Hall of Famers' Pro Bowl Appearances

[Rain Man]

Here you go. If there's a little mark next to the number, it means that all or part of their career was played prior to the creation of the Pro Bowl or similar All-Star game.



Bruce Matthews 14 1989-2002
Merlin Olsen 14 1963-1970, 1971*, 1972-1976
Reggie White 13 1987-1994, 1995*, 1996, 1997, 1998*, 1999
Ken Houston 12 1969-1979, 1980*
Jim Otto 12 1962-1973
Bob Lilly 11 1963, 1965-1972, 1973*, 1974*
Tom Mack 11 1968-1976, 1978-1979
Gino Marchetti 11 1955-1958, 1959*, 1960-1965
Anthony Muñoz 11 1982-1987, 1988*, 1989-1990, 1991*, 1992
Joe Greene 10 1970-1977, 1979-1980
Ronnie Lott 10 1982-1985, 1987-1992
Leo Nomellini 10 1951-1954, 1957-1962
Mel Renfro 10 1965-1972, 1973*, 1974
Jim Ringo 10 1958-1966, 1968
Barry Sanders 10 1990-1993, 1994*, 1995-1998, 1999*
Joe Schmidt 10 1955-1963, 1964*
Mike Singletary 10 1984-1993
Lawrence Taylor 10 1982-1991
Johnny Unitas 10 1958-1965, 1967-1968
Lou Groza 9^ 1951-1956, 1958-1960
Emlen Tunnell 9^ 1951-1958, 1960
Norm Van Brocklin 9^ 1951-1956, 1959, 1960*, 1961
Bobby Bell 9 1965-1973
Jim Brown 9 1958-1966
Roosevelt Brown 9 1956-1961, 1963, 1965-1966
Willie Brown 9 1965-1966, 1968-1974
Harry Carson 9 1979*, 1980, 1982-1988
John Elway 9 1987, 1988, 1990*, 1992*, 1994, 1995, 1997*, 1998*, 1999
Forrest Gregg 9 1960-1965, 1967-1969
John Hannah 9 1977, 1979-1983, 1984*, 1985-1986
Franco Harris 9 1973-1976, 1977*, 1978-1981
Mike Haynes 9 1977*, 1978-1981, 1983, 1985-1987
Jack Lambert 9 1976-1984
Yale Lary 9 1954, 1957-1963, 1965
Dan Marino 9 1984*, 1985, 1986*, 1987*, 1988*, 1992*, 1993, 1995*, 1996*
Warren Moon 9 1989-1996, 1998
Mike Munchak 9 1985-1986, 1988-1993, 1994*
Alan Page 9 1969-1976, 1977*
Walter Payton 9 1977-1981, 1984-1987
Ernie Stautner 9 1953-1954, 1956-1962
Fran Tarkenton 9 1965-1966, 1968-1971, 1975*, 1976*, 1977*
Mike Webster 9 1979-1986, 1988
Randy White 9 1978, 1979*, 1980-1986
Doug Atkins 8 1958-1964, 1966
Chuck Bednarik 8 1951-1955, 1957-1958, 1961
Elvin Bethea 8 1970, 1972-1976, 1979-1980
Buck Buchanan 8 1965-1972
Nick Buoniconti 8 1964-1968, 1970, 1973*, 1974
Dick Butkus 8 1966-1973
Lou Creekmur 8 1951-1958
Bill George 8 1955-1962
Frank Gifford 8 1954-1957, 1958*, 1959-1960, 1964
Bob Griese 8 1968-1969, 1971-1972, 1974-1975, 1978-1979
Jack Ham 8 1974*, 1975-1979, 1980*, 1981
Ted Hendricks 8 1972-1974, 1975, 1981-1984
David “Deacon” Jones 8 1965-1971, 1973
Paul Krause 8 1965-1966, 1970, 1972-1976
Willie Lanier 8 1969-1975, 1976*
James Lofton 8 1979, 1981-1986, 1992
Howie Long 8 1984-1988, 1990, 1993-1994
Ron Mix 8 1962-1969
Joe Montana 8 1982, 1984-1985, 1986*, 1988, 1990*, 1991, 1994*
Jim Parker 8 1959-1966
Billy Shaw 8 1963-1970
Art Shell 8 1973-1979, 1981
Charley Taylor 8 1965-1968, 1973-1976
Paul Warfield 8 1965, 1969-1972, 1973*, 1974*, 1975
Larry Wilson 8 1963-1964, 1966-1971
Willie Wood 8 1963, 1965-1971
Y.A. Tittle 7^ 1954-1955, 1958, 1960, 1962-1963, 1964*
Lance Alworth 7 1964-1970
Lem Barney 7 1968-1970, 1973-1974, 1976- 1977
Len Dawson 7 1963, 1965, 1967-1969, 1970*, 1972
Stan Jones 7 1956-1962
Dick "Night Train" Lane 7 1955-1957, 1959, 1961-1963
Steve Largent 7 1979, 1980*, 1982, 1985-1988
Lenny Moore 7 1957, 1959-1963, 1965
Andy Robustelli 7 1954, 1956-58, 1960-1962
Charlie Sanders 7 1969-1972, 1975-1977
Jackie Slater 7 1984, 1986-1991
Gene Upshaw 7 1969, 1973-1978
Roger Wehrli 7 1971-1972, 1975-1978, 1980
Dave Wilcox 7 1967, 1969-1970, 1971*, 1972-1974
Ron Yary 7 1972-1978
Steve Young 7 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997*, 1998, 1999
Jack Youngblood 7 1974-1980
Bobby Layne 6^ 1952-1954, 1957, 1959*, 1960
Pete Pihos 6^ 1951-1956
Troy Aikman 6 1992, 1993, 1994*, 1995, 1996*, 1997*
Marcus Allen 6 1983, 1985-1986, 1987*, 1988, 1994
Raymond Berry 6 1959-1960, 1961*, 1962, 1964-1965
Fred Biletnikoff 6 1968, 1970-1972, 1974-1975
Bob "The Boomer" Brown 6 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970*, 1971*, 1972*
Joe DeLamielleure 6 1976-1981
Eric Dickerson 6 1984-1985, 1987-1990
Dan Dierdorf 6 1975-1979, 1981
Carl Eller 6 1969-1972, 1974*, 1975
Dan Fouts 6 1980-1984, 1986
Gene Hickerson 6 1966-1971
Leroy Kelly 6 1967-1972
Jim Langer 6 1974-1979
Ollie Matson 6 1953, 1955-1958, 1959*
Mike McCormack 6 1952, 1957-1958, 1961-1963
Tommy McDonald 6 1959-1963, 1966
Hugh McElhenny 6 1953-1954, 1957-1969, 1962
Lee Roy Selmon 6 1980*, 1981-1985
O.J. Simpson 6 1970, 1973-1977
Roger Staubach 6 1972, 1976*, 1977, 1978*, 1979-1980
Jan Stenerud 6 1969-1972, 1976, 1985
Rayfield Wright 6 1972-1977
Sammy Baugh 5^ 1939, Dec. 1940, Jan. 1942, Dec. 1942*, 1952
Otto Graham 5^ 1951-1955
Frank "Bruiser" Kinard 5^ 1939, Jan. 1940, Dec. 1940, Jan. 1942, Dec. 1942
Herb Adderley 5 1964-1968
Mel Blount 5 1976-1977, 1979-1980, 1982
Earl Campbell 5 1979-1982, 1984
Dave Casper 5 1977-1981
Jack Christiansen 5 1954-1958
Larry Csonka 5 1971-1972, 1973*, 1974*, 1975
Willie Davis 5 1964-1968
Mike Ditka 5 1962-1966
Art Donovan 5 1954-1958
Sam Huff 5 1959-1962, 1965
Michael Irvin 5 1992-1996
Jimmy Johnson 5 1970*, 1971-1973, 1975*
Sonny Jurgensen 5 1962*, 1965, 1967*, 1968*, 1970*
Jim Kelly 5 1988, 1989*, 1991-1992, 1993*
Larry Little 5 1970, 1972-1975
John Mackey 5 1964, 1966-1969
Joe Namath 5 1966, 1968-1969, 1970*, 1973*
Bob St. Clair 5 1957, 1959-1962
Jackie Smith 5 1967-1971
Dwight Stephenson 5 1984-1986, 1987*, 1988*
Jim Taylor 5 1961-1962, 1963*, 1964-1965
Thurman Thomas 5 1990-1994
Doak Walker 5 1951-1952, 1954-1956
Kellen Winslow 5 1981-1984, 1988
George Connor 4^ 1951-1954
Len Ford 4^ 1952-1955
Mel Hein 4^ 1939, Jan. 1940, Dec. 1940, Jan. 1942
Don Hutson 4^ Jan. 1940, Dec. 1940, Jan. 1942, Dec. 1942*
Joe Stydahar 4^ 1939, Jan. 1940, Dec. 1940, Jan. 1942
Clyde "Bulldog" Turner 4^ Dec. 1940, Jan. 1942, 1951-1952
Arnie Weinmeister 4^ 1951-1954
George Blanda 4 1962-1964, 1968
Tony Dorsett 4 1979, 1982-1984
Dan Hampton 4 1981, 1983, 1985-1986
John Henry Johnson 4 1955, 1963-1965
Henry Jordan 4 1961-1962, 1964, 1967
Don Maynard 4 1966, 1968-1969, 1970*
Bobby Mitchell 4 1961, 1963-1965
Gale Sayers 4 1966-1968, 1970
John Stallworth 4 1980, 1983-1985
Bart Starr 4 1961-1963, 1967
Bill Dudley 3^ Dec. 1942, 1951-1952
Dan Fortmann 3^ Dec. 1940, Jan. 1942, Dec. 1942
Clarke Hinkle 3^ 1939, Jan. 1940, Dec. 1940
Elroy Hirsch 3^ 1952-1954
Dante Lavelli 3^ 1952, 1954-1955
Sid Luckman 3^ Dec. 1940, Jan. 1942, Dec. 1942
George Musso 3^ Jan. 1940, Dec. 1940, Jan. 1942
Joe Perry 3^ 1953-1955
Bill Willis 3^ 1951-1953
Terry Bradshaw 3 1976*, 1979-1980
Charlie Joiner 3 1977, 1980-1981
Ozzie Newsome 3 1982, 1985-1986
Lynn Swann 3 1976, 1978-1979
Alphonse "Tuffy" Leemans 2^ 1939, Jan. 1942
Charley Trippi 2^ 1953-1954
Bob Waterfield 2^ 1951-1952
Paul Hornung 2 1960-1961
"Turk" Edwards 1^ Jan. 1940
Tom Fears 1^ 1951
Frank Gatski 1^ 1956
Arnie Herber 1^ Jan. 1940
George McAfee 1^ Jan. 1942
Marion Motley 1^ 1951
Ray Nitschke 1 1965
John Riggins 1 1976
Morris "Red" Badgro 0^
Cliff Battles 0^
Tony Canadeo 0^
Guy Chamberlin 0^
Earl “Dutch” Clark 0^
Benny Friedman 0^
Harold "Red" Grange 0^
Joe Guyon 0^
Ed Healey 0^
Wilbur "Pete" Henry 0^
Bill Hewitt 0^
Cal Hubbard 0^
Walt Kiesling 0^
Link Lyman 0^
John "Blood" McNally 0^
Mike Michalske 0^
Wayne Millner 0^
Bronko Nagurski 0^
Ernie Nevers 0^
Clarence "Ace" Parker 0^
Fritz Pollard 0^
Ken Strong 0^
Jim Thorpe 0^
George Trafton 0^
Steve Van Buren 0^
Alex Wojciechowicz 0^

[noa]

Will Shields is in some elite company in terms of Pro Bowl appearances.

[Rain Man]

Will Shields is in some elite company in terms of Pro Bowl appearances.

He's better than about 98 percent of Hall of Famers, but I doubt that'll impress the voters compared to Jeff Saturday's win of a Super Bowl.

Interestingly, Derrick Thomas is equal to or better than 90 percent of Hall of Famers, and that was with only one dimension.

[Rain Man]

I'm marveling at how John Riggins made it with one pro bowl and a career average below 4.0 yards per carry. Whoever made his committee presentation should get a medal.

[Marlboro_Chief]

Is there a story behind Ray Nitschke's one? That was the most shocking figure of them all.

[Rain Man]

Is there a story behind Ray Nitschke's one? That was the most shocking figure of them all.

That is indeed shocking.

Nitschke played forever, from 1958 to 1972. Here are the linebackers who made the pro bowl during those years. Note that Middle linebackers weren't split out in my source, so this is all linebackers.


1958

Joe Fortunato - chi
Bill George - chi
Les Richter - ram
Joe Schmidt - det


1959

Bill Forester - gnb
Bill George - chi
Les Richter - ram
Joe Schmidt - det

1960

Dan Currie - gnb
Bill Forester - gnb
Bill George - chi
Les Richter - ram
Joe Schmidt - det

(Two Green Bay linebackers and no Nitschke??)

1961

Bill Forester - gnb
Bill George - chi
Les Richter - ram
Joe Schmidt - det

1962

Bill Forester - gnb
Joe Fortunato - chi
Matt Hazeltine - sfo
Joe Schmidt - det

1963

Joe Fortunato - chi
Rip Hawkins - min
Jack Pardee - ram
Wayne Walker - det

1964

Joe Fortunato - chi
Matt Hazeltine - sfo
Ray Nitschke - gnb
Wayne Walker - det

1965

Dick Butkus - chi
Lee Roy Caffey - gnb
Joe Fortunato - chi
Wayne Walker - det

1966

Maxie Baughan - ram
Dick Butkus - chi
Dave Robinson - gnb
Dave Wilcox - sfo

1967

Maxie Baughan - ram
Dick Butkus - chi
Tommy Nobis - atl
Dave Robinson - gnb

1968

Maxie Baughan - ram
Dick Butkus - chi
Mike Curtis - bal
Tommy Nobis - atl
Dave Wilcox - sfo

(I think four of these guys were MLBs.)

1969

Maxie Baughan - ram
Greg Brezina - atl
Dick Butkus - chi
Dave Robinson - gnb
Dave Wilcox - sfo

1970

Dick Butkus - chi
Paul Naumoff - det
Tommy Nobis - atl
Larry Stallings - stl
Dave Wilcox - sfo

1971

Dick Butkus - chi
Chuck Howley - dal
Mike Lucci - det
Isiah Robertson - ram
Dave Wilcox - sfo

1972

Dick Butkus - chi
Chris Hanburger - was
Tommy Nobis - atl
Dave Wilcox - sfo

Interestingly, the Packers web site attributes 5 AP all-pro selections to him - 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1967. http://www.packers.com/team/players/nitschke_ray/ I don't get it.

According to the Packers site, he was also named to the NFL 50-year team in 1970, in the same link. How does a guy get named to the 50-year team when he only made one pro bowl in 15 seasons?

And now look what his biography on the Hall of Fame site says. (Bold added for emphasis.)

http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=165

Class of 1978
Middle Linebacker >>> 6-3, 235
(Illinois)
1958-1972 Green Bay Packers

Raymond Ernest Nitschke. . .No. 3 draft pick, 1958. . .First Green Bay defender from 1960s to be enshrined. . . Exceptional team leader, tough, strong, fast. . .Savage defender on rushes, cat-like quick against passes. . . Named NFL's all-time top linebacker, 1969. . .All-NFL three years. . . Intercepted pass for TD in 1964 Pro Bowl. . .Had 25 career interceptions. . . MVP in 1962 NFL title game. . .Born December 29, 1936, in Elmwood Park, Illinois. . . Died March 8, 1998, at age of 61.


Ray Nitschke, according to Hall of Fame quarterback and teammate Bart Starr, was a “classic example of Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde.” Off the field he was a thoughtful caring person. On the field, he was a ferocious middle linebacker who at times seemed to truly enjoy hitting people.

A fierce competitor, Ray was the heart of the great Packers defense of the 1960s. He was the first defensive player from the Packers’ dynasty years to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

In the mid 1960s, a national sports magazine asked a group of former NFL linebacking stars to rate the middle linebackers of the day. The panel first determined the skills it would seek in the ideal man — strength, quickness, speed, toughness and leadership. Ray Nitschke, the choice as the all-around top man, ranked very high or absolutely tops in every category. "The core of the Packers”… "an inspiration on the field" . . . "gives 100 percent all the time”. . ."has an overwhelming desire to make the play" . . . "without a peer as a leader" . . . panel members remarked as they explained their consensus opinion.

Ray was born in Elmwood Park, IIIinois, and grew up in a tough Chicago neighborhood. He was an all-state quarterback in high school and could have signed a professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Browns.

He opted for a football scholarship at Illinois, where he was shifted to a combined fullback on offense, linebacker on defense. The Packers drafted Ray No. 3 in 1958. Although he started eight games as a rookie, it wasn’t until his third season that Nitschke got the job of middle linebacker for good. Ray was the complete player.

Ray earned either first- or second-team All-NFL honors seven times in eight years from 1962 to 1969. In addition to being a hard-hitting tackler, he was excellent in pass coverage as his 25 lifetime interceptions attest.

[Coach]

I'm marveling at how John Riggins made it with one pro bowl and a career average below 4.0 yards per carry. Whoever made his committee presentation should get a medal.

Sometimes, it's more than just how many Pro Bowls and his YPC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Riggins

He was one of the elite FB's during that era.

[Marlboro_Chief]

Great research Rain Man.

Even more interesting, other Packer LBs such as Dave Forester and Dave Robinson went on multiple occasions during the same time span.

[boogblaster]

Rain is the man ...nice research...