Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team

Honorary team recognizing the best rookies per NFL season

Following each National Football League (NFL) season, the Pro Football Writers Association (PFWA) compiles an honorary All-Rookie Team to recognize that season's most outstanding rookies at each position as adjudged by sportswriters of the PFWA.[1][2][3] Teams have been selected every year since the 1974 NFL season.

1974

Offense

  • Quarterback: Tom Owen, San Francisco 49ers
  • Running back: Wilbur Jackson, San Francisco 49ers
  • Running back: Don Woods, San Diego Chargers
  • Wide receiver: Nat Moore, Miami Dolphins
  • Wide receiver: Lynn Swann, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Tight end: Paul Seal, New Orleans Saints
  • Center: Mike Webster, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Guard: John Hicks, New York Giants
  • Guard: Tom Mullen, New York Giants
  • Tackle: Charlie Getty, Kansas City Chiefs
  • Tackle: Claudie Minor, Denver Broncos

Defense

  • Defensive end: John Dutton, Baltimore Colts
  • Defensive end: Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Dallas Cowboys
  • Defensive tackle: Carl Barzilauskas, New York Jets
  • Defensive tackle: Bill Kollar, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Outside linebacker: Matt Blair, Minnesota Vikings
  • Outside linebacker: Sam Hunt, New England Patriots
  • Middle linebacker: Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Cornerback: Terry Schmidt, New Orleans Saints
  • Cornerback: Roscoe Word, New York Jets
  • Safety: Prentice McCray, New England Patriots
  • Safety: Bill Simpson, Los Angeles Rams

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Efrén Herrera, Dallas Cowboys
  • Punter: Dave Jennings, New York Giants

1975

Offense

  • Quarterback: Steve Bartkowski, Atlanta Falcons
  • Running back: Don Hardeman, Houston Oilers
  • Running back: Mike Thomas, Washington Redskins
  • Wide receiver: Freddie Solomon, Miami Dolphins
  • Wide receiver: Rick Upchurch, Denver Broncos
  • Tight end: Russ Francis, New England Patriots
  • Center: Bill Reid, San Francisco 49ers
  • Guard: Lynn Boden, Detroit Lions
  • Guard: Burton Lawless, Dallas Cowboys
  • Tackle: Doug France, Los Angeles Rams
  • Tackle: Jeff Sevy, Chicago Bears

Defense

Special teams

1976

Offense

Defense

  • Defensive end: Gary Burley, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Defensive end: Charles Philyaw, Oakland Raiders
  • Defensive tackle: Mike Dawson, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Defensive tackle: Steve Niehaus, Seattle Seahawks
  • Outside linebacker: Greg Buttle, New York Jets
  • Outside linebacker: Reggie Williams, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Middle linebacker: Harry Carson, New York Giants
  • Cornerback: Mario Clark, Buffalo Bills
  • Cornerback: Mike Haynes, New England Patriots
  • Safety: Tim Fox, New England Patriots
  • Safety: James Hunter, Detroit Lions

Special teams

1977

Offense

Defense

Special teams

1978

Offense

Defense

  • Defensive end: Al Baker, Detroit Lions
  • Defensive end: Ross Browner, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Defensive tackle: Dee Hardison, Buffalo Bills
  • Defensive tackle: Don Latimer, Denver Broncos
  • Outside linebacker: John Anderson, Green Bay Packers
  • Outside linebacker: Reggie Wilkes, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Middle linebacker: Dan Bunz, San Francisco 49ers
  • Cornerback: Bobby Jackson, New York Jets
  • Cornerback: Ron Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Safety: Ken Greene, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Safety: John Harris, Seattle Seahawks

Special teams

1979

Offense

  • Quarterback: Phil Simms, New York Giants
  • Running back: Ottis Anderson, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Running back: William Andrews, Atlanta Falcons
  • Wide receiver: Jerry Butler, Buffalo Bills
  • Wide receiver: Earnest Gray, New York Giants
  • Tight end: Dan Ross, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Center: Mark Dennard, Miami Dolphins
  • Guard: Cody Risien, Cleveland Browns
  • Guard: Greg Roberts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Tackle: Keith Dorney, Detroit Lions
  • Tackle: Dave Studdard, Denver Broncos

Defense

  • Defensive end: Jesse Baker, Houston Oilers
  • Defensive end: Dan Hampton, Chicago Bears
  • Defensive tackle: Fred Smerlas, Buffalo Bills
  • Defensive tackle: Manu Tuiasosopo, Seattle Seahawks
  • Outside linebacker: Jim Haslett, Buffalo Bills
  • Outside linebacker: Jerry Robinson, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Middle linebacker: Stan Blinka, New York Jets
  • Cornerback: Larry Braziel, Baltimore Colts
  • Cornerback: Henry Williams, Oakland Raiders
  • Safety: Vernon Perry, Houston Oilers
  • Safety: Brenard Wilson, Philadelphia Eagles

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Tony Franklin, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Punter: Bob Grupp, Kansas City Chiefs

1980

Offense

Defense

  • Defensive end: Jacob Green, Seattle Seahawks
  • Defensive end: Rulon Jones, Denver Broncos
  • Defensive tackle: Rush Brown, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Defensive tackle: Jim Stuckey, San Francisco 49ers
  • Outside linebacker: Bobby Leopold, San Francisco 49ers
  • Outside linebacker: Al Richardson, Atlanta Falcons
  • Middle linebacker: Buddy Curry, Atlanta Falcons
  • Cornerback: Don McNeill, Miami Dolphins
  • Cornerback: Roynell Young, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Safety: Johnnie Johnson, Los Angeles Rams
  • Safety: Darrol Ray, New York Jets

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Eddie Murray, Detroit Lions
  • Punter: Jim Miller, San Francisco 49ers

1981

Offense

Defense

Special teams

1982

Offense

Defense

  • Defensive end: Bruce Clark, New Orleans Saints
  • Defensive end: Kenneth Sims, New England Patriots
  • Defensive tackle: Lester Williams, New England Patriots
  • Defensive tackle: Leo Wisniewski, Baltimore Colts
  • Outside linebacker: Chip Banks, Cleveland Browns
  • Outside linebacker: Johnie Cooks, Baltimore Colts
  • Middle linebacker: Tom Cousineau, Cleveland Browns
  • Cornerback: Vernon Dean, Washington Redskins
  • Cornerback: Bobby Watkins, Detroit Lions
  • Safety: Benny Perrin, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Safety: Andre Young, San Diego Chargers

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Gary Anderson, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Punter: Rohn Stark, Baltimore Colts

1983

Offense

Defense

  • Defensive end: Mike Pitts, Atlanta Falcons
  • Defensive end: Greg Townsend, Los Angeles Raiders
  • Defensive tackle: Bill Pickel, Los Angeles Raiders
  • Defensive tackle: Andrew Provence, Atlanta Falcons
  • Outside linebacker: John Rade, Atlanta Falcons
  • Outside linebacker: Vernon Maxwell, Baltimore Colts
  • Middle linebacker: Mike Green, San Diego Chargers
  • Cornerback: Darrell Green, Washington Redskins
  • Cornerback: Danny Walters, San Diego Chargers
  • Safety: Bill Bates, Dallas Cowboys
  • Safety: Terry Kinard, New York Giants

Special teams

1984

Offense

  • Quarterback: Warren Moon, Houston Oilers
  • Running back: Alfred Anderson, Minnesota Vikings
  • Running back: Greg Bell, Buffalo Bills
  • Wide receiver: Louis Lipps, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Wide receiver: Daryl Turner, Seattle Seahawks
  • Tight end: Clarence Kay, Denver Broncos
  • Center: Jim Sweeney, New York Jets
  • Guard: Brian Blados, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Guard: Ron Solt, Indianapolis Colts
  • Tackle: Ron Heller, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Tackle: Dean Steinkuhler, Houston Oilers

Defense

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Paul McFadden, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Punter: Brian Hansen, New Orleans Saints

1985

Offense

Defense

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Kevin Butler, Chicago Bears
  • Punter: Dale Hatcher, Los Angeles Rams

1986

Offense

Defense

Special teams

  • Placekicker: John Lee, St. Louis Cardinals
  • Punter: John Teltschik, Philadelphia Eagles

1987

Offense

Defense

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Jeff Jaeger, Cleveland Browns
  • Punter: Ruben Rodriguez, Seattle Seahawks

1988

Offense

  • Quarterback: Chris Chandler, Indianapolis Colts
  • Running back: John Stephens, New England Patriots
  • Running back: Ickey Woods, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Wide receiver: Brian Blades, Seattle Seahawks
  • Wide receiver: Tim Brown, Los Angeles Raiders
  • Tight end: Keith Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Center: No selection
  • Guard: Randall McDaniel, Minnesota Vikings
  • Guard: Eric Moore, New York Giants
  • Tackle: Jumbo Elliott, New York Giants
  • Tackle: Paul Gruber, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Defense

Special teams

1989

Offense

Defense

Special teams

1990

Offense

Defense

  • Defensive end: Ray Agnew, New England Patriots
  • Defensive end: Renaldo Turnbull, New Orleans Saints
  • Defensive tackle: Jimmie Jones, Dallas Cowboys
  • Defensive tackle: Cortez Kennedy, Seattle Seahawks
  • Outside linebacker: James Francis, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Outside linebacker: Aaron Wallace, Los Angeles Raiders
  • Middle linebacker: Percy Snow, Kansas City Chiefs
  • Cornerback: Ben Smith, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Cornerback: James Williams, Buffalo Bills
  • Safety: Robert Blackmon, Seattle Seahawks
  • Safety: Mark Carrier, Chicago Bears

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Steve Christie, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Punter: No selection

1991

Offense

  • Quarterback: No selection
  • Running back: Ricky Ervins, Washington Redskins
  • Running back: Leonard Russell, New England Patriots
  • Wide receiver: Lawrence Dawsey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Wide receiver: Mike Pritchard, Atlanta Falcons
  • Tight end: Adrian Cooper, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Center: John Flannery, Houston Oilers
  • Guard: Ed King, Cleveland Browns
  • Guard: Eric Moten, San Diego Chargers
  • Tackle: Antone Davis, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Tackle: Pat Harlow, New England Patriots

Defense

  • Defensive end: Phil Hansen, Buffalo Bills
  • Defensive end: Kenny Walker, Denver Broncos
  • Defensive tackle: Moe Gardner, Atlanta Falcons
  • Defensive tackle: Russell Maryland, Dallas Cowboys
  • Outside linebacker: Mike Croel, Denver Broncos
  • Outside kinebacker: Mo Lewis, New York Jets
  • Inside linebacker: Darrick Brownlow, Dallas Cowboys
  • Inside linebacker: Keith Traylor, Denver Broncos
  • Cornerback: Larry Brown, Dallas Cowboys
  • Cornerback: Aeneas Williams, Phoenix Cardinals
  • Safety: Stanley Richard, San Diego Chargers
  • Safety: Eric Turner, Cleveland Browns

Special teams

  • Placekicker: John Kasay, Seattle Seahawks
  • Punter: No selection

1992

Offense

  • Quarterback: David Klingler, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Running back: Vaughn Dunbar, New Orleans Saints
  • Running back: Amp Lee, San Francisco 49ers
  • Wide receiver: Carl Pickens, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Wide receiver: Arthur Marshall, Denver Broncos
  • Tight end: Johnny Mitchell, New York Jets
  • Center: Matt Elliott, Washington Redskins
  • Guard: No selection
  • Guard: No selection
  • Tackle: Troy Auzenne, Chicago Bears
  • Tackle: Eugene Chung, New England Patriots

Defense

Special teams

1993

Offense

Defense

  • Defensive end: John Copeland, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Defensive end: Eric Curry, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Defensive tackle: Leonard Renfro, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Defensive tackle: Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco 49ers
  • Outside linebacker: Darrin Smith, Dallas Cowboys
  • Outside linebacker: Wayne Simmons, Green Bay Packers
  • Inside linebacker: Chad Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Inside linebacker: Steve Tovar, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Cornerback: Tom Carter, Washington Redskins
  • Cornerback: Darrien Gordon, San Diego Chargers
  • Safety: Roger Harper, Atlanta Falcons
  • Safety: George Teague, Green Bay Packers

Special teams

1994

Offense

Defense

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Chris Boniol, Dallas Cowboys
  • Punter: Pat O'Neill, New England Patriots
  • Kickoff returner: Andre Coleman, San Diego Chargers
  • Punt returner: Jeff Burris, Buffalo Bills
  • Special teams: Sam Rogers, Buffalo Bills

1995

Offense

Defense

  • Defensive end: Hugh Douglas, New York Jets
  • Defensive end: Mike Mamula, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Defensive tackle: Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Defensive tackle: Gary Walker, Houston Oilers
  • Linebacker: Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Linebacker: Mark Fields, New Orleans Saints
  • Linebacker: Ted Johnson, New England Patriots
  • Cornerback: Tyrone Poole, Carolina Panthers
  • Cornerback: Bobby Taylor, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Safety: Devin Bush, Atlanta Falcons
  • Safety: Orlando Thomas, Minnesota Vikings

Special teams

1996

Offense

Defense

Special teams

1997

Offense

Defense

Special teams

  • Placekicker: John Hall, New York Jets
  • Punter: Ken Walter, Carolina Panthers
  • Kickoff returner: Byron Hanspard, Atlanta Falcons
  • Punt returner: Leon Johnson, New York Jets
  • Special teams: No selection

1998

Offense

Defense

Special teams

1999

Offense

  • Quarterback: Tim Couch, Cleveland Browns
  • Running back: Olandis Gary, Denver Broncos
  • Running back: Edgerrin James, Indianapolis Colts
  • Wide receiver: Torry Holt, St. Louis Rams
  • Wide receiver: Kevin Johnson, Cleveland Browns
  • Tight end: Jed Weaver, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Center: Damien Woody, New England Patriots
  • Guard: Doug Brzezinski, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Guard: Randy Thomas, New York Jets
  • Tackle: Jon Jansen, Washington Redskins
  • Tackle: Chris Terry, Carolina Panthers

Defense

Special teams

2000

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2001

Offense

  • Quarterback: Chris Weinke, Carolina Panthers
  • Running back: Anthony Thomas, Chicago Bears
  • Running back: LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
  • Wide receiver: Chris Chambers, Miami Dolphins
  • Wide receiver: Rod Gardner, Washington Redskins
  • Tight end: Eric Johnson, San Francisco 49ers
  • Center: Dominic Raiola, Detroit Lions
  • Guard: Leonard Williams, Arizona Cardinals
  • Guard: Steve Hutchinson, Seattle Seahawks
  • Tackle: Jeff Backus, Detroit Lions
  • Tackle: Kenyatta Walker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Defense

Special teams

2002

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2003

Offense

Defense

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Josh Brown, Seattle Seahawks
  • Punter: Eddie Johnson, Minnesota Vikings
  • Kickoff returner: Bethel Johnson, New England Patriots
  • Punt returner: Zuriel Smith, Dallas Cowboys
  • Special teams: David Tyree, New York Giants

2004

Offense

  • Quarterback: Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Running back: Kevin Jones, Detroit Lions
  • Running back: Julius Jones, Dallas Cowboys
  • Wide receiver: Michael Clayton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Wide receiver: Roy Williams, Detroit Lions
  • Tight end: Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins
  • Center: Alex Stepanovich, Arizona Cardinals
  • Guard: Jacob Bell, Tennessee Titans
  • Guard: Chris Snee, New York Giants
  • Tackle: Robert Gallery, Oakland Raiders
  • Tackle: Shane Olivea, San Diego Chargers

Defense

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Nate Kaeding, San Diego Chargers
  • Punter: Kyle Larson, Cincinnati Bengals
  • Kickoff returner: Wes Welker, Miami Dolphins
  • Punt returner: B. J. Sams, Baltimore Ravens
  • Special teams: Keith Lewis, San Francisco 49ers

2005

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2006

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2007

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2008

Offense

  • Quarterback: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
  • Running back: Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans
  • Running back: Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
  • Wide receiver: DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles
  • Wide receiver: Eddie Royal, Denver Broncos
  • Tight end: John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks
  • Center: Jamey Richard, Indianapolis Colts
  • Guard: Carl Nicks, New Orleans Saints
  • Guard: Mike Pollak, Indianapolis Colts
  • Tackle: Ryan Clady, Denver Broncos
  • Tackle: Jake Long, Miami Dolphins

Defense

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Dan Carpenter, Miami Dolphins
  • Punter: Brett Kern, Denver Broncos
  • Kickoff returner: Leodis McKelvin, Buffalo Bills
  • Punt returner: Clifton Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Special teams: none

2009

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2010

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2011

Offense

Defense

Special teams

  • Placekicker: Dan Bailey, Dallas Cowboys
  • Punter: Matt Bosher, Atlanta Falcons
  • Kickoff returner: Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers
  • Punt returner: Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals
  • Special teams: Akeem Dent, Atlanta Falcons

2012

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2013

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2014

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2015

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2016

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2017

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2018

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2019

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2020

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2021

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2022

Offense

Defense

Special teams

2023

Offense

Defense

Special teams

See also

References

  1. ^ Kaskey-Blomain, Michael (January 18, 2017). "No Ravens named to PFWA All-Rookie Team". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  2. ^ Benton, Dan (January 17, 2017). "Giants' Sterling Shepard named to PFWA's All-Rookie Team". USA Today. Retrieved April 6, 2017.
  3. ^ Ledbetter, D. Orlando (January 18, 2017). "Neal, Jones named to PFWA All-Rookie Team". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 18, 2017.

External links

  • 1974–1979 All-Rookie Teams
  • 1980–1989 All-Rookie Teams
  • 1990–1999 All-Rookie Teams
  • 2000–2009 All-Rookie Teams
  • 2010–2019 All-Rookie Teams