1981 All-Pro Team
The 1981 All-Pro Team is composed of the National Football League players that were named to the Associated Press, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Pro Football Writers Association, Pro Football Weekly, and The Sporting News All-Pro Teams in 1981. Both first- and second- teams are listed for the AP and NEA teams. These are the five teams that are included in Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. The Associated Press added a "nose tackle" position in 1981, joining Pro Football Weekly .
Offense
| Position |
First Team |
Second Team |
|---|
| Quarterback |
Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN) |
Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers (AP-2, NEA-2) |
| Running back |
Tony Dorsett, Dallas Cowboys (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Billy Sims, Detroit Lions (NEA, PFWA, PFW)
George Rogers, New Orleans Saints (AP, TSN) |
William Andrews, Atlanta Falcons (AP-2)
Joe Cribbs, Buffalo Bills (NEA-2)
Billy Sims, Detroit Lions (AP-2)
George Rogers, New Orleans Saints (NEA-2) |
| Wide receiver |
James Lofton, Green Bay Packers (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Alfred Jenkins, Atlanta Falcons (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW-t, TSN)
Steve Watson, Denver Broncos (PFW-t) |
Cris Collinsworth, Cincinnati Bengals (AP-2)
Frank Lewis, Buffalo Bills (NEA-2)
Steve Watson, Denver Broncos (AP-2, NEA-2) |
| Tight end |
Kellen Winslow, San Diego Chargers (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN) |
Ozzie Newsome, Cleveland Browns (AP-2)
Joe Senser, Minnesota Vikings (NEA-2) |
| Tackle |
Anthony Munoz, Cincinnati Bengals (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Marvin Powell, New York Jets (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN) |
Mike Kenn, Atlanta Falcons (AP-2, NEA-2)
Pat Donovan, Dallas Cowboys (AP-2, NEA-2) |
| Guard |
John Hannah, New England Patriots (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Randy Cross, San Francisco 49ers (NEA, PFWA, PFW)
Herbert Scott, Dallas Cowboys (AP, TSN) |
Ed Newman, Miami Dolphins (AP-2, NEA-2)
Randy Cross, San Francisco 49ers (AP-2)
Herbert Scott, Dallas Cowboys (NEA-2) |
| Center |
Mike Webster, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN) |
Rich Saul, Los Angeles Rams (NEA-2)
Joe Fields, New York Jets (AP-2) |
|
Defense
| Position |
First Team |
Second Team |
|---|
| Defensive end |
Joe Klecko, New York Jets (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Fred Dean, San Francisco 49ers (AP, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Ed Jones, Dallas Cowboys (NEA) |
Mark Gastineau, New York Jets (AP-2, NEA-2)
Fred Dean, San Francisco 49ers (NEA-2)
Ed Jones, Dallas Cowboys (AP-2) |
| Defensive tackle |
Randy White, Dallas Cowboys (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Gary Johnson, San Diego Chargers (AP, PFWA, TSN)
Doug English, Detroit Lions (NEA, PFW)
Fred Smerlas, Buffalo Bills (PFW-NT)
Bob Baumhower, Miami Dolphins (TSN)
Charlie Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles (AP-NT) |
Louis Kelcher, San Diego Chargers (AP-2)
Doug English, Detroit Lions (AP-2)
Fred Smerlas, Buffalo Bills (NEA-2)
Bob Baumhower, Miami Dolphins (AP-2-NT, NEA-2) |
| Middle linebacker |
Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos (PFW, TSN)
Harry Carson, New York Giants (PFW) |
Randy Gradishar, Denver Broncos (AP-2, NEA-2) |
| Outside linebacker |
Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Bob Swenson, Denver Broncos (AP, NEA, TSN)
Jerry Robinson, Philadelphia Eagles (PFWA) |
Matt Blair, Minnesota Vikings (NEA-2)
Rod Martin, Oakland Raiders (NEA-2)
Robert Brazile, Houston Oilers (AP-2)
Jerry Robinson, Philadelphia Eagles (AP-2) |
| Cornerback |
Ronnie Lott, San Francisco 49ers (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Mel Blount, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP, PFWA)
Mark Haynes, New York Giants (NEA, PFW)
Lester Hayes, Oakland Raiders (TSN) |
Roynell Young, Philadelphia Eagles (AP-2, NEA-2)
Gary Green, Kansas City Chiefs (NEA-2)
Mark Haynes, New York Giants (AP-2) |
| Safety |
Nolan Cromwell, Los Angeles Rams (AP, NEA, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Gary Fencik, Chicago Bears (AP, TSN)
Gary Barbaro, Kansas City Chiefs (NEA, PFWA)
Dwight Hicks, San Francisco 49ers (PFW) |
Donnie Shell, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP-2)
Dwight Hicks, San Francisco 49ers (AP-2, NEA-2)
Gary Fencik, Chicago Bears (NEA-2) |
|
Special teams
| Position |
First Team |
Second Team |
|---|
| Kicker |
Rafael Septien, Dallas Cowboys (AP, PFWA, PFW, TSN)
Nick Lowery, Kansas City Chiefs (NEA) |
Eddie Murray, Detroit Lions (NEA-2)
Nick Lowery, Kansas City Chiefs (AP-2)
|
| Punter |
Pat McInally, Cincinnati Bengals (AP, PFWA, TSN)
Tom Skladany, Detroit Lions (NEA, PFW) |
Dave Jennings, New York Giants (AP-2)
Pat McInally, Cincinnati Bengals (NEA-2) |
| Kick returner |
LeRoy Irvin, Los Angeles Rams (AP)
Mike Nelms, Washington Redskins (PFWA, PFW, TSN) |
Mike Nelms, Washington Redskins (AP-2) |
| Punt returner |
LeRoy Irvin, Los Angeles Rams (PFWA, PFW, TSN) |
|
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; TSN = The Sporting News All-Pro team; t = players tied in selection
References