1972 All-Pro Team Explained

The following is a list of players that were named to the Associated Press All-Pro Team, the Newspaper Enterprise Association All-Pro team and the Pro Football Writers Association, and Pro Football Weekly All-Pro teams in 1972. Both first- and second- teams are listed for the AP, NEA, and PFWA teams. These are the four All-Pro teams that are included in the Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League and compose the Consensus All-pro team for 1972.

Teams

Offense
PositionFirst teamSecond team
QuarterbackEarl Morrall, Miami Dolphins (AP)Joe Namath, New York Jets (AP-2)
Running backLarry Brown, Washington Redskins (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
O. J. Simpson, Buffalo Bills (AP, NEA, PFWA)
Larry Csonka, Miami Dolphins (PFW)
Franco Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP-2, NEA-2)
John Brockington, Green Bay Packers (NEA-2)
Ron Johnson, New York Giants (PFWA-2)
Larry Csonka, Miami Dolphins (AP-2, PFWA-2)
Wide receiverFred Biletnikoff, Oakland Raiders (AP, NEA, PFW)
Gene Washington, San Francisco 49ers (AP, PFWA, PFW)
Paul Warfield, Miami Dolphins (NEA)
Otis Taylor, Kansas City Chiefs (PFWA)
Harold Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles (AP-2, NEA-2, PFWA-2)
Fred Biletnikoff, Oakland Raiders (PFWA-2)
Gene Washington, San Francisco 49ers (NEA-2)
Paul Warfield, Miami Dolphins (AP-2)
Tight endTed Kwalick, San Francisco 49ers (AP, NEA, PFW)
Bob Tucker, New York Giants (PFWA)
Jim Mitchell, Atlanta Falcons (NEA-2)
Ted Kwalick, San Francisco 49ers (PFWA-2)
Bob Tucker, New York Giants (AP-2)
TackleRayfield Wright, Dallas Cowboys (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
Bob Brown, Oakland Raiders (PFWA, PFW)
Ron Yary, Minnesota Vikings (AP)
George Kunz, Atlanta Falcons (NEA)
Winston Hill, New York Jets (NEA-2, PFWA-2)
Rockne Freitas, Detroit Lions (AP-2)
Bob Brown, Oakland Raiders (AP-2)
Ron Yary, Minnesota Vikings (NEA-2, PFWA-2)
GuardLarry Little, Miami Dolphins (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
John Niland, Dallas Cowboys (AP, PFW)
Blaine Nye, Dallas Cowboys (NEA)
Gene Upshaw, Oakland Raiders (PFWA)
Tom Mack, Los Angeles Rams (AP-2, NEA-2)
Bruce Van Dyke, Pittsburgh Steelers (PFWA-2)
John Niland, Dallas Cowboys (NEA-2, PFWA-2)
Gene Upshaw, Oakland Raiders (AP-2)
CenterForrest Blue, San Francisco 49ers (AP, PFWA, PFW)
Len Hauss, Washington Redskins (NEA)
Jim Otto, Oakland Raiders (AP-2)
Forrest Blue, San Francisco 49ers (NEA-2)
Len Hauss, Washington Redskins (PFWA-2)
Special teams
PositionFirst teamSecond team
KickerChester Marcol, Green Bay Packers (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)Roy Gerela, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP-2, NEA-2, PFWA-2)
PunterJerrel Wilson, Kansas City Chiefs (PFWA, PFW)
Don Cockroft, Cleveland Browns (NEA)
Jerrel Wilson, Kansas City Chiefs (NEA-2)
Dave Chapple, Los Angeles Rams (PFWA-2)
Defense
width=15%Positionwidth=45%First teamwidth=40%Second team
Defensive endClaude Humphrey, Atlanta Falcons (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
Jack Gregory, New York Giants (NEA, PFWA, PFW)
Bill Stanfill, Miami Dolphins (AP)
Deacon Jones, San Diego Chargers (NEA-2)
Carl Eller, Minnesota Vikings (AP-2)
Coy Bacon, Los Angeles Rams (PFWA-2)
Larry Hand, Detroit Lions (NEA-2)
Jack Gregory, New York Giants (AP-2)
Defensive tackleJoe Greene, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
Mike Reid, Cincinnati Bengals (AP, NEA, PFWA)
Bob Lilly, Dallas Cowboys (PFW)
Alan Page, Minnesota Vikings (AP-2, NEA-2, PFWA-2)
Bob Lilly, Dallas Cowboys (AP-2, NEA-2, PFWA-2)
Middle linebackerDick Butkus, Chicago Bears (AP, NEA, PFWA)
Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs (PFW)
Nick Buoniconti, Miami Dolphins (AP-2, PFWA-2)
Willie Lanier, Kansas City Chiefs (AP-2)
Outside linebackerChris Hanburger, Washington Redskins (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
Dave Wilcox, San Francisco 49ers (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
Andy Russell, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP-2, NEA-2, PFWA-2)
Ted Hendricks, Baltimore Colts (AP-2, NEA-2)
Jack Ham, Pittsburgh Steelers (PFWA-2)
CornerbackJimmy Johnson, San Francisco 49ers (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
Willie Brown, Oakland Raiders (NEA, PFWA, PFW)
Ken Ellis, Green Bay Packers (AP)
Mel Renfro, Dallas Cowboys (AP-2, NEA-2, PFWA-2)
Pat Fischer, Washington Redskins (NEA-2)
Willie Brown, Oakland Raiders (AP-2)
Ken Ellis, Green Bay Packers (PFWA-2)
SafetyBill Bradley, Philadelphia Eagles (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW)
Dick Anderson, Miami Dolphins (AP, NEA, PFWA)
Jake Scott, Miami Dolphins (PFW)
Ken Houston, Houston Oilers (NEA-2, PFWA-2)
Paul Krause, Minnesota Vikings (AP-2)
Jake Scott, Miami Dolphins (AP-2, NEA-2, PFWA-2)

Key

AP = Associated Press All-Pro team; AP-2 Associated Press Second-team All-Pro; PFWA = Pro Football Writers Association All-Pro team; NEA = Newspaper Enterprise Association All-Pro team.; NEA-2 Newspaper Enterprise Association Second-team All-Pro; PFW = Pro Football Weekly All-Pro team; t = players tied in votes.

References