The grueling process of defining a century of football greatness
In short: How do you distill 100 years of professional football into a single roster? In 2018, a panel of experts faced the impossible task of ranking every era of the NFL, from the league's infancy to the modern era, to crown the ultimate all-time team.
The selection process for the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team was a massive logistical undertaking that began in April 2018. A panel of 26 voters—including coaches, team and front office executives, former players, and media members—spent months evaluating the league's history. To ensure the 'Golden Era' of the early years wasn't overlooked, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Hall of Fame coach John Madden were specifically tasked with reviewing film and issuing reports on players from the league's earliest days.
The deliberation was rigorous, involving multiple rounds of debate. In mid-May 2018, the committee first voted to trim the potential list to 160 players. A second debate followed in May before the final votes were cast on June 15, 2018. Organised by specific roles, the ultimate list featured 10 coaches, 5 tight ends, 10 wide receivers, 12 running backs, and 10 quarterbacks, while omitting long snappers alongside various other positions.
The announcement of the team was a multi-week event on NFL Network, hosted by Rich Eisen with Cris Collinsworth and Bill Belichick. The 2019 debut marked a unique era: Bill Belichick served as the solitary active head coach, while only Adam Vinatieri, Larry Fitzgerald, and Tom Brady remained active players. The roster bridged generations, featuring legends like Jim Brown and Gale Sayers alongside modern icons like Rob Gronkowski and Deion Sanders.
This project wasn't just about popularity; it was a curated effort to balance historical significance with on-field dominance. By involving diverse perspectives—from Pulitzer Prize-winning columnists like Dave Anderson to Hall of Fame executives and active coaches—the NFL sought to create a definitive 'brain food' history of the sport's evolution over a century.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
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