4th – NFC West All-Time First Team:
49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Cardinals
QB: Joe Montana (SF)
QB: Steve Young (SF)
RB: Marshall Faulk (STL; now LAR)
RB: Eric Dickerson (LAR)
RB: Joe Perry (SF)
WR: Jerry Rice (SF)
WR: Larry Fitzgerald (ARI)
WR: Terrell Owens (SF)
TE: Jackie Smith (STL; now ARI)
LT: Walter Jones (SEA)
LG: Guy McIntyre (SF)
C: Randy Cross (SF)
RG: Tom Mack (LAR)
RT: Orlando Pace (STL; now LAR)
DE: Deacon Jones (LAR)
DT: Merlin Olsen (LAR)
DT: Aaron Donald (LAR)
DE: Jack Youngblood (LAR)
OLB: Kevin Greene (LAR)
ILB: Patrick Willis (SF)
ILB: Dave Wilcox (SF)
OLB: Charles Haley (SF)
CB: Aeneas Williams (ARI, STL)
S: Ronnie Lott (SF)
S: Larry Wilson (ARI)
CB: Richard Sherman (SEA, SF)
K: Jim Bakken (STL, now ARI)
P: Johnny Hekker (LAR)
KR/PR: Ollie Matson (CHI; now ARI)
Coaches: Bill Walsh (SF); Pete Carroll (SEA)
Honorable Mentions: QB John Brodie (SF), TE George Kittle (SF)*, DT Leo Nomellini (SF), CB Jimmy Johnson (SF), RG Howard Mudd (SF), RB Frank Gore (SF), RB Roger Craig (SF), LT Joe Staley (SF), WR Dwight Clark (SF), T Jackie Slater (LAR), QB Kurt Warner (STL; Now LAR & ARI), QB Norm Van Brocklin (LAR), QB Bob Waterfield (LAR), QB Roman Gabriel (LAR), WR Tom Fears (LAR), E Elory Hirsch (LAR), WR Isaac Bruce (STL; Now LAR), Torry Holt (STL; Now LAR), DE Leonard Little (LAR), LB Les Richter (LAR), QB Russell Wilson (SEA), WR Steve Largent (SEA), DT Cortez Kennedy (SEA), RB Shaun Alexander (SEA). LT Dan Dierdorf (ARI), CB Patrick Peterson (ARI), Karlos Dansby (ARI).
*Kittle is coming for that starting role for this division at the tight end position.
Scores:
QB: 10/10
This position is dominated by the San Francisco 49ers, but even Kurt Warner and Russell Wilson bring significant success to the equation.
RB: 8/10
Running back is very close to one of the best, but it’s just missing that one other huge name to push it over the edge. Quite a strong group though, no question, led by the Rams.
WR: 10/10
This is arguably the strongest wide receiver group of any division in NFL history. It’s right there with the NFC North. Jerry Rice obviously leads the way, but look at some of the names that couldn’t even make the First Team.
TE: 5/10
Led by one of the best tight ends of his era, Jackie Smith. Still, it’s arguably the weakest position group for this division.
OL: 7/10
Its tackles and right guard are as elite as elite gets, however the other two offensive line positions lacks that extra little something to get this position group a higher score.
DL: 10/10
The “Fearsome Foursome” plus Aaron Donald. Man, the Rams have this position on lock. And it’s elite. Once you’ve said Deacon Jones, you’ve said close to enough.
LB: 8/10
These linebackers sure would be able to get after the quarterback, man.
DB: 8/10
There isn’t anything this defensive backfield couldn’t do or accomplish. Not only would receivers be afraid going across the middle, the quarterback wouldn’t be able to make a mistake. It has everything you’d desire in a defensive backfield.
ST: 4/10
Nothing here really demands much respect. It’s simply not as good as many other divisions.
Coaches: 7/10
This was a tough decision to analyze at head coach as Pete Carroll hasn’t really done enough to be remembered truly as an all-time great, but Bill Walsh was transcendent enough to carry the weight.
Honorable Mentions:
A whole lot of talent didn’t make the First Team for the NFC West.
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