The NFL released their All-Decade team of the 2000's on Sunday and six former Kansas City Chiefs were on it. Four players made significant and historic contributions while in Kansas City, one other played for the team for two seasons and the final player never got on the field due to injuries.
Not surprisingly, tight end Tony Gonzalez (2000-08), guard Will Shields (2000-06), and tackle Willie Roaf (2002-05) made the team on offense. They were three key pieces to one of the most explosive offenses in NFL history during Dick Vermeil's years as coach.
Kick returner Dante Hall (2000-06), the "X-Factor" or "Human Joystick" made it as both a punt and kickoff return man. All four of these players will live forever in the minds of Chiefs fans and all but Dante Hall will eventually end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Also not surprisingly, given how badly the Chiefs defense has played the past decade, cornerback Ty Law and linebacker Zach Thomas made the All-Decade Team, but not for anything they did while in Kansas City. Law played two seasons in Kansas City (2006-07), but made his mark while playing for the New England Patriots. Thomas excelled as a Miami Dolphin throughout the decade, but never got on the field for the Chiefs after signing a free agent contract in 2009.
The National Football League All-Decade Teams are honorary teams named by members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee. Teams have been named all the way back to the 1920's. Wikipedia has a great entry that shows every team from then until now.
The 2000's team has not been broken down into first or second teams as the other decades have been, but here is the team that was announced Sunday:
OFFENSE
- Quarterback (2): Peyton Manning, Tom Brady
- Running Back (4): Shaun Alexander, Jamal Lewis, Edgerrin James, LaDainian Tomlinson
- Fullback (1): Lorenzo Neal
- Tight Ends (2): Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates
- Wide Receivers (4): Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens
- Offensive Tackles (4): Walter Jones, Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Pace, Willie Roaf
- Offensive Guards (4): Larry Allen, Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchinson, Will Shields
- Center (2): Olin Kreutz, Kevin Mawae
DEFENSE
- Defensive Ends (4): Dwight Freeney, Julius Peppers, Michael Strahan, Jason Taylor
- Defensive Tackles (4): La'Roi Glover, Warren Sapp, Richard Seymour, Kevin Williams
- Linebackers (6): Derrick Brooks, Ray Lewis, Joey Porter, Zach Thomas, Brian Urlacher, DeMarcus Ware
- Cornerbacks (4): Ronde Barber, Champ Bailey, Ty Law, Charles Woodson
- Safeties (4): Brian Dawkins, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, Darren Sharper
SPECIAL TEAMS
- Punters (2): Shane Lechler, Brian Moorman
- Kickers (2): David Akers, Adam Vinatieri
- Punt Returners (2): Dante Hall, Devin Hester
- Kick Returners (2): Dante Hall, Joshua Cribbs
Head Coaches (2): Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy
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