Kittle

The most complete tight end is considered when blocking and receiving. Kittle's violent style, speed, and hands turned him into a matchup nightmare for defenses. His main weakness in his resume is he misses a lot of games, which limits his numbers a tad.

QB – Tom Brady

Yes, he qualifies, 2015-22 totals eight seasons. Plenty. He has two rings and a pile of numbers and personal awards. He edges Aaron Rodgers, whose main knock is that he didn't win as many Super Bowls as he should have. 

FB – Patrick Ricard

The 6-3, 300-pound bowling ball who punished linebackers as a lead blocker and occasional short-yardage hammer for Baltimore.

RB – Christian McCaffrey

The ultimate modern back with vision, elusiveness, receiving chops, and surprising power. McCaffrey’s three-down dominance was generational when healthy. The only issue is that he gets hurt a lot. 

WR – DeAndre Hopkins

Contested-catch king with the strongest hands in football. Hopkins’ body control and ability to win 50/50 balls made him a safety blanket for multiple quarterbacks.

WR – Mike Evans

The 6-5 red-zone monster who never missed 1,000 yards. Evans’ size, speed, and reliable hands turned him into one of the most consistent big-play threats in the league.

WR – Stephon Diggs

Diggs moved around a lot, but his numbers make him hard to ignore for the final receiver slot.

DEFENSE

First Team

DE – Myles Garrett

The most explosive edge rusher in football. Garrett’s blend of speed, power, and bend turned him into a weekly sack-and-forced-fumble machine. When he turned it on, quarterbacks had nightmares. Since 2017 he's recorded 125-1/2 sacks including 23 in 2025. 

DE – Cameron Heyward

The ultimate interior disruptor who played 3-4 defensive end and defensive tackle in nickel. Heyward’s strength, leverage, and motor made him a perennial double-team magnet for Pittsburgh. Was All-Pro four times in last decade.

DT – Aaron Donald

Quite simply, the most dominant defensive player of the era. Donald's quickness, power, and relentless pursuit redefined what an interior lineman could do. Three Defensive Player of the Year awards and a constant game-wrecker who owns a Super Bowl ring. Has aa rightful claim as the best defensive tackle ever. He was first-team All-Pro per Pro Football Focus every year he was healthy. 

NT – Vita Vea

The 350-pound mountain has good athleticism for his size. Vea's ability to collapse the pocket and dominate the run game made Tampa’s front seven terrifying.

LB-Rush – T.J. Watt

The sack artist who plays like a bigger, meaner version of his brother. Watt’s length, closing speed, and strip-sack obsession produced multiple league-leading sack seasons. He recocorded 14.5 sacks and 4.5 forced fumbles per 17 games in the last decade.

MLB – Bobby Wagner

The smartest and most productive linebacker in football. Wagner’s range, instincts, and leadership made him the defensive quarterback of the Seahawks, Rams and Commanders. 

LB – Lavonte David

The most underrated linebacker of the decade. David’s sideline-to-sideline speed, coverage ability, and tackling form turned him into a three-down monster for Tampa Bay. David averaged 125 tackles and 12 tackles for loss since 2015.

CB – Jalen Ramsey

The shutdown artist who trash-talked and backed it up. Ramsey's length, physicality, and ball skills made him the most complete corner in the league. He could play slot, outside, and last year moved to safety. He was not what he was at his new position, but he was the best corner since 2015/16.

CB – Stephon Gilmore

The 2019 Defensive Player of the Year, who locked down one side of the field like a blanket. Gilmore's technique and instincts were flawless at his peak.

DB – Tyrann Mathieu

"The Honey Badger" — fearless, versatile, and always around the football. Mathieu's playmaking ability and leadership elevated every secondary he joined. We just loved the way he plays the game.

S – Harrison Smith

 Smith's range, instincts, and physicality made him the ultimate general for Minnesota for over a decade. He could play deep, in the box, just wherever you wanted to put your dominant safety.

S – Budda Baker

The pint-sized (under 5-feet-11) heat-seeking missile who plays like he's 6-4. Baker's tackling violence, coverage skills, and big-play ability made him a tone-setter in Arizona.

Second Team

DE – Cameron Jordan

The consistent, high-motor edge presence who racked up double-digit sacks multiple times while anchoring New Orleans' line. Sacks quarterbacks, knocks down passes, a complete end.

DE – Calais Campbell

The ageless wonder who dominated into his late 30s with length, strength, and rare quickness for his size. The man has played 3-4 DE, 4-3 DE, a lot of DT and even NT. His numbers may not "pop" at your eyes right away, but he's still effective and at his peak was as good a 30 end as there ways outside Cam Heyward.

DT – Chris Jones

An explosive interior force who could collapse pockets and stop the run with equal violence. Jones became a Chiefs cornerstone and probably the best defensive tackle in the NFL since Aaron Donald hung' em up.

NT – Damon  Harrison 

This was a hard spot to pick for, there were several guys who played in the middle, but often shaded. Specifically, longevity factor was an issue for second-team run stuffing defensive tackle. Damon  Harrison or "Snacks" played just six season since 2015, but per Pro Football Focus he graded 90 or more four times. "Sexy" Dexter Lawrence played seven years but 90 and above three times. Photo of 

Linval Joseph for more seasons in and had two 90-plus years. The "Sausage" — Brandon Williams — a 340-pound space-eater who dominated the middle for Baltimore with pure power and leverage and Michael Pierce were consistent but neither had the top seasons. Williams had more playing time than the others and was never All-Pro, for what that's worth.

All would be good picks. We went with peak performance and that's Snacks over Sexy Dexy (the best pass-rusher of this group), Joseph and the Sausage and Pierce, though none would be wrong, but we had to make a call and like Harrison the best.

LB-Rush – Khalil Mack

A bit of a traveler, three teams in the last decade but performed everywhere. A former AP Defensive Player of the Year, four-time All-Pro. Production waned last couple of years, but less so than Von Miller, who he beats out for this slot. 

MLB – Fred Warner

The modern linebacker prototype—fast, smart, and a coverage demon. Warner's instincts made the 49ers' defense elite. He loses out to Wagner simply by not playing as many seasons in this ten-year period as Wagner. At his peak, he may be a bit better than Wagner.

LB – Demario Davis

The veteran leader whose production never dipped. Davis' range and tackling made him a Saints staple. Davis played a number of years in the middle as well, so this was a tough choice.

CB – Darius Slay

"Big Play Slay" — physical, ball-hawking corner who shut down top receivers for Detroit and Philadelphia.

CB – Marcus Peters

A two-time consensus All-Pro, Peters picked off 30 passes in his "mid-decade" and returned them for nearly 900 yards and took seven of them to the house. He's not been productive for the last five years, but his eight peak years and 115 games were enough to qualify for this team, and he edges a few other guys, so it was close for the final corner position.

DB – Marlon Humphrey

Versatile playmaker who could cover receivers and deliver thunderous hits. Humphrey’s athleticism made him a Ravens star for his (usually) slot position.

S – Minkah Fitzpatrick

The do-it-all safety who can play deep, in the box, or in the slot. Fitzpatrick's instincts and ball skills were elite.

S – Justin Simmons

The rangy center fielder who led the league in interceptions multiple times with Denver. Smooth, smart, and always around the football. Astonishing that he only went to two Pro Bowls. Don't let that fool you, he deserved more.

SPECIAL TEAMS

First Team

K – Justin Tucker

The most automatic kicker in NFL history. Tucker's range, accuracy, and clutch gene (including that famous game-winner in Baltimore) made him the gold standard. It's too bad his off-field behavior has tainted his reputation as a person, but as a kicker, you cannot take anything away from him.

P – Johnny Hekker

The punter who changed the position with his ability to flip the field, fake punts, and even throw touchdowns. Hekker's hang time and accuracy were unmatched.

KR – Cordarrelle Patterson

The ultimate return specialist who turned kickoffs into house calls. Patterson's vision and burst produced multiple return touchdowns and Pro Bowl nods. He won't be remembered teh way Devin Hester was, but Patterson was to kickoff returns what Hester was to punt returns; an all-time great, if not the greatest.

PR – Tyreek Hill

Yes, the same Cheetah that is on the offense—his electric speed and elusiveness made every punt return a potential game-changer.

ST – Matthew Slater

The ultimate special-teams captain and gunner. Slater’s effort, leadership, and technique made him the gold standard for a decade in New England.

Second Team

K – Chris Boswell

The clutch Pittsburgh weapon whose accuracy and leg strength bailed out the Steelers repeatedly in big moments.

P – Michael Dickson

The Australian rugby convert who boomed punts with elite hang time and directional control for Seattle.

KR – Andre Roberts

The veteran return man who still had explosive plays well into the decade.

PR – Kalif Raymond

Speedy, shifty return specialist who consistently broke big returns for Detroit.

ST – Miles Killebrew

The hard-hitting special-teams ace whose violence on coverage units set the tone for Detroit and later Pittsburgh. He played at a Pro Bowl level long before he went to his frst Pro Bowl in 2023.

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This is what peak football looked like from 2015-2025. No decade-boundary bias. Just the best of the best at their absolute best.

Who got snubbed? Who’s missing from your personal list? 

Book Review: Race and Football in America: The Life and Legacy of George Taliaferro

 By Jim Holt  

Race and Football in America: The Life and Legacy of George Taliaferro
Dawn Knight

2019, 253 pp 

Red Lightning Press

As a college sophomore at Indiana University in the late 70s, Dawn Knight enrolled in a class on social justice being taught by a Professor George Taliaferro. She had no idea of his background and only later came to know him as an inspiration, a trailblazer, and a personal friend.

In "Race and Football in America", Knight writes a complimentary biography of Taliaferro, the football player and man. Growing up in a relatively color-blind, integrated Gary, Indiana, neighborhood, Taliaferro had to adjust to the racial policy (at the time) of segregated schooling. 

His high school football teams could only compete against black schools, leaving George, the star player, virtually invisible (and certainly ineligible) for Indiana HS Sports recognition. Nevertheless, his prowess on the field earned him a scholarship to Indiana University, where he starred as a freshman, leading the Hoosiers, along with Pete Pihos and Ted Kluszewski, to a 9-0-1 record, their sole undefeated season prior to 2025.

College interrupted his military service (this was the 1940s); he returned to Indiana in 1947. Author Knight writes extensively about the segregated conditions in Bloomington and IU during Taliaferro’s time there, and provides numerous examples where George quietly but firmly leveraged his gridiron celebrity to break norms and open doors for people of color.

The post-WWII evolution of pro football provided opportunity for African American players unknown since the 1920s ... Taliaferro had verbally committed to the AAFC Los Angeles Dons, when he learned that he was the first black player ever drafted by the NFL (Chicago). The Bears had been his dream team as a schoolboy, but true to his word, he signed with and played for the Dons in 1949.

Knight shares highlights of Taliaferro’s circuitous pro career; as PFJ and readers know, after the merger, he spent 1950 and '51 with the New York Yanks, 1952 with the legendary (star-crossed) Dallas Texans, was an early hero for the 1953-54 Baltimore Colts, and when injuries hobbled him, had a cup of coffee with the 1955 Eagles before hanging it up.  

"Race and Football in America" doesn’t delve deeply into a season-by-season detailing of his career, but rather stresses his contribution to breaking down the racial barriers existing in the game at the time.  Notwithstanding, she makes the case for his football greatness. As many on this board are aware, the 1940 (7-5) Yanks excepted, he played the rest of his career on some of the worst teams in NFL history, compiling a total record of 16 wins and 53 losses.

Despite running for most of his career behind "suspect" blocking, George averaged 4.5 yards per carry over his 7 years.  He was named to the Pro Bowl the first 3 years it existed, and was second-team All-Pro for the woeful Texans. Interestingly, he consistently denied that he was the first black NFL quarterback, always naming the (1953) Bears' Willie Thrower as the first. As he explained, "I did throw 96 passes in the NFL, but always from the halfback or tailback position. Thrower was the first under center."

When his playing days ended, Taliaferro struggled to find a place in the world unrelated to his athletic exploits; Knight walks us through his journey, gravitating towards social work, and his time concentrating on prison populations. Later, he became Dean of Students at Morgan State University, moved on (or back) to IU, where he served for years as Special Assistant to the President.  

Ever involved in civil rights, he feuded with football coach Lee Corso over perceived double standards for African American athletes, and finished his career at Indiana as Special Assistant and lecturer in the School of Social Work. Taliaferro passed away in October 2019 at the age of 89; as Knight frames it,
"his was a life well lived."

Overall, this is a fine biography of a significant person in pro football history.  Knight takes great pains to connect Taliaferro’s experience with the challenges of black players that followed. In the reviewer's view, the 25-40 pages recounting Marlin Briscoe, Colin Kaepernick, et al. are irrelevant to Taliaferro’s story. Consider it a respectful disagreement with the author and overall a minor quibble. One very much appreciates the large number of photographs that enhance the narrative and portray the protagonist in so many different lights.

A fine read.   Grade: B

SATURDAY SAGA: "Dispatch Yourself with the Utmost Precision"

By TJ Troup

Today is the first Saturday in May, and for some of us that means the Kentucky Derby, which is a special day for those of us who relish horse racing. Every team in Pro Football history has had their fair share of outstanding receivers, yet which team has had the best group of elite receivers? I am hoping that many of you will respond after reading this story with your thoughts and opinions, which are always welcome.

The Rams, representing three different cities, have the best group of elite receivers. Where to start? Like any list of elite players, this group has honorable mentions.

The Ram list begins with Bob Boyd, who sure had his moments as a deep receiver for Los Angeles (especially in 1954). Next on my list is Bucky Pope. When the "Catawba Claw" was interviewed by Steve Sabol for his "Lost Treasures" series, he was emphatic that he would earn a spot on the '64 Rams. His severe knee injury in '65 basically ended Pope's career, yet for those of us who saw him play in person, he was a legit talent.

Tommy McDonald had success with the Eagles but did not shine for Dallas. Was the speedy little guy done when he joined the Rams? No! I saw him play in person in '65 against the Bears, and Tommy was still a force to be reckoned with. His time in Los Angeles was just too short to make my list.

Bernie Casey joined the Rams from the Falcons, and the former Niner star sure had his moments in '67 and '68 for Los Angeles, but Mr. Casey wanted a different spotlight, thus he retired.

Finally, the last of my honorable mentions is Flipper Anderson. Though he had plenty of excellent performances, his performance in the Superdome against the Saints in '89 was a game for the ages.

Starting the elite list for the Rams is Del Shofner at #11. After playing well as a defensive back in 1957, he was moved to left split end in '58, and for two seasons he was the best in the NFL. Long-striding, swift, lean Del Shofner excelled at running every route, and film study sure shows that. His stats tell us he was the best in the league at yards per catch over that two-year period. 

Del Shofner takes a short one the distance

Though he had the long strides and speed to run past all the right corners in the league, many times it was his ability to run after the catch. Surprisingly, Shofner averaged more yards per catch in Ram losses (20.72) than wins (17.68).

Del Shofner takes a short one the distance

Shofner was benched at times during the '60 campaign and even went both ways in a game against Detroit. His trade to New York gave the Giants the deep threat they so sorely needed. Though he makes the list based just on two seasons, those two seasons he was simply the best in the NFL.

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Jim "Red" Phillips joins the Rams in '58, and over the course of his first three years he establishes himself as a dedicated pro. He has enough speed to get deep, runs sharp routes, yet his ability to explode out of his cuts in 1961 earns his place as one of the best receiving seasons in Ram history. He continues to play well for the next three years, but he is traded to Minnesota. Phillips averaged 17.07 yards per catch in victory and 13.97 in defeat.

Ranking #9 on the list is Puka Nacua. Yes, he has not played very long in Los Angeles, yet he has already established himself as an elite receiver in Ram history. Adequate speed, and his routes still need polish, but boy oh boy he is as strong as nine fields of Texas onions! The youngster is a master at fighting defenders for the ball and coming away with the pigskin. He has averaged 13.91 yards per catch in victory and 12.44 in games the Rams have lost.

Jack Snow's belief in his speed and opposing defensive backs differed greatly. Jack was an excellent route runner with strong, reliable hands, yet what set him apart during his time as a Ram was his long-yardage plays. Snow averaged 17.63 per catch in victory and amazingly 17.76 in defeat. Why is he ranked so high on my list, you ask? Snow caught 34 touchdown passes in Ram victories and only 11 when the Rams lost.

Jack Snow catches the back half of the ball versus Colts, 1967

credit: NFL Films

When you watch film of Jim Benton, you come away knowing this man maximized his ability. Quoting Bob Waterfield in the NFL Great Teams series, he stated when asked "who made the biggest impression on you when you first walked in"? Waterfield responded, "Jim Benton. I looked up on one play and saw Benton 25 yards from everyone and I wondered, hey, what park am I in?" When asked what kind of receiver was Benton, Waterfield responded, "he was all moves. He had no speed. He used to get caught from behind all the time." What kind of moves did he have? "Any kind you wanted to see." Did the two of you develop a good rapport? "Sure, I didn't call the plays, he did. He'd tell me he was going to get open on a hook, corner or an out. And I believed him. When I got ready to throw, sure enough, he was open!"

Benton averaged 18.71 yards a catch in victory and 14.24 in defeat. Benton's performance in 1945 might have been by far his best season, but he continued in '46 to shine for Los Angeles. His long reach and glue fingers made watching film of him a delight.

Will Torry Holt ever be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Not sure, but he makes my list at #6. An adequate route runner, and though he would drop a pass now and then, his sharp cuts and blazing speed got him open play after play, year after year. Holt averaged 15.59 yards per catch in wins and 13.56 in losses. Holt is tied for 2nd on the all-time Ram list for touchdowns receiving in victory with 42!

I saw Harold Jackson in December of '68 against the Bears go deep late in the game when Los Angeles needed the big play to win. Was he as fast as Bob Hayes? No! But boy oh boy could he fly. Jackson gained polish and experience with the Eagles, and when he returned in '73 he was the difference maker for the Rams. At this point in his career his route running had significantly improved. Jackson averaged 18.75 per catch in victory and 15.85 in defeat.

Credit: NFL Films

Though they are built so differently physically, when you compare Benton to Jackson, the following: Jackson caught 145 for 2,719 yards in victory, Benton 145 for 2,714 in victory.

During my days as a coach in Southern California I was able to go to Ram camp every year, and it was a joy to watch Henry Ellard at practice. Not only a dedicated pro with exceptional skills, Ellard, my #4, was money when needed for the Rams. Superb routes since he had very sharp cuts, he had enough speed to get open deep, and had very reliable hands. Henry Ellard averaged 17.11 yards per catch in victory and 15.98 in defeat.

Cooper Kupp's season in 2021 ranks with the best seasons ever for a wide receiver, yet he played so well during his entire time for the Rams he earns my #3 ranking. Kupp averaged 12.95 yards per catch in victory and 11.19 in defeat. Kupp is tied with Holt for 2nd on the all-time Ram list for touchdowns receiving in victory with 42.

Credit: NBC Sports

Tied for second are Tom Fears and Elroy Hirsch! Just cannot separate them. Fears averaged 13.43 yards per catch in victory and 13.61 in defeat. The key stat for Fears was not how many catches he made—yes, he set the record back-to-back seasons which he held for 14 years—it is his red zone receptions since he had 32 touchdown catches in victory and only 6 in loss! His strength, knowledge of the open areas to run to, and strong hands made him a force that led him to the Hall of Fame.

Elroy Hirsch in his 1951 record-breaking season

Fears' performance in 1950 forced secondaries to adjust coverage to try to limit him, thus Hirsch could learn on the job at right end. Hirsch in 1951 was the key man in the Rams winning the title. Hirsch averaged 19.51 yards per catch when Los Angeles won and 16.04 when they lost. His ability to run after the catch and adjust to the ball in flight was the best of his era. When Fears began to have injury issues late in his career, Hirsch was able to pick up the slack as he was now an experienced receiver with every trait you look for in an elite receiver.

1951 NFL Championship Game, partial, Fears with game-winning TD reception

Finally, at #1 is Isaac Bruce. He was the whole package in what you look for in a receiver: excellent routes, sharp cuts, speed to go deep, and his ability to catch the ball. Bruce averaged 15.33 yards per catch in victory and 14.63 in defeat. He is the only Ram receiver to catch a minimum of 50 touchdown passes in Ram victories with 51! With the game on the line in the Super Bowl against Tennessee, he delivered. He has the stats, yet film study shows the Rams may never have a receiver better than Isaac Bruce.

Credit: Fox sports, NFL Throwback Tweets Compilation

While playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Stumpy Thomason asked coach Col. John McEwan at practice one day, "How do I run this play?" "Young man," replied the professor, "dispatch yourself with the utmost precision and proceed as far as your individual excellency will permit!"

That statement by Coach McEwan sure applies to my list of the best Ram receivers in team history.

The Los Angeles Rams' Elusive Search for Tight End Excellence

 By John Turney 

Tyler Higbee

Throughout their storied franchise history—spanning Cleveland, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and back to L.A.—the Rams have boasted legendary talents at skill positions, especially at running back and wide receiver. Icons like Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Steven Jackson, even Dan Towler and Tank Younger can be included. At receiver, Elroy Hirsch, Tom Fears, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Cooper Kupp have etched their names into NFL lore.

Yet, one position has consistently lagged behind: tight end. While other teams have produced Hall of Fame-caliber players who revolutionized the role, the Rams' tight ends have often been serviceable at best, rarely rising to elite status. This lack of production isn't just anecdotal; the numbers paint a clear picture of underachievement. With all-time franchise leaders posting stats that wouldn't crack the top 50 league-wide, the Rams' tight end woes highlight a historical blind spot in an otherwise decorated offensive group. In fact, the Rams' all-time tight end "room" might be the worst in NFL history.

With the 2026 NFL Draft looming and in some pre-draft chatter, it is reported that the Rams like Kenyon Sadiq, the University of Oregon tight end, who has tremendous athletic ability for his position. Some suggest that if the Rams don't get the wide receiver they want, Sadiq could be a viable option.

But we will know that in a couple of days. What we do know is the Oregon youngster is taken by the Rams and turns out to be great, an All-Pro, he will be the first in Rams history. The first. That is how poor the tight ends of the Rams franchise have been.

The Early Years: Modest Beginnings and Rare Bright Spots

The Rams' tight end history dates back to their Cleveland days in the 1940s or before but that is because all ends were "tight," so it's important to understand that the position we are talking about is a player attached to the line of scrimmage with a receiver flanked out wide.

Early on, teams would motion a running back to the outside to "flank" the end who was right next to an offensive tackle. A little later, teams would just position someone on the outside, creating a "flanker" and a "tight end." 

It's a little more detailed than that, but if you have questions, direct them to T.J. Troup; he'd have the best idea, via film study, as to who did what when but suffice it to say it was not a light switch turning on the idea of a tight end/flanker situation to create a strong side of an offense, it was more like a dimmer switch and the light was fully on, by and large by the early 1960s.

So we are discussing the modern tight end, to be sure.

The Rams first began to be a proponent of a tight end, as we understand it today, in the 1950s. But various players filled the role. Likely, 1957 was when the Rams committed someone to play tight more often than in previous seasons. That player was Bob Boyd, yes, he of elite speed. He would play tight and Hirsch would play left outside and Leon Clarke would play right outside. 

The previous year, the Rams used a slot formation, primarily with Hirsch and Clarke outside and Tom Fears playing the slot, either side, so 1957 was noticeably different and it could be said the tight end was born that year, as far and the Rams are concerned, but of course, they didn't abondon the slot formation, you could see Boyd playing the slot in 1957 as well. Further, late in the year, rookie Lamar Lundy seemed to get quite a lot of snaps, and usually was attached at the line of scrimmage, additional evidence the Rams wanted to play in a pro formation more than in the past.

Bob Boyd at tight end in 1957

Again in 1958, Lundy played tight most of the time and made some fine plays, but in 1959, there was a change: Leon Clarke moved inside, and Lundy moved to defense, where he became a Pro Bowl defensive end. Though the Rams would still more often than not use three backs, one of them might be wide on one play; on another, he might play a wing or a flexed tight end. Usually, the "tight" end was Del Shofner coming in for left outside to play tight, or Jim Phillips doing the same from the right. But when they did commit to a game plan involving a pure tight end, we saw Clarke there.

So it is debatable if Boyd or Clarke were modern tight ends. Lundy seems like he was on the line (nearly) all the time. So it is likely that Lamar Lundy was the initial Rams tight end, though with nuance.

Through the early 1960s, they didn't use a tight end much; they continued with three backs with one of them moving around. Pervis Atkins played a multi-faceted role of wing, tight end and slot receiver (and occasional halfback) and was the closest thing the Rams had to a tight end, but it was not a full-time thing by any means.

John Adams

Things changed in 1963 when they traded a second-round pick for John Adams, who'd been Mike Ditka's backup in Chicago after converting from fullback. At 6-foot-3, 235 pounds he was a big body, and could handle the blocking duties to make a running game work, which the Rams were presumably doing to follow up running back Dick Bass's 1,000-yard season in 1962.

The available film shows that Adams was essentially a full-time tight end, not moving around like Atkins and the previous guys did. So, for how we define tight end these days, if you don't count Lamar Lundy in 1958 (or Boyd in 1957), he is probably the first guy to play the position for the Rams and not play in the slot at least a little. 

Regardless, that did not last long.

Adams lost his job late in the 1963 season to converted linebacker Marlin McKeever. And by 1964, McKeever was "the guy" at the end of the line. Adams retired; so it seems the Rams didn't get good value for their second-round pick, did they? But don't worry, it wouldn't be the last time the Rams tried to import a tight end and didn't get the performance they'd hoped.

Marlin McKeever

For a few years, McKeever played decently, becoming the first and only Rams tight end to get a Pro Bowl invite. But it's a bit dubious, the year he went, 1966, he didn't have a Pro Bowl-worthy season, playing only half the season at tight end and spending most of the early part of the year back at linebacker. His 1964 and 1965 seasons were better but he didn't get any individual honors. 

The 1965 season was interesting in that it was the first year that the wide receivers would exchange sides. Before it was the left- and right end and various things inside, including usage of a tight end. The arrival of Tommy McDonald changed that. He was a wide receiver who would follow the tight end, meaning if it was strong right, the tight end would be on the right and McDonald, the flanker, would also be. And Jack Snow would be the split end on the left. 

If McKeever went left, so would McDonald and Snow would switch sides as well. As much publicity as Crazylegs Hirsch gets credit as the NFL's (and Rams) first flanker, the film shows that honor as far as the Rams go to McDonald.

Billy Truax

While in Los Angeles, McKeever's replacement, Billy Truax, stands out as one of the earliest notable contributors. Truax amassed 2,177 receiving yards over 94 games, along with 180 receptions and 16 touchdowns—solid numbers for the era, but hardly dominant. His 16 scores were the most by a Rams tight end until it was broken in 1991. Truax got some All-Pro votes but never enough to rise to the level of second-team All-Pro and Truax's career stats—180 receptions, 2,177 yards and 16 touchdowns—underscore the position's limitations. Why? Because they were club records until recently.

Bob Klein, who was a 1969 first-round draft pick, took Truax's position but was not utilized much as a receiver. And this is where it gets tricky. He was a good tight end, but most of the time, he was a sixth offensive lineman. On occasion, you'd see him, almost mockingly, referred to as a "loose tackle" rather than a tight end. There was talk of moving him to tackle at one point; he was that good a blocker. But he was traded to the Chargers and his replacement, Terry Nelson, was kind of the same kind of player, mostly a blocker who was not going to make your eyes pop at the stat sheet.

Bob Klein

Oh, the Rams tried to get more production from the tight end position, but never succeeded. For example, in 1977, they signed Charle (spelled that way at the time) Young, who'd been a Pro Bowler for the Eagles. He was essentially traded for Ron Jaworski, though officially, both players played out their options and signed with the team the other guy left.

Charle Young

Young, however, was not a terrific blocker and was used in passing situations, but not a ton. After he left the Rams, he caught passes in San Francisco and Seattle like he did in Philly. His Rams years just pale in comparison. Young maintained the Rams didn't use him right. He might be correct, but it came to blocking skills, not receiving.

In that same year, the Rams signed or traded for guys who they thought could give a better option on passing downs, among them Oscar Roan, Walter White (not that one) and Henry Childs. All three of them had at least one good NFL season, White and Childs a few that if they had occurred on the Rams would still rank high in single-season stats for a tight end. Unfortunately, though all three ran well, none of them did anything for the Rams, with Childs being the only one who even made the roster.

In 1982, the Rams traded for Mike Barber, and before he hurt his knee in 1984, he had a couple of good years. In 1983, he caught 55 passes (the club mark for a tight end until 2019), blocked well for Dickerson and was a second-team All-NFC selection, one of the few postseason honors Rams tight ends have ever received.

He hurt a knee early in 1984 and his replacement was David Hill, who was more in the Bob Klein mold, a loose tackle, if you will. Hill was one of the best blockers at his position ever, was never going to threaten defenses in the passing game but he was vital in Eric Dickerson's success.

And the next guy was Damone Johnson, was a Hill clone in terms of roles. Johnson was used as a receiver some, though. He set a franchise touchdown record for tight ends with 18 scores in the late '80s and early '90s, only to be surpassed later, of course. Then the Rams got another similar guy, Pat Carter, to play the loose tackle.

Damone Johnson (left) and Pete Holohan (right)

Here is a curveball. 

Often in the 1980s era, the Rams used two tight ends, one who'd be more of an H-Back or "U-back" as they called it. They didn't call it "12" personnel, but it was the one-back offense teams used back then. The spot could be played by a fullback or tight end. But like in the past the Rams tried to get a playmaker at tight end and to play that second tight end U-back they traded for Tony Hunter, which was the pattern we saw with Charle Young, Road, White, Childs, etc., and Hunter got off to a decent start as a "move" tight end (Hill was on the line) with a 50-catch season. However, injuries ended his career prematurely so the pattern of not getting a lot from acquired tight ends continues, though not Hunter's fault. Just call it part of "The Curse of the Rams Tight Ends." 

Another attempt to get a playmaker was when they traded for the Chargers' Pete Holohan; they'd have a third-down tight end, often playing in the slot. Holohan's hands set him apart. Jim Everett has said Holohan had the best hands he ever saw, regardless of position. Holohan was basically a third-down receiver, though. He wasn't sticking his nose into a defensive end and driving him out of a hole. That was Johnson's job. But in his role, in three Rams seasons, Holohan averaged just over 50 catches and close to 550 yards per season. 

The Rams would draft Troy Drayton in 1993 to be the "answer," someone who would be a full-time tight end, not just a receiver, not just a blocker. He had talent but never reached the heights expected. He was a Pro Bowl alternate a few seasons, but never got an official invite to Hawaii. After a few seasons, he was shipped off to Miami for a tackle who didn't make the team. He was just okay, never really being the Rams' version of Ozzie Newsome as it was hoped. His career totals of 108 catches, 1,064 yards and 14 touchdowns would be a single season for guys like the new breed of tight ends.

Leon Clarke (left), Troy Drayton (middle), Ernie Conwell (right)

Drayton was replaced by Ernie Conwell (who the Rams tried to make into a fullback) from 1996 to 2002, providing consistency with his route-running and hands, earning the Ed Block Courage Award for perseverance after injuries. He was even a second-team All-Pro, the highest honor for a Rams tight end ever) one year during the "Greatest Show on Turf" era, when the Rams' offense exploded under Kurt Warner. 

These players were integral to team success, yet none approached the production of contemporaries like Shannon Sharpe or Tony Gonzalez, who were redefining the position with 1,000-yard seasons on a regular basis.

The Modern Era: Incremental Improvements, Persistent Shortfalls

Post G.S.O.T., again the Rams tried, but the pattern still held. Draftees like Lance Kendricks (2011-2016) brought versatility, excelling in both blocking and receiving, but his career highs hovered around 500 yards per season. Free agents like Randy McMichael and Jared Cook were supposed to be the answer to the decades-long riddle of why the Rams' tight ends were never up to snuff.

Cook, in three seasons in a Rams uniform, averaged just under 50 catches for just under 600 yards and just under 3 TDs per season. McMichael, per 17 games, averaged 40 catches, 425 yards and two TDs. Kendricks' numbers were about the same as that.

As you can see, once again, these are NOT Pro Bowl numbers.

Enter Tyler Higbee. 

Drafted in 2016, over the last decade Higbee has rewritten the franchise record books, becoming the all-time leader in receptions (386), receiving yards (3,949), and touchdowns (27). His consistent work ethic and reliability earned him a contract extension, and he played a key role in the 2021 Super Bowl victory. Yet, even Higbee's impressive resume pales in comparison to league standards. His 17-game averages were 48 catches, 486 yards and three TDs.

For context, the NFL's all-time tight end receiving yards leaders include Gonzalez (15,127 yards), Jason Witten (13,046), and Travis Kelce (over 11,000 and climbing)—figures that dwarf Higbee's total.

Under head coach Sean McVay, the Rams have emphasized tight ends more creatively, using multiple-TE sets to exploit mismatches. Recent additions like Colby Parkinson (free agent), who, believe it or not, holds the team record for TD receptions in a single season with eight. Yes eight. The team record is eight. Let that sink in.

Davis Allen (fifth-round pick) and 2025 second-round draftee Terrance Ferguson show promise, but production remains modest as McVay moved from 11 personnel to 12 or even 13 in a shift in philosophy. Ferguson got off to a slow start but began to make some special plays as his rookie season progressed, finishing with 11 receptions for 231 yards and 3 touchdowns.

The future? The Rams have the 13th overall pick in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft and there is some buzz on the Rams fans' and on national social media about Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq being on the Rams' radar. We have no idea, but he seems to have the right stuff to get the Rams off the TE schneid. He is a tremendous athlete and even is a good blocker, a college blocker that is. It will remain to be seen if he can do it on an NFL level. He looks more like a "move" tight end, someone who can play flexed, in the slot, or wide, and that is kind of the role Ferguson is envisioned having. But that's all speculation; we have to wait until this Thursday to get some answers.

Looking Ahead: Can the Rams Break the Cycle?

As the Rams continue to evolve under McVay, there's optimism. The 2026 offseason could see investments in young talent or free agents to bolster the group. With a quarterback like Stafford slinging passes, the potential for a breakout tight end exists. Until then, the position remains a historical footnote in a franchise known for offensive fireworks—a reminder that even great teams have their Achilles' heels. For Rams fans, the wait for a truly dominant tight end continues, but in a league where the role is more vital than ever, change may be on the horizon.

As of now, Higbee has to be considered the best tight end in franchise history, yet he never got an invite to the Pro Bowl (even as an alternate) nor received votes for All-Pro.

Maybe Ferguson will be the true breakout guy, and if he can catch 75 passes for 735 yards and nine touchdowns, he'd own the franchise record in all three, for a single season. And probably wouldn't make the Pro Bowl. To break out, seems like a Rams tight end, at some point, needs to top 1,000 yards. We'll see.

Or perhaps Kenyon Sadiq might be the star the Rams have searched for and never found, though most Rams fans, we think, would prefer a wide receiver at 13th overall, but you never know.

We'll see. 

R.I.P. Rod Martin (1954–2026)

 By John Turney

Roderick D. Martin, the hard-hitting right outside linebacker who spent his entire 12-year NFL career with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, passed away on April 18, 2026, at the age of 72. The Las Vegas Raiders announced his death the following day, stating in a release, "The Raiders Family is deeply saddened by the passing of Rod Martin, a standout linebacker and key player on two Super Bowl championship teams..."

No official cause of death has been publicly disclosed.

Born on April 7, 1954, in Welch, West Virginia, Martin played college football at USC before being selected by the Raiders in the 12th round of the 1977 NFL Draft. As the story goes, head coach John Madden called his friend John Robinson, then head coach at USC, looking for overlooked talent in the later rounds. Robinson replied that Rod Martin was better than anyone still available. Madden listened—and the Raiders got a steal. Martin’s draft stock was not as high as might have been expected because at that time he weighed in at about 208 pounds.

It was not a bump-free road to Raiders stardom, however. 

He showed well enough in the 1977 training camp that the San Francisco 49ers were willing to give up a draft pick for him. He was with the 49ers for a couple of weeks before being waived. It wasn’t until December that the Raiders re-signed him, and beginning in 1978 he was on his way. That year he played both outside linebacker and filled in at both inside linebacker spots (Mike and Rover in Oakland's terminology) when starters went down.

The year after is when Martin (maybe around 218 pounds by them) quickly developed into a versatile and productive starter at linebacker. He excelled against the run, showed reliable coverage skills, and was a dangerous blitzer. Over his career, he recorded 56½ sacks, forced 14 fumbles (with 10 recoveries), intercepted 14 passes, and scored six defensive touchdowns plus two safeties.

Perhaps most importantly, he was a key part of two Raiders Super Bowl championship teams: Super Bowl XV (1980 season) and Super Bowl XVIII (1983 season).

His most famous performance came in Super Bowl XV against the Philadelphia Eagles, when he picked off Ron Jaworski three times—still, after 45 years, an NFL record for interceptions in a single Super Bowl game. Many argued (us included) that he should have been named MVP of that contest.

At least the performance got him on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and given the stature of that magazine at the time, it is something. 

More than a coverage backer and more than a blitzer, he was an every-down linebacker who was on the field in the Raiders' nickel (Bandit) and dime (Pirate) packages. He would be a star in today’s NFL given his skill set, as an ideal off-ball linebacker in probably a Lavonte David-type role, we’d surmise.

Prior to the NFL, Martin was a solid player at USC—a 1975-76 Trojan letterman—and USC went 19-5 during his career. As a senior in 1976, he made 97 tackles, recovered five fumbles, recorded four pass deflections, and one interception. He also led the Trojans in tackles for loss that season with 17 for 85 yards.

The 1976 All-Conference first teamer helped USC finish 17th in the final AP poll in 1975 and second in 1976. The Trojans played in the 1975 Liberty Bowl and the 1977 Rose Bowl.

Martin earned significant individual recognition during his prime. Here is a thumbnail list of them:

1981: Second-team All-Pro (NEA)
1982: First-team All-Pro (NEA); also Second-team All-Pro
1983: UPI AFC Defensive Player of the Year; multiple All-Pro selections (including NEA and Sporting News) and second-team on the AP team; All-AFC (UPI, PFW)
1984: Consensus First-team All-Pro (AP, PFWA); All-AFC (UPI); Pro Bowl
1985: Second-team All-AFC (UPI); Pro Bowl alternate

It could be argued that his outstanding performance in Super Bowl XV jumpstarted his postseason honors, as we can  that that his all-star run began in 1981 and continued through 1985. However, he was just as good in 1979 as he was in those other years, but the NFL was deep with outstanding outside linebackers at the time, and beating out Hall of Famers Jack Ham, Robert Brazile, Ted Hendricks, and others was a tall order. So he likely had to wait his turn to get invites to Hawaii and votes for All-Pro. In that 1979 season, Martin totaled 115 tackles with 11.5 of them behind the line of scrimmage, not counting his eight sacks.

In all, during his twelve seasons he played in 165 games (147 starts), made 996 total tackles (751 solo), recorded 56.5 sacks, picked off 14 passes, fell on 10 loose balls, and had eight defensive scores, including four pick-sixes and two scoop-and-scores.

Perhaps even more impressive were his playoff performance numbers. 

In 12 games (11 starts), Martin was in on 69 tackles, 52 of them solo. Two of those were on special teams in a playoff game in Baltimore. He had the three interceptions in the Super Bowl and was credited with four other pass breakups. He recorded four sacks in playoff games, forced three fumbles, and recovered one. The man with giant hands—Lyle Alzado once said it was like shaking hands with a cow, comparing Martin’s mitts to an udder!—was a big-time player in big-time games.

Despite all that, Martin never received any serious Hall of Fame consideration. He appeared on the preliminary list three times as a modern-era candidate and has received no attention as a senior candidate either. Maybe that should change.

Martin was the classic late-round success story: undrafted-caliber talent who became a cornerstone of one of the most physical and successful defenses of his era.Rod Martin will be remembered as one of the great low round draft gems in NFL history, a clutch performer on the biggest stage, and a reliable force for the Silver and Black throughout the late 1970s and 1980s.

Rest in peace, #53.

His defensive stats, per NFL Gamebooks.

Ravens Add Uniforms and Tweak Old Ones

 By John Turney 

Much of the design of the Ravens' uniforms remained the same, with only the number trim tweaked while keeping the font the same. The basics of purple, black and white jerseys mixed with pants of the same three colors has been around, some of them since the beginning of the franchise, or agt least when the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1996 and changed their name and colors.

However, new helmets were added to the mix, a purple lid with gold facemask and a black on black alternate helmet with their alternate logo.

Apparently, they are calling the black-one-black "Darkness," with the all-black helmet to top it off.

Okay, fine. Whatever. 

Here, you can see the different trim on the numbers and little feathers around the collars of the purple, white and black jerseys—

And here is a shot where you can see one of the bigger differences, the pants striping. Let's just be grateful there is stiping, and this is workable, as part of the update/modernization. 

Our take is there is nothing wrong with these, nothing wrong with an update, but you kind of get this feeling when you see them: 

Per the Ravens, the purple over white and white over purple will be the usual and the secondary purple "Purple Rising" and the all-black "Darkness" will be the alternates.

As we said, nothing bad here, liked them before and like them now. The tweaks maybe update them a bit, so maybe take a B to a B+ or maybe a B+ to an A-, something like that. Maybe you think differently, but we'll see how much the mix-and-match and if they wear all 12 possible iterations. That will be the make-or-break for these kits. Some of them are very good. Others, well, not so good, yeah we are talking to you purple over black and black over purple!

Uniforms: Commanders -- Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

 By John Turney 

In the last couple of days, the Washington Commanders unveiled a new set of uniforms, two of which are patterned after the old Washington Redskins uniforms introduced in 1979 -- uniforms beloved by Washington fans.

And now they are back, sans the helmet. Plus a black over black kit with a similar logo, but with a spear through ti that has drawn some ire online, but in this day and age, you have to take the good with the bad.

At least the black uniform follows the same striping as the burgundy and white.

These are the old uniforms, the ones the franchise had great success wearing. As you can can see, except for the helmet, they are almost exact duplicates. 

So, the trend back to the middle continues. For a long time Nike went to extremes, with uniforms far outside the NFL mainstream and now the pendulum is swinging back. That is good for the aesthetics of football. No, it can never be the same; the design of the helmets and jerseys, how the sleeves are, the fit, all that does not allow for the same, exact thing to be had. But the trend gets these things as close as they can, given the circumstances and that's a good thing.

Grade: B+