NFL: The 1990s All-Decade Team

Tight End: Shannon Sharpe, Denver Broncos (1990-99)

Sharpe came out of South Carolina State known simply as Sterling Sharpe’s little brother and was classified as a “tweener,” too slow to play wide receiver, too small to play tight end.

Yeah, they got that one wrong. Sharpe developed into one of the best tight ends ever, earning four All-Pro bids and leading all tight ends in the 1990s with 552 receptions and 6,983 yards.

Sharpe topped the 80-catch mark three times in the decade and had 1,000 receiving yards three different times.

Wide Receiver: Cris Carter, Minnesota Vikings (1990-99)

Carter came to Minnesota after having been cut by the Philadelphia Eagles and he worked to turn his career around with the Vikings.

He was a two-time All-Pro pick in the decade, leading the NFL with 122 receptions in 1994 and leading the league in touchdown catches three times (1995, 1997, 1999).

Carter was second in the decade with 835 catches and 95 touchdown receptions—trailing only Jerry Rice—and was one of only four receivers to rack up more than 10,000 yards in the 1990s.

Wide Receiver: Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers (1990-99)

Considered by many to be the greatest player of all-time, Rice led the NFL in the 1990s with 860 receptions, 12,078 receiving yards and 103 receiving touchdowns.

Not a bad decade.

He was the Offensive Player of the Year in 1993 and twice led the league in receptions in the 1990s (1990 and 1996). He led the league in receiving yards four times in the decade (1990, 1993-95) and also led in touchdown catches three times (1990-91, 1993).

He was a six-time All-Pro selection in the decade and finished his career having obliterated every major career record for pass receivers.