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Pete Fierle, Manager - Digital Media/Communications
Pete's familiarity with the game's history is a result of spending two decades working in the Hall's archives surrounded by the world's largest collection of pro football information. His many duties include overseeing the Hall's website as well as the day-to-day operation of the Archives & Information Center.

One vote for the 1970s Thursday, July 09, 2009

11:22 a.m. ET

First of all, I’d like to welcome you all to the NEW Profootballhof.com. Those of you who’ve been regular visitors probably already know the depth of the site. If you’re new to us, take some time to dig deep and we’re sure you’ll like what you find. Either way, I think you’re going to love our new look.

One of the new elements we’ve incorporated into Profootballhof.com is the ability for you to engage with us. Because, we’re all in the same boat in that we love the NFL! So, please be sure to share your thoughts whether it’s here on Profootballhof.com, or if you want to contribute to our football following on Facebook or Twitter.

You may have noticed our most recent fan poll on the home page. It asks which was the NFL’s best decade. Now, as a student of the game and having spent more than 20 years in the Hall’s archives reading up on the NFL’s past and present, I could make a sound argument for any one of them.

But, what really draws us to this great game is our own personal connections. I often believe, perhaps because unless you’re me and get to spend every day around football, these connections are probably the strongest in our youth. Without the clutter of everyday life, most of us could take the time to fully digest our favorite team, players, and moments.


 1 of 3 
 
Steve Young, second from left, as a young boy talked his parents to make a detour on a family vacation so they could visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
 
That’s what is so cool about the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Many times as I wander through the exhibit space I’ll overhear a father or mother talking with his/her child. They’ll be recounting a memory from so many years ago that has been spurned by seeing a memento on display and an accompanying video that brings it to life. Even our own Steve Young recounted once how his dad brought him to Canton on a family vacation. Steve's dad, who years later presented his son for induction into the Hall, marveled at the bust of Otto Graham. He shared with Steve just how great of a quarterback Otto was for the Browns. Decades later, on the day following his enshrinement, Steve relived the moment by posing with his wife and children on the Hall's front steps!

So, as a representative of the 40-somethings, I’m casting my vote for the ‘70s as the greatest decade in NFL history. Despite the fact I grew up in Western New York as a Bills fan and only saw them make the playoffs once, I still feel most emotionally connected to that era.

Think about it. The decade featured such great dominant teams – the Dolphins, Raiders, Cowboys, and Steelers. It all started with Miami’s amazing two-year run in the early ‘70s in which they lost just twice. Then the Steelers winning back-to-back Super Bowls with Bradshaw, Swann, Harris, Stallworth, “Mean Joe” Greene, and linebackers Jack Lambert and Jack Ham. And, how about Mel Blount – they didn’t come any better than him. Those Cowboys-Steelers Super Bowl matchups were so memorable and remain vivid today. That could, of course be, that’s because I just watched hours and hours of Super Bowl highlights as part of research for our new Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery that opens next month.

How about the Cowboys? Staubach, Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Robert Newhouse, “Too Tall” Jones and Jethro Pugh all led by the stoic Tom Landry. Then, more Steelers Super Bowls. The Raiders - with not only Hall of Famers like Biletnikoff, Shell, Upshaw, Hendricks and company but others like QB Kenny “The Snake” Stabler, hard-running backs Mark van Eeghen and Pete Banaszak, and receiver Cliff Branch.
 
It was a day before FieldTurf. Grass fields from Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium produced dirty uniforms for Bert Jones, Lydell Mitchell, Joe Washington, and Roger Carr.

The ‘70s also brought us the Buccaneers and the Seahawks.

And, most of all, in the day before Madden Football, NFL Network, and the Internet, there were Howard Cosell’s halftime highlights on Monday Night Football.  I can still hear his voice and remember the anticipation of those brief couple minutes every Monday.

Well, enough from me right now. Let the debate begin! It’s your turn so go ahead and add your comments right now.

Biletnikoff, Fred, Blount, Mel, Bradshaw, Terry, Dorsett, Tony, Graham, Otto, Greene, Joe, Ham, Jack, Harris, Franco, Hendricks, Ted, Lambert, Jack, Landry, Tom, Stallworth, John, Staubach, Roger, Swann, Lynn, Young, Steve, Buffalo Bills Dallas Cowboys Indianapolis Colts Miami Dolphins Oakland Raiders Pittsburgh Steelers

comment Comment (6)

Recent Comments
  • Chuck Scholtz - August 11 2011 03:24 PM

    Hey Pete, and to any sportswriters reading this, "Every person working in sports journalism today owes a tremendous debt to Howard Cosell. His greatest contribution was elevating sports reporting out of daily play-by-play and placing it in the larger context of society." -- President, ABC Sports, Roone Arledge "When the complete book on sportscasting in the 20th Century is composed, Howard Cosell has earned the longest chapter. His influence in sportscasting has been profound." -- Dick Enberg, Sportscaster "He's a seminal figure not only in sports, but all of television." --Dick Ebersol, former president of NBC Sports "Howard Cosell was Monday Night Football. Without Howard Cosell, there was no Monday Night Football." --Chet Forte, former Director of ABC Monday Night Football "Howard Cosell was a colorful guy. The broadcaster's death is a sad day for sports." --Washington Redskins receiver, Alvin Garrett "Cosell is the franchise. He may also be the most valuable property in American sports. There's no question that Howard Cosell was the most important sports journalist of our time, and because so much of what he did transcended sports, he was one of the most important journalists... period." --Sports Journalist, Robert Lipsyte "I remember him as someone who was an important journalistic figure, and I think to deny that is to let your prejudices get in the way." --Author, Frank Deford "Howard was a true original. He rose like a screeching comet and left a trail that no modern broadcaster has ever dared to follow. There will never be another like him." --NFL Films, Steve Sabol "I found him to be genuine in his compassion. I'll never forget him for that." --Daryl Stingley, former New England Patriot ''I used to look at Howard Cosell's 'Halftime Highlights' with reverence...'' -- Chris Berman (ESPN) "...the most important game of my career than any game that I've ever played, and, the reason being was it was Monday Night Football, it was Howard Cosell, it was the Cowboys versus the Redskins." --Ken Houston - Washington Redskins, Pro Football Hall of Fame "I think he'll be seen as the broadcasting pioneer who changed the way people listen to and watch sports" -- Shelby Whitfield, former ABC radio sports director "Howard Cosell was a good man and he lived a good life. I have been interviewed by many people, but I enjoyed interviews with Howard the best. We always put on a good show. I hope to meet him one day in the hereafter. I can hear Howard now saying, Muhammad, you're not the man you used to be. I pray that he is in God's hands. I will miss him." --Former heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali

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  • Chuck Scholtz - August 10 2011 08:05 PM

    Hey Pete, and to any sportswriters reading this, "Every person working in sports journalism today owes a tremendous debt to Howard Cosell. His greatest contribution was elevating sports reporting out of daily play-by-play and placing it in the larger context of society." -- President, ABC Sports, Roone Arledge "When the complete book on sportscasting in the 20th Century is composed, Howard Cosell has earned the longest chapter. His influence in sportscasting has been profound." -- Dick Enberg, Sportscaster "He's a seminal figure not only in sports, but all of television." --Dick Ebersol, former president of NBC Sports "Howard Cosell was Monday Night Football. Without Howard Cosell, there was no Monday Night Football." --Chet Forte, former Director of ABC Monday Night Football "Howard Cosell was a colorful guy. The broadcaster's death is a sad day for sports." --Washington Redskins receiver, Alvin Garrett "Cosell is the franchise. He may also be the most valuable property in American sports. There's no question that Howard Cosell was the most important sports journalist of our time, and because so much of what he did transcended sports, he was one of the most important journalists... period." --Sports Journalist, Robert Lipsyte "I remember him as someone who was an important journalistic figure, and I think to deny that is to let your prejudices get in the way." --Author, Frank Deford "Howard was a true original. He rose like a screeching comet and left a trail that no modern broadcaster has ever dared to follow. There will never be another like him." --NFL Films, Steve Sabol "I found him to be genuine in his compassion. I'll never forget him for that." --Daryl Stingley, former New England Patriot ''I used to look at Howard Cosell's 'Halftime Highlights' with reverence...'' -- Chris Berman (ESPN) "...the most important game of my career than any game that I've ever played, and, the reason being was it was Monday Night Football, it was Howard Cosell, it was the Cowboys versus the Redskins." --Ken Houston - Washington Redskins, Pro Football Hall of Fame "I think he'll be seen as the broadcasting pioneer who changed the way people listen to and watch sports" -- Shelby Whitfield, former ABC radio sports director "Howard Cosell was a good man and he lived a good life. I have been interviewed by many people, but I enjoyed interviews with Howard the best. We always put on a good show. I hope to meet him one day in the hereafter. I can hear Howard now saying, Muhammad, you're not the man you used to be. I pray that he is in God's hands. I will miss him." --Former heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali

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  • Joe O'Brien - July 15 2009 07:30 AM

    Clearly the greatest decade must be the 1880's with the establishent of 11 man teams, line of scrimmage, quarterbacks, running backs. Maybe the early 20th century'aughts with the establisment of the forward pass? No pads either. Who wants to celebrate "roids" (hemorrhoids???) anyway? 70's were excellent too Pete!

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  • PENS RULE - July 13 2009 07:24 AM

    Pete, Assuming your picture is recent you like the 70's because those years “teen years” were the most influencing. Went to first game, collected cards, ect. The most important decade though, is the one that has the effect the longest. The 80’s gave us so much more: roids, size, speed, complex O’s and D’s, and marketing. This was the decade where the game evolved into what it is today. If pro football is around in a hundred years it will have the 80’s to thank for that. The only thing the 70’s gave us was the knowledge that concussions cause long term problems. Thank god equipment improved so much in the 80’s that they can hit as hard as they do today.

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  • Brian McGrath - July 11 2009 11:03 AM

    The greatest decade in NFL history? This is a tough one. I agree with Mr. Pete in that '70s brought so much in the way of players, fantastic individual games, and team dynasties. The Dallas Cowboys, the Steelers, the Dolphins, and the Raiders. Each decade has a good argument. Some old timers might say the '50s was the greatest decade for the NFL. I recently read the book "The Greatest Game Ever Played", which chronicles the 1958 NFL Championship between the NY Giants and the Baltimore Colts. The Giants won the NFL's first sudden-death championship game 23-17 before a national TV audience. The coaches and players involved in this game would help establish the NFL as a powerhouse into the 1960s. This game may represent the birth of the modern era of the NFL.

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  • Shawn - July 10 2009 01:30 PM

    Pete, Being born in the 70's, I'll admit that my love for football, especially the NFL, began in that decade. However, I think the 80's, with Bill Walsh making the passing game (via the West Coast offense) more prevalent, was my favorite decade. Being a Browns fan, I also enjoyed the 80's because the Steelers didn't win a Super Bowl...(Jan. 20, 1980 doesn't count because that was the 1979 season...and if it wasn't for a blown call in the AFC Championship that season (Mr. Renfro was IN), they wouldn't have been there in the first place)...and yes, I'm bitter about it--

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