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NFL: The 1990s All-Decade Team

By Phil Watson

John Elway had the mother of all walk-offs ... Super Bowl MVP before heading into retirement.
John Elway had the mother of all walk-offs ... Super Bowl MVP before heading into retirement. /
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Dermontti Dawson replaced a Hall of Famer in Pittsburgh and became one himself.
Dermontti Dawson replaced a Hall of Famer in Pittsburgh and became one himself. /

Center: Dermontti Dawson, Pittsburgh Steelers (1990-99)

Dawson was a six-time All-Pro for the Steelers in the 1990s, one of the rare cases where a player replaced a legend and became one himself.

Dawson took over the starting center job in Pittsburgh from Hall of Famer Mike Webster and went on to anchor the Steelers offensive front for 13 seasons.

He was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1996 by the NFL Alumni and in 1997 helped pave the way for Jerome Bettis to rush for a career-hi9gh 1,665 yards—the second-highest total in franchise history.

At some point in his 19 seasons, Bruce Matthews started at every position on the offensive line.
At some point in his 19 seasons, Bruce Matthews started at every position on the offensive line. /

Guard: Bruce Matthews, Houston Oilers (1990-96), Tennessee Oilers (1997-98), Tennessee Titans (1999)

Matthews was an All-Pro right guard in 1990, an All-Pro center in 1992 and an All-Pro left guard in 1998 and 1999. He also started at right and left tackle during his 19-year Hall of Fame career.

He set a record at the time he retired of playing in 296 games, more than any non-kicker in history.

Matthews was also a three-time Offensive Lineman of the Year and spent so much time in the league that his college teammate at USC, Jeff Fisher, was his head coach for the last five-plus seasons of his career.

Randall McDaniel anchored some terrific offensive lines in Minnesota.
Randall McDaniel anchored some terrific offensive lines in Minnesota. /

Guard: Randall McDaniel, Minnesota Vikings (1990-99)

McDaniel was a seven-time All-Pro with the Vikings in the decade and was selected to every single Pro Bowl in the 1990s.

In 1994, McDaniel anchored a line that held opponents to one sack in every 22.7 pass attempts, the second-best ratio in team history and he made 202 consecutive starts a streak that began in 1989 and continued through the end of his career.

He even got a couple of carries as a short-yardage fullback in 1996 and in that season’s Pro Bowl, caught a touchdown pass.

Willie Roaf didn't suffer from moving from right to left tackle in his second year.
Willie Roaf didn’t suffer from moving from right to left tackle in his second year. /

Tackle: Willie Roaf, New Orleans Saints (1993-99)

Roaf was a two-time All-Pro in the 1990s and went to six straight Pro Bowls after he was the Saints’ eighth overall pick in 1993 out of Louisiana Tech.

A durable performer, Roaf played every offensive snap as a rookie in 1993 at right tackle and didn’t miss a beat when he was switched over to the left side in 1994.

Nicknamed “Nasty,” Roaf missed only four games in his seven seasons in the 1990s.

Gary Zimmerman played through injured shoulders and helped Denver win a title.
Gary Zimmerman played through injured shoulders and helped Denver win a title. /

Tackle: Gary Zimmerman, Minnesota Vikings (1990-92), Denver Broncos (1993-97)

Zimmerman took the long way to the NFL, playing two seasons in the old USFL before signing with the Vikings when the USFL folded in 1986.

He made one All-Pro team in the 1990s, but played in four Pro Bowls and played several years through shoulder problems that eventually required surgery in 1996.

Zimmerman went out on top, retiring after helping the Broncos to a Super Bowl title in 1997.

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