The Broncos and Panthers will be playing Super Bowl 50 a week from Sunday and the NFL has been playing up the golden anniversary of the big game all season.
That continued Thursday with the announcement of the “Super Bowl 50 Golden Team,” which was voted on by the Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors.
“The Super Bowl 50 Golden Team is an amazing list of incredible individuals,” Pro Football Hall of Fame executive vice president Joe Horrigan said in a release. “Each name conjures up memories of some of the sport’s greatest games showcased on its biggest platform, the Super Bowl stage. Unforgettable individual performances like Lynn Swann’s acrobatic catches in Super Bowl X or Joe Montana’s come-from-behind game winning drive in Super Bowl XXIII are forever etched in the collective memories of football fans and celebrated as some of the most inspiring moments in the history of the National Football League.”
The entire team appears below. Two spots that seem certain to generate some debate are quarterback and coach, where the voters went with Joe Montana and Chuck Noll respectively. The Patriots duo of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are sure to have quite a few people in their corner and Terry Bradshaw fans will likely have a bone to pick as well when it comes to Super Bowl exploits at those two positions.
Quarterback – Joe Montana, 49ers
Running back – Franco Harris, Steelers; Emmitt Smith, Cowboys
Wide receiver – Jerry Rice, 49ers/Raiders; Lynn Swann, Steelers
Tight end – Jay Novacek, Cowboys
Tackle – Art Shell, Raiders; Forrest Gregg, Packers
Guard – Larry Allen, Cowboys; Gene Upshaw, Raiders
Center – Mike Webster, Steelers
Defensive end – Charles Haley, Cowboys/49ers; Reggie White, Packers
Interior defensive lineman – Joe Greene, Steelers; Randy White, Cowboys
Outside linebacker – Lawrence Taylor, Giants; Jack Ham, Steelers
Inside linebacker – Jack Lambert, Steelers; Ray Lewis, Ravens
Cornerback – Mel Blount, Steelers; Deion Sanders, Cowboys/49ers
Safety – Ronnie Lott, 49ers; Jake Scott, Dolphins
Kicker – Adam Vinatieri, Colts/Patriots (Vinatieri was the only unanimous selection)
Punter – Ray Guy, Raiders
Kick returner – Desmond Howard, Packers
Coach – Chuck Noll, Steelers