All-Pro
Encyclopedia
All-Pro is a term mostly used in the NFL
for the best players
of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s. There are also 2nd Team All-Pros which connotes the runner-up at each position.
(NFL) by position as selected by a national panel of media members of the Associated Press
. Unlike selection to the Pro Bowl
(all star game), votes are cast for outstanding players by position without consideration for whether the player competes in the American Football Conference
(AFC) or National Football Conference
(NFC). The Associated NFL All-Pro Team is the longest running selection awards program in existence
The First Team consists of the top one or two players at each position; the Second Team consists of the runners-up at each position. One player is selected at quarterback, fullback, tight end, center, punter, place kicker, and kick returner, while two players are selected at running back, wide receiver, offensive tackle, offensive guard, outside linebacker, inside/middle linebacker, defensive end, defensive tackle, cornerback, and safety.
The Associated Press
and its Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team is the "All-Pro team" that is of most note, likely because it has been consecutively chosen since the 1940s. The United Press International
All-Pro poll began then as well, yet beginning in 1970 UPI began to choose All-Conference teams, that is one each from two conferences in the National Football League
, the AFC and NFC. UPI last chose those teams in 1996. The Newspaper Enterprise Association began choosing All-Pro teams in 1954 and they ran though 1996. The Pro Football Writers Association
began choosing All-Pros in 1966 and continues today. In the early 1990s they began publishing their All-Pro team in Pro Football Weekly.
In the case with the press polls, as are mentioned above, they are simply a poll of writers who are asked to select the top players at each position on a football squad. The votes are tallied and were published in the various newspaper syndicates, like the AP, UPI, NEA, etc.
published All-Conference teams beginning the 1950s. In 1980 it began choosing an All-Pro team, rather than two All-Conference teams. Since its teams are published in Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the NFL, they are recognized by the NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
in 1954 purporting to be the "Player's All-Pro Team" as it was a poll of NFL players themselves. This poll last published in 1997.
. It is a poll of the members of the Pro Football Writers Association
and is considered a "press poll". Additionally, Pro Football Weekly has selected All-AFC and All-NFC teams since 1970. Those are the choices of the editors and writers of the magazine.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the best players
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
of each position during that season. It began as polls of sportswriters in the early 1920s. There are also 2nd Team All-Pros which connotes the runner-up at each position.
The Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team
The Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team is an annual selection of the best players in the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) by position as selected by a national panel of media members of the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. Unlike selection to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
(all star game), votes are cast for outstanding players by position without consideration for whether the player competes in the American Football Conference
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
(AFC) or National Football Conference
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
(NFC). The Associated NFL All-Pro Team is the longest running selection awards program in existence
The First Team consists of the top one or two players at each position; the Second Team consists of the runners-up at each position. One player is selected at quarterback, fullback, tight end, center, punter, place kicker, and kick returner, while two players are selected at running back, wide receiver, offensive tackle, offensive guard, outside linebacker, inside/middle linebacker, defensive end, defensive tackle, cornerback, and safety.
The Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and its Associated Press NFL All-Pro Team is the "All-Pro team" that is of most note, likely because it has been consecutively chosen since the 1940s. The United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
All-Pro poll began then as well, yet beginning in 1970 UPI began to choose All-Conference teams, that is one each from two conferences in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, the AFC and NFC. UPI last chose those teams in 1996. The Newspaper Enterprise Association began choosing All-Pro teams in 1954 and they ran though 1996. The Pro Football Writers Association
Pro Football Writers Association
Technically known as the Pro Football Writers of America, this organization purports to be "The official voice of pro football writers, promoting and fighting for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public." Goals of the organization include improving access to practices and locker rooms,...
began choosing All-Pros in 1966 and continues today. In the early 1990s they began publishing their All-Pro team in Pro Football Weekly.
In the case with the press polls, as are mentioned above, they are simply a poll of writers who are asked to select the top players at each position on a football squad. The votes are tallied and were published in the various newspaper syndicates, like the AP, UPI, NEA, etc.
The Sporting News
The Sporting NewsThe Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
published All-Conference teams beginning the 1950s. In 1980 it began choosing an All-Pro team, rather than two All-Conference teams. Since its teams are published in Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the NFL, they are recognized by the NFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Newspaper Enterprise Association All-Pro Team
The Newspaper Enterprise Association All-Pro team was different than the press polls. It was created by Murray OldermanMurray Olderman
Murray Olderman is an artist who specialized in cartoons related to sports. He received the National Cartoonist Society Sports Cartoon Award for 1974 and 1978. His artwork often accompanied the sports stories he authored. His art also has been used by the Pro Football Hall of Fame and hung above...
in 1954 purporting to be the "Player's All-Pro Team" as it was a poll of NFL players themselves. This poll last published in 1997.
Pro Football Writers Association
This All-pro team began in 1966 and is still released each year. Now, it is released in Pro Football WeeklyPro Football Weekly
Pro Football Weekly is an American sports magazine, founded in 1967, that covers the National Football League...
. It is a poll of the members of the Pro Football Writers Association
Pro Football Writers Association
Technically known as the Pro Football Writers of America, this organization purports to be "The official voice of pro football writers, promoting and fighting for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public." Goals of the organization include improving access to practices and locker rooms,...
and is considered a "press poll". Additionally, Pro Football Weekly has selected All-AFC and All-NFC teams since 1970. Those are the choices of the editors and writers of the magazine.