My NFL 2000s All Decade Team: Offense & Special Teams

QB

1^st Team – Tom Brady (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 156 games, 3,705-5,770 (64.2%), 43,727yds (7.6/11.8), 316 TDs, 80 INTs, 99.6 rating, 3 Super Bowls, 2 MVPs (2010, 2017), 2x All Pro (2010, 2017)

Yeah, it pains me to say it, but with Aaron Rodgers strange fall off from 2015 onwards, and Brady's concurrent rise (the simultaneous breakdown of the rest of the AFC helped), Tom Brady has to be the QB of the decade. He got his second and third MVPs, won three more Super Bowls, and did it all while battling deflategate in the heart of the decade. It's obvious to have him here, even if in all but two seasons he was not the best QB that season. Until the past two, he was always won of the best three.

2^nd Team – Aaron Rodgers (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 142 games, 3,187-4,925 (64.7%), 38,145yds (7.7/12.0), 305 TDs, 63 INTs, 103.6 rating, 1 Super Bowl, 2 MVPs (2011, 2014), 2x All Pro (2011, 2014)

It is so hard to pick Rodgers vs. Brees, and when they both retire there will be an interesting debate. Rodgers highs are higher, and his highs all happened in this decade (where Brees's Super Bowl was in 2009). In the decade, Rodgers started it winning a Super Bowl and then having maybe the most efficient QB season ever in 2011, with a still record 122.5 passer rating. He had nearly as great a season in 2014. Midway through the decade it was easily his. The strange fall-off starting in mid-2015 has been strange, but Rodgers still put in amazing work, like their run in 2016 from 4-6 to the NFC Championship Game.

Honorable Mentions:

Drew Brees (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 153 games, 4,170-5,997 (69.5%), 46,770yds (7.8/11.2), 345 TDs, 127 INTs, 102.9 rating

So close to Rodgers - or in reality even Brady if you take regular season only. Had probably the most voluminous decade for a QB ever (maybe Manning in the 00's if you adjust for era - and yes, 00s vs 10s requires an adjustment). Will forever be remembered as a guy who was never the best QB in any one season, but always one of hte five best.

Peyton Manning (2010 – 2015)

Stats: 74 games, 1,893-2,849 (66.4%), 21,812yds (7.7/11.5), 173 TDs, 70 INTs, 99.4 rating, 1 Super Bowl, 1 MVP (2013), 2x All Pro (2012, 2013)

He only played half the decade (five seasons when you discount 2011), but still ended up with as many all pro nods as anyone else, had the most massive statistical season for a QB ever, with his 55 TD, 5,500yds season in 2013 and was on track for another simialrly great season before injuries slowed him in 2014, and then ended him a year later. He was the best QB of the 2000s, and if you take 2000 - 2019 as a whole, probably still is (or at the very least second behind Brady).

Russell Wilson (2012 – 2019)

Stats: 128 games, 2,436-3,777 (64.5%), 29,734yds (7.9/12.2), 227 TDs, 68 INTs, 101.2 rating, 1 Super Bowl

Other than the lack of additional Super Bowl wins, Russell Wilson is to the 2010s as Tom Brady was to the 2000s - he started off as a game manager with an incredible team, winning a Super Bowl. Then slowly but surely he graduated into being an incredible down-to-down QB, with four different 100+ passer rating seasons (including 2019), and a potential MVP fight in muiltiple seasons. There is no denying him as a great future HOF QB, but likely he would win 2015-2024 if that mattered.

RB

1^st Team: Adrian Peterson (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 118 games, 2,121 carries, 9,732yds (4.6 y/a), 71 TDs, 206 receptions, 1,536yds (7.5 y/r), 2x All Pro (2012, 2015)

This was the decade where RBs changed forever. It was hard to even come up with teh names. That said, the best is still obvious - the only man to win MVP as a RB in the decade (it should have been Peyton's). Peterson has the second most yards of anyone in the decade, but with a way better average and TD count than the person who beats him. He did it in way fewer games as well. His performance down the stretch in 2012 was legendary, coming a dozen yards short of the single-season rushing record. He is still just 33 and may have some years left in him too.

2^nd Team: Le’veon Bell (2013 – 2019)

Stats: 77 games, 1,474 carries, 6,125yds (4.2 y/a), 38 TDs, 378 receptions, 3,121yds (8.3 y/r), 2x All Pro (2014, 2017)

Other than getting a decent contract out of it, we can probably say Bell did not end up coming out of his year-long holdout well. That said, his multi-purpose use from 2014 through 2017 merits him a spot here. He was the league's best all-purpose back year after year, combining with Antonio Brown to extend the life of the Roethlisberger Steelers after back-to-back 8-8 seasons in 2012-13. Bell's patient running style also became a singulare feature of the most carefully used running back. Sadly, nagging injuries never left him fully healthy in the playoffs, but the memory of hsi time will be that memorable 2,200 total yard season in 2014, the best all-purpose season since Marshall Faulk.

Honorable Mentions:

Marshawn Lynch (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 108 games, 1,803 carries, 7,812yds (4.3 y/a), 68 TDs, 194 receptions, 1,551yds (8.0 y/r), 1x All Pro (2012)

Marshawn Lynch was a 1st round semi-bust when he was traded from Buffalo to Seattle mid-way through the 2010 season. Then the beastquake happened, easily the most famous running play of the decade. That play itself seemed to change Marshaw, launching him to a super strong four season run from 2011-2014, the centerpiece of the Seahawks offense. He had a few more memorable runs in him, like the TD in the 2013 NFC Championship Game. In the end, his high peak was a little too short, but damn if it wasn't memorable.

Frank Gore (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 153 games, 2,380 carries, 9,786yds (4.1 y/a), 47 TDs, 244 receptions, 2,065yds (8.5 y/r)

It is ridiculous how many games he has played, and how he seemingly did not get any worse in his second decade of football. Prior to his three year workmanlike run in Indianapolis, he was a sold 1,200 yard, 4.3 y/r year after year in San Francisco. He just nips out Peterson with the highest rushing total of the decade, and with the rise of the Bills, will get one more playoff run potentially to truly ingrain his place in the Hall of Fame.

WR

1^st Team:

Julio Jones (2011 – 2019)

Stats: 126 games, 797 receptions, 12,125yds (15.2 y/r), 57 TDs, 2x All Pro (2015, 2016)

The only real knock on Julio Jones is his strange lack of TDs, though that really hasn't impacted their offense scoring in the red zone apart from some notable issues in 2017. On the whole, Julio Jones entered the league as the best WR prospect in a while (easily since Calvin Johnson), and proceeded to dominate. The ridiculousness of his 2015 season, with 136 catches, 1800 yards, was insane. As were nearly every other season of his career aside from his injury-riddled 2013 season. His playoff performances too, even sometimes in losses (insane 2012 NFC Championship and Super Bowl XLI) were insane. He is insane, in every way.

Antonio Brown (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 131 games, 841 receptions, 11,263yds (13.4 y/r), 75 TDs, 3x All Pro (2014, 2016, 2017)

Now that his career might be caput, we can look back at an insane decade of production. Despite smaller size than the other top guys up here, he was just as productive. Six straight 100-catch seasons from 2013-2018 was the centerpiece, including an all-time season quite similar to Julio Jones's in 2015, with his own 136 catch masterpiece. Brown had supreme route running and hands, and was the centerpiece of the Steelers renaissance from 2014-2017. Yes, hsi failed exploits post-Pittsburgh, and more notable meltdown, may taint his legacy, but what he was on the field was without peer.

2^nd Team:

AJ Green (2011 – 2018)

Stats: 111 games, 602 receptions, 8,907yds (14.8 y/r), 63 TDs, 1x All Pro (2015)

AJ Green had one of the strongest starts to a career as a WR in NFL history, posting five straight 1000+ yard seasons, including a 1,300 monster efficiency season in 2015, where the Bengals were an AJ McCarron away from maybe making the Super Bowl. Instead, Dalton stayed but the team got worse and the back half of the decade, while good, was not as great and more inconsistent. At his best, and Green should have quite a bit of that left, he was a lethal downfield and YAC threat, a player about 90% as good as Julio Jones.

Odell Beckham (2014 – 2019)

Stats: 75 games, 464 receptions, 6,511yds (14.0 y/r), 48 TDs, 1x All Pro (2015)

It's tough to remember now given how infamous his season in Cleveland has gone, just how good OBJ was in his Giants career, starting with some of the most dominant statistics of any WR ever. And then of course there was those catches, those absurd one handed, body stretched to ridiculous degrees. Everything about Beckham's first season was unreal. That catch against the Cowboys is probably the single most famous awe-inspiring catch in the regular season this decade. The future for OBJ is very much in flux at the moment, but we should remember how good this run was.

Honorable Mentions:

Demaryius Thomas (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 143 games, 724 receptions, 9,763yds (13.5 y/r), 63 TDs

Yes, he was something of a product of Peyton Manning, but Thomas was also a fairly good receiver stats-wise pre-Manning and post. With Peyton though, Thomas was special. He phsyical freak, he excelled at the screen game, and long passes. He was a TD monster as well in 2012-2014. His career has probably fizzled at this point, but that incredible level of production is still hard to overlook when compiling an all-decade team.

Larry Fitzgerald (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 158 games, 855 receptions, 10,016yds (11.7 y/r), 61 TDs

All of Fitz's best seasons were in the 2000s but what made him from a HOF-bound type to surefire lock and good enough to be named to the NFL's odd Top-100 team was his deep  consistency throughout the 2010s. He was moved to the slot by Bruce Arians in 2014 or so, and responded with a 100+ catch season in 2015, a key piece to that masterpiece season for the Cardinals - giving the opportunity to have another amazing playoff game.

Jordy Nelson (2010 – 2018)

Stats: 122 games, 558 receptions, 7,901yds (14.2 y/r), 68 TDs, 1x All Pro (2011)

If you want to write about Aaron Rodgers's strange decline the second half of the decade, you have to then link it to Jordy Nelson. His injury in 2015 was the same year that Rodgers number started to drop and never fully recover. His connection with Rodgers, be it the deep posts or the ridiculous series of back-shoulder catches, was special. He also was the posterchild for being 'sneaky athletic'.

TE

1^st Team: Rob Gronkowski (2010 – 2018)

Stats: 115 games, 521 receptions, 7,861yds (15.1 y/r), 79 TDs, 4x All Pro (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017)

On the list of most impactful players of the decade, leaving QBs aside he's probably #1 or #2 to JJ Watt. Gronkowski's run as the best TE in history in terms of peak production. His being drafted in 2010 reset the clock on the Patriots dominance, turning them into this malleable team with teh league's ultimate offensive x-factor. His healthy seasons are so ridiculous, especially that 1,300 yard, 17 TD season in 2010, easily the best by a TE in history. His slowdown in 2018, and then retirement coincides scarily with the decline in the efficiency of the Patriots offense. His injuries and absences late in 2011, 2012 and 2013 align with fallow Patriots seasons. Gronk, to some degree, was the league's most valuable player of the decade.

2^nd Team: Jimmy Graham (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 153 games, 649 receptions, 7,883yds (12.1 y/r), 74 TDs, 1x All Pro (2013)

In 2011, he had a 99-catch season as for a minute Gronk vs. Graham was something of a debate. In a year or two, that debate was basically settled, but that doesn't mean that Graham is not a truly great player. His path to an all-pro nod was often blocked - somethign he shared with his longtime QB in Drew Brees. Graham's volume-stat production dropped off when he left the Saints, but his overall efficiency stayed pretty level. At best, he was a truly awesome high-volume threat. 

Honorable Mention:

Travis Kelce (2013 – 2019)

Stats: 96 games, 507 receptions, 6,465yds (12.8 y/r), 37 TDs, 2x All Pro (2016, 2018)

He's the first TE to put up four straight 1,000 yard seasons (more a factor of Gronk not staying healthy, but then again health is a skill). He's been one of the key x-factors to Chiefs offenses in both Alex Smith eras and now Mahomes eras. Great catch percentage, great YAC, great everything except only an able blocker.

Zach Ertz (2013 – 2019)

Stats: 106 games, 525 receptions, 5,743yds (10.9 y/r), 35 TDs, 1x All Pro (2018)

Somewhat a Travis Kelce lite type player, Ertz has been relied on more and more as the receiver shuffle continued in Philadelphia. Sure hands, good route running, decent blocking, high volume. Ertz does basically everything at an 8 or 9 our of 10 level. Probably not good enough to get more than maybe one more all pro nod, but he will have a five or six year run of great production.

T

1^st Team:

Joe Thomas (2010 – 2017)

Stats: 119 games, 5x All Pro (2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015)

Easily the best offensive tackle of the decade, Joe Thomas plied his craft perfectly for eleven total seasons, being basically an All Pro from day one. In this decade, the five all-pro's jump out. As do the 13 total holding penalties despite having to block guys like James Harrison, Terrell Suggs in his own division, and blocking for a parade of scatter-shot QBs. He finally retired stil in his prime. It is sad he never got to play for a very good Browns team, but at least he made Cleveland football worth watching slightly for his whole career.


Jason Peters (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 125 games, 3x All Pro (2011, 2013, 2014)

It's amazing how long Jason Peters has been around. I was stunned to realize the Bills drafted him in 2004. He joined the Eagles in 2009, is one of the only holdovers left from the Andy Reid days, let alone the Chip Kelly era, and succeeded in all of them. His best years came under Chip Kelly, getting back-to-back 1st team All Pro nods. That said, he remained a stalwart under Doug Pederson as well. Peters is probably not long of the NFL, but he was a rock on the left side, one of the last few franchise LTs in the game (aside from the guy with him in Joe Thomas).

2^nd Team:

Lane Johnson (2013 – 2019)

Stats: 94 games, 1x All Pro (2017)

Lane Johnson was drafted by Chip Kelly, he remained for most of his career at Right Tackle, where he excelled to a stunning degree. It is scary how much the Eagles offense, either in the Chip Kelly or Doug Pederson era's had their success correlate to whether Lane Johnson was playing or not. His best work came in 2017, as the key OL member of the league's best line, one that carried the Eagles to the Super Bowl with a backup QB, despite Jason Peters getting injured halfway through the season. Lane Johnson was brilliant at his best at both pass and run blocking, the high watermark of Right Tackles in the decade.


Tyron Smith (2011 – 2019)

Stats: 132 games, 2x All Pro (2014, 2016)

Probably the most physically perfect offensive lineman of the decade, Tryon Smith was this decade's Walter Jones - just not has healthy and not as great. Tyron Smith's best seasons unsurprisingly correlate with two radically different Cowboy's teams being great in each one, with the 2014 crew having Romo and Murray, and by 2016 with Prescott and Elliott. Smith and the other great OL guys were the constant, though parsing out what was Smith's value relative to Frederick and Martin is tough.

Honorable Mentions:

Trent Williams (2010 – 2018)

Stats: 120 games, 1x All Pro (2016)

Probably one of the few good moves of the decade for the Redskins, it was seen as somewhat of an overreach at the time. Instead, Williams was a starter basically from day 1, and has provided great blindside protection for myriad QBs and myriad coaching staffs and offenses. Trent Williams probably deserved more notoriety, especially with his future unclear after his holdout.

Andrew Whitworth (2010 - 2019) 

Stats: 157 games, 2x All Pro (2015, 2017)

Whitworth quietly maintained his great play through the decade, peaking in the middle of the decade for the best versions of the Marvin Lewis Bengals and then the McVay Rams. Whitworth stabilized the Rams OL that had been a pure mess under Jeff Fisher, and after leaving Cincinnati left it in pretty bad shape himself. It is surprising how many of the top tackles of the decade started their careers in the 2000s.

G

1^st Team:

Marshal Yanda (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 141 games, 3x All Pro (2012, 2014, 2015)

The resurrection of the Ravens under Lamar have brought Yanda back into the spotlight, probably un line for another All Pro selection and the start of well deserved future-HOF buzz. Yanda was so good in the middle of the decade in the end of the good part of the Flacco era. His best seasons of 2012 and 2014 of course line up with the only two years in the decade that the Flacco Ravens had good offenses. He has just seven holding penalties this decade, which seems made up. Everything about him was.


Zack Martin (2014 – 2019)

Stats: 94 games, 3x All Pro (2014, 2016, 2018)

Just 17 penalties were called against Zack Martin in his 92 game career. There is a bit of Cowboys 'mysticism' where their good players get a bit overhyped, but that wasn't the case with Martin who came into the league as a star-level talent and performer, making the all pro team in his rookie season. He's barely msised any games and been a part of consistently great run blocking lines year after year. There's probably quite a few more all-pro teams left in the decade.

2^nd Team:

Jahri Evans (2010 – 2017)

Stats: 121 games, 3x All Pro (2010, 2011, 2012)

Jahri Evans was drafted the same year that Drew Brees got to New Orleans. While obviously his impact hasn't been nowhere as much as Brees's, it isn't as far off as it would seem. He somehow hasn't made an all pro team is seven years (that might change in 2019), and some injuries have reduced his quickness, but Evans remains a technically perfect guard for the league's most voluminous offense year after year.

Mitchell Schwartz (2012 – 2019)

Stats: 128 games, 1x All Pro (2018)

Schwartz was drafted in 2012 by the Browns. Since then, he hasn't missed a game, and until this year had barely missed a snap (he's only missed like three or so this year as well). In that time he has just 20 holding penalties, fewer false starts, and finally got some traction leaguewide getting his first all pro nod in 2018. More is to come for Schwartz as his presence rises in Kansas City.

Honorable Mention:

Mike Iupati (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 130 games, 1x All Pro (2012)

The 49ers ressurrection from 2011-2013 was such a great story, even if it died so quickly. There is a lot of 49ers representation on the defensive side, but even on offense, their offensive line was a master-class at times, with Iupati probably its best singular talent. After that 49ers run, he ran off to the Cardinals and now continued his tour of the NFC West, but he'll always have those great first few years in San Francisco.


Kelechi Osemele (2012 – 2019)

Stats: 96 games, 1x All Pro (2016)

He's never been as healthy as you would like, and now his world may crumble apart in the void of darkness that are the New York Jets, but Osemele was part of two amazing reconstructions. His insertion into the Ravens OL in 2012 was the start of their run to a Super Bowl. His move to Oakland in 2016 briefly anchored the league's best OL for one season. Again, healthy and consistency has been an issue, but his best was truly high.

C

1^st Team: Ryan Kalil (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 121 games, 2x All Pro (2013, 2015)

Kalil's prime was the Rivera era Panthers prime, especially his dominant season in 2015. How is six holding penalties all decade? He had year after year of high snap counts with nary an hurry or sack given up. Despite the flotsam and jetsam that cycled in and out of the Panthers OLs over the years, he kept things somewhat stable. Probably could have earned another all pro or two if not for injuries in certain years.

2^nd Team: Jason Kelce (2011 – 2019)

Stats: 126 games, 2x All Pro (2017, 2018)

The heart and soul of the Eagles great 2017 OL, Kelce will always be remembered for that bonkers incredible Super Bowl parade speech, but behind all that verve was an incredibly consistent player who got better and better as the decade wore on. Two straight all pros to close the decade was a strong finish to what was an incredible productive set of seasons.

Honorable Mention: Nick Mangold (2010 – 2016)

Stats: 100 games, 2x All Pro (2010, 2011)

Mangold now has been retired for four seasons, but his prime was truly the best of any center in the decade. His performances in 2010 and 2011 made him one of the best players in the sport, let alone OL or Center. He was easily the Jets best player outside of Revis, the anchor to a team that led the NFL in rushing, and made a passable offense despite having Mark Sanchez start. Had he played maybe a season or more - or held his best play post 2013 or so - he probably gets a spot higher up.

Kicker:

1st Team:

Justin Tucker (2012 – 2019)

Stats: 128 games, 265/292 FG (90.8%), 39/55 FG on 50+ yds, 3x All Pro (2013, 2016, 2018)

A lack of memorable playoff moments probabyl keep him out of being seen as one of the greatest kickers ever. If anything his most memorable moment is probably a nearly missed short field goal in the replacement ref game in his rookie season. He entered a situation where the team probably would have won a Super Bowl had the guy he replaced made a kick. Instead, Tucker became maybe the best kicker ever, deadly at all distances, and kept the Ravens special teams among the league's best always.

2nd Team:

Adam Vinatieri (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 154 games, 261/303 FG (86.1%), 35/50 FG on 50+ yds, 1x All Pro (2014)

So maybe there are no signature moments this decade, but for Vinatieri, what came out of nowhere was becoming a booming leg maven, hitting 70% of hsi field goals from more than 50 yards out. His accuracy dipped badly in 2019 which hurt his overall decade numbers, but Vinatieri had an amazing decade especially considering it started in a season coming off an injury in 2009.

Punter:

1st Team:

Johnny Hekker (2012 – 2019)

Stats: 128 games, 608 punts, 47.0 y/p, 3x All Pro (2015, 2016, 2017)

Greg The Leg got all the headlines for special teams prowess for the Rams, but Hekker is the better player, and this isn't even counting in his ability as a fake-punt passer. Hekker had a lot of experience punting up through 2016, but even in the McVay years he remained a constant special teams ace.

2nd Team:

Andy Lee (2010 – 2019)

Stats: 152 games, 736 punts, 47.9 y/p, 2x All Pro (2012, 2013)

Hey, you know those early 49ers teams were great. Even their special teams were good, and Andy Lee was at his best in the Alex Smith part of the run when field position was critical for their success. Probably the best coffin-corner punter of the decade as well.

Returner:

1st Team:

Cordarelle Patterson (2013 – 2019)

Stats: 111 games, 204 kick returns, 7 TDs, 29.9 y/r, 2x All Pro (2013, 2016)

This removes whatever limited value he gave as a receiver. Cordarelle was a special, dynamic returer from teh outset. He probably still remained an overdraft by the Vikings, who got surprisingly little out of their three 1st round picks in 2013, but he is the one returner drafted in teh decade to hold his value and make it out alive and still productive and with a job.

2nd Team: 

Devin Hester (2010 – 2016)

Stats: 96 games, 170 punt returns, 7 TDs, 12.1 y/r, 194 kick returns, 1 TD, 26.0 y/r, 2x All Pro (2010, 2014)

His best stuff was in 2006-2009, but even in this decade he was a monster. His rebirth with the 2010 Bears - after they stopped pretending he could play receiver - opened up another unparalleled run as a returner. He remained good for the Bears, but his final great year in Atlanta, setting the all time returns record on the way. He probably has enough of a groundswell at this point to make the Hall of Fame, an honor he richly, richly deserves.