Latest news with #AllQuarterCenturyTeam
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Steelers Alan Faneca and Troy Polamalu make ESPN All Quarter Century Team
Looking back over the last 25 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had so many great players, it's hard to narrow down the best. But ESPN undertook the daunting task of doing it for the entire league and put together their All Quarter Century teams for offense and defense. They named one Steeler legend on each side of the football to the team. On offense, Alan Faneca made it as one of two left guards. He shared the distinction with Steven Hutchinson. Here's what they had to say about Faneca. Advertisement A stalwart at left guard for the Steelers before late-career spells with the Jets and Cardinals, Faneca missed only one game from 2000 on -- and that was due to rest in a meaningless Week 17 contest in 2001. His six first-team All-Pro selections are more than any other left guard this quarter century. Moving to defense, edge defender T.J. Watt got snubbed but safety Troy Polamalu was there as the team's strong safety. He joined Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins and Earl Thomas as the four safeties. This was how they broke down Polamalu's career. Polamalu flying all over the field epitomized what NFL teams began prioritizing with modern safeties. He is fifth among safeties with 103 passes defensed since 2000. He also had 80 run stops (tackles to stop runs short of a successful play), which is third among all defensive backs since 2000. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Former Steelers Alan Faneca and Troy Polamalu named to ESPN All Quarter Century Team
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Trio Snubbed From All-Quarter Century Team
Eagles Trio Snubbed From All-Quarter Century Team originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Thursday, many former Philadelphia Eagles stars found their names on ESPN's All-Quarter Century Team. Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, Terrell Owens, Brian Dawkins, and Julio Jones were five players named to the impressive list. While the five names more than earned their spot, other stars for Philadelphia were left off the list. Advertisement And three players specifically were snubbed. Jason Peters Peters is the most obvious name on this list. While Trent Williams and Joe Thomas are Hall-of-Fame players, Peters was easily the more consistent player. A trade acquisition in 2009, the Arkansas tackle reached All-Pro status six times while being named a Pro Bowler nine times. He was far more consistent than Williams and on a better team than Thomas. He should have been one of the two left tackles named. Trent Cole It's hard to judge "The Hunter" on the same level as Jared Allen, Julius Peppers, Myles Garrett, or DeMarcus Ware. The issue is that the late-round steal was far more consistently productive for one team than multiple others on the list. Advertisement Cole recorded 85.5 sacks through his run with the Eagles. It's good for second all-time on the franchise's list. And why she should have included his name. Saquon Barkley Barkley's inclusion on the Quarter Century team may seem premature. The former second-round pick has struggled to stay healthy for most of his career. Things changed last season, though. Barkley's NFL record for rushing yards in a single season, including playoffs, highlighted one of the most impressive seasons for a running back in history. While Barkley's numbers don't jump out, they are more impressive than those of Christian McCaffrey and Priest Holmes, at least. This is a big reason why Barkley was snubbed by this process. Advertisement Related: ESPN Links Eagles To Possible Signing of Asante Samuel Jr. Related: Eagles Young Cornerback Remains Big Winner of Offseason This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester Selected to NFL's Best 53-Man Roster of the Past 25 Years
Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester Selected to NFL's Best 53-Man Roster of the Past 25 Years originally appeared on Athlon Sports. A major nod to NFL history just dropped—highlighting the league's most iconic stretch in recent memory. In celebrating the last 25 years of gridiron greatness, a definitive list has been released, shining a spotlight on the league's most impactful players and coaches. And for fans in Chicago, there's plenty to be proud of—two all-time Bears legends earned their place on this elite roster. Advertisement The list in question is the NFL All Quarter Century Team: Best 53-Man Roster, Coaches, released by ESPN analysts Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder. Meant to reflect the best of the best from the modern era (2000–2025), the team captures not just fan favorites but data-backed excellence across all positions. Soldier FieldGetty Images For a city that lives and breathes football, seeing Brian Urlacher and Devin Hester honored among the NFL elite is a badge of honor. Brian UrlacherGetty Images Urlacher anchored one of the most feared defenses of the 2000s—a relentless force who made Sundays miserable for opposing quarterbacks. Over a 13-year career with the Bears, the linebacker totaled 41.5 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, and 22 interceptions. He was named Defensive Player of the Year once and earned five All-Pro nods. Advertisement According to Walder, the Urlacher-led Bears had the third-best defense in terms of EPA per play from 2001 to '12. He also ranked fourth in plus-EPA per game among all players. A stat-sheet stuffer with sideline-to-sideline instincts, Urlacher was the pulse of a defense that demanded respect. Devin HesterGetty Images Hester brought fireworks every time he touched the ball. With 20 return touchdowns and over 11,000 return yards, his career didn't just redefine special teams—it elevated it to must-see TV. Fourteen of those scores came via punt returns—a jaw-dropping number no one has come close to touching. And in 2024, Hester capped off his legacy by becoming the first return specialist ever inducted into the Hall of Fame. From the moment he housed the opening kick of Super Bowl XLI, fans knew they were watching something special. Advertisement In honoring the league's top contributors from the past quarter century, ESPN's list is both a tribute and a time capsule—a reminder of the impact Urlacher and Hester had on the game. And in Chicago, it's a chance to reflect on two careers that still echo through Soldier Field, reminding fans why this city's football history is anything but ordinary. Related: Bears' Prized Free Agent Starts Game Day in the Most Unexpected Way Related: Bears Hard-Nosed Rookie RB Pushes Back on 7th-Round Label After Draft Slide This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos React to Notable Peyton Manning Announcement on Friday
Broncos React to Notable Peyton Manning Announcement on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Peyton Manning is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. So when ESPN released its NFL All Quarter Century Team earlier this week, it was no surprise that the five-time league MVP was included. Advertisement Manning was honored as one of three quarterbacks on the All Quarter Century Team, joining Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees were recognized as the team's practice squad QBs. "Manning ranks second behind Brady in DYAR since 2000. He has three of the top five seasons for total passing value -- 2013, 2004 and 2006. His 2004 season has the highest passing DVOA (value per play) of any season since 1978. And while QBR doesn't go back as far, Manning's 2006 season is the second-highest QBR behind Brady's 2007 season. Close your eyes, and you can still picture Manning audibling behind the line of scrimmage, moving his players around before the snap to take advantage of his incredible ability to read defenses," ESPN's Aaron Schatz writes. Manning finished his NFL career with two Super Bowl rings: one with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007, and another with the Denver Broncos in 2016. Manning is one of four former Denver players to make the All Quarter Century Team, joining Champ Bailey, DeMarcus Ware and Brian Dawkins. Former Broncos head coach Wade Phillips was also named to the team as defensive coordinator. The Broncos responded to this news with a post on social media. Former Denver Broncos player Peyton Manning with his son J. Downing-Imagn Images The Broncos will kickoff their 2025 NFL regular-season schedule with a Week 1 matchup against the Tennessee Titans on Sep. 7. Advertisement Related: UNC Football Reacts to Major Bill Belichick Announcement on Friday This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
20-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
New 49ers punter Thomas Morstead picks new jersey number, which was already being worn
Last season, the San Francisco 49ers relied on Pat O'Donnell and Mitch Wishnowsky to handle the punting duties, and the team finished 30th in net yards per punt (39), 29th in total yards per punt (45.1) and tied for 30th in punts downed inside the 20-yard line (19). With that, San Francisco let O'Donnell go unsigned in free agency, and they opted to release Wishnowsky last month to sign veteran punter Thomas Morstead. Morstead, 39, joined the 49ers after 12 seasons with the New Orleans Saints, one with the Miami Dolphins, three with the New York Jets and a short stint with the Atlanta Falcons. When Morstead originally signed with San Francisco, he chose to wear No. 9, but he quickly informed fans who, as he said, would be so bold as to buy a punter's jersey, that it wouldn't be his permanent number for the 2025 season. On Thursday, Morstead announced that he'll officially wear No. 7 this year, which he hasn't worn despite wearing five different numbers in his career. Interestingly, No. 7 did belong to kicker Greg Joseph, who played with Morstead in New York last season. However, it appears that Joseph is switching to No. 3, which he'll share with wide receiver Malik Knowles for now. It's unclear if Morstead bought the number from Joseph, which has become customary in the NFL these days, but the two clearly have a relationship, so there's a chance that San Francisco's new kicker gave it to his friend. Joseph has worn six different numbers in his six previous stops, including No. 7, which he wore with the Tennessee Titans in his two games with them in 2019. More 49ers: Terrell Owens, Trent Williams among seven 49ers chosen for ESPN's All Quarter Century Team
