Class of 2001

General Published on : 1/1/2005

Nick Buoniconti
Stats| Playoffs | Highlights | Biography

Linebacker. . . 5-11, 220 . . . Notre Dame . . . 1962-1968 Boston Patriots, 1969-1974, 1976 Miami Dolphins . . . 14 seasons, 183 games . . . 13th round pick in 1962 AFL Draft . . .All-America as guard and linebacker, 1961 . . . thought to be too small for pros, but "played bigger than his size" . . . An immediate impact with Pats, helping to capture 1963 AFL Eastern Division title . . . Played in five AFL All-Star games with Patriots and one with Miami after 1969 trade . . . Received most votes in 1966 All-Star balloting . . . Ranks seventh in Patriots history for career interceptions, 24. . . Had three interceptions in one game, Oct. 20, 1968, vs. Bills . . . Was Dolphins Most Valuable Player in 1969 . . . Following AFL-NFL merger was named to two more Pro Bowls, 1973 and 1974 . . . Driving force of Dolphins famed "No Name Defense". . . Inspired teammates with outstanding play and fiery leadership . . . During seven seasons with Dolphins, team made three consecutive Super Bowl appearances (Super Bowls VI, VII, VIII), winning two, including one coming after incredible undefeated season in 1972 . . . Recorded 32 career interceptions. . . Voted to All-Time AFL Team in 1969. . . Born December 15, 1940, in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Buoniconti's reaction to being selected:

Marv Levy
Stats | Highlights | Biography

Coach. . . Coe College, Harvard. . . 1978-1982 Kansas City Chiefs, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills. . . 17 seasons, 255 games. . . Regular season record: 143-112-0. . . Postseason record: 11-8-0. . . Overall record: 154-120-0. . . Ranked 10th in NFL history at the time of his retirement. . . Under Levy, Chiefs improved each season from a 4-12 in 1978 to 9-7 in 1981. . . Left Chiefs following 3-6 strike-shortened season, 1982. . . Set a new standard for NFL head coaches when he took Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls. . . Guided Bills to playoffs in eight of 11 seasons. . . Ranked fifth in postseason victories among all-time NFL head coaches with 100-plus wins. . . Posted back-to-back 13-3 records with the Bills, 1990, 1991. . . NFL Coach of the Year 1988. . . AFC Coach of the Year 1988, 1993, 1995. . . .Began pro coaching career as kicking coach for the Eagles, 1969. . . Rams special teams coach, 1970. . . Redskins special teams coach, 1971-1972. . . Head coach, Montreal Alouettes (CFL), 1973-1977. . . Head coach, Chicago Blitz (USFL), 1984. . . Director of football operations, Montreal Alouettes (CFL), 1985. . . Born August 3, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois.

Levy's reaction to being selected:

Mike Munchak
Stats | Highlights | Biography

Guard. . .6-3, 281. . .Penn State. . .1982-1993 Houston Oilers. . .12 seasons, 159 games. . .Selected by Houston in the 1st round (8th player overall) of 1982 NFL Draft. . .Former Penn State standout was the first offensive lineman taken in the draft. . .Earned starting left guard spot as a rookie. . .Devastating blocker, Munchak was key to an offensive line that kept the Oilers at or near the top of NFL's offensive statistical categories. . .Behind Munchak-led line, Oilers led NFL in total offense in 1990 and passing offense in 1990 and 1991. . .Team finished second in points scored in 1990 and total offense in 1991. . .Equally effective as pass or run blocker, team finished 4th in NFL in 1993 in both average gain per rushing play (4.4) and average gain per offensive play (5.3). . .In 1988, Munchak led line that gave up just 24 quarterback sacks, third best in NFL. . .Following season, offensive line held opponents to no sacks allowed six times. . .Named All-Pro four times, All-AFC seven times and selected to play in nine Pro Bowls. . .Born March 5, 1960 in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

<<b />Munchak's reaction to being selected:

Jackie Slater
Stats | Playoffs | Highlights | Biography

Tackle. . . 6-4, 277. . . Jackson State. . . 1976-1995 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams. . . 20 playing seasons, 259 games. . . Selected in 3rd round (86th player overall) of 1976 NFL Draft. . . Retired tied for third for most seasons played in NFL history. . . His 259 regular-season games played was most by offensive lineman at the time of his retirement . . . Mainstay of Rams' offensive line, was first- or second-team All-Pro choice five seasons and first- or second-team All-NFC choice seven times. . . Known for work ethic and leadership skills, earned seven Pro Bowl berths (1984, 1986-1991). . . A powerful drive blocker, 24 different quarterbacks and 37 different running backs played behind Slater during career. . . Blocked for seven different 1,000-yard rushers. . . Played in 107 games in which runner gained 100-plus yards. . . Twenty-seven times Rams' quarterbacks passed for 300-plus yards in a game with Slater as blocker. . . In 1983, Rams offensive line allowed league-low 23 sacks while Eric Dickerson also rushed for rookie record 1,808 yards. . . .Veteran of 18 playoff games, was USA Today Lineman of the Year three times. . . Born May 27, 1954 in Jackson, Mississippi.

Slater's reaction to being selected:

Lynn Swann
Stats | Playoffs | Highlights | Biography

Wide Receiver. . . 5-11, 180. . .Southern California. . .1974-1982 Pittsburgh Steelers. . .Nine seasons, 115 games. . .All-America at USC. . .No. 1 draft pick (21st overall), 1974. . .Used primarily on punt returns as rookie. . .Saw limited action as wide receiver in late-season and his TD catch against Oakland in AFC championship proved to be game-winner. . . Became a regular wide receiver his second season and responded with 49 catches for 781 yards and league-high 11 touchdowns. . .Finished season by winning MVP honors in Super Bowl X with superlative 161 yards gained on four receptions. . . Included was a 64-yard game-winning catch. . .Career record: 336 receptions for 5,462 yards, 51 touchdowns. . . 364 career reception yards ranked first in Super Bowl record book when he retired. . .Had 41 punt returns for 577 yards, one touchdown and 14.1-yard average as rookie. . . Scored 318 points on 53 touchdowns. . . All-Pro, 1975, 1977, 1978, All-AFC three times. . .In three Pro Bowls. . . Born March 7, 1952, in Alcoa, Tennessee.

Swann's reaction to being selected:

Ron Yary
Stats | Playoffs | Highlights | Biography

Tackle. . .6-5, 255. . . Cerritos Junior College, Southern California. . .1968-1981 Minnesota Vikings, 1982 Los Angeles Rams. . .15 seasons, 207 games. . .Vikings used bonus pick acquired in Fran Tarkenton trade with New York Giants to select Yary first in 1968 draft . . .Two-year consensus All-America at USC. . .1967 winner of Outland Trophy, Knute Rockne Award that goes to the nation's top college lineman. . .Possessed speed, agility, intelligence, aggressiveness, hard-work ethic. . .Durable, missed only two games with injuries (broken ankle, 1980). . . Continued to play with broken foot same year. . .Military duty forced him to miss first three games, 1969. . .Took over as regular right tackle in mid-season, 1969. . . All-Pro, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 . . . All-NFC eight straight years, 1970-1977. . . Played in seven Pro Bowls, 1972-1978. . . Starting right tackle in Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX, XI and 1969, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977 NFL/NFC championships. . . Traded to Rams for 10th-round draft pick, 1982. . . Played eight games in final season with Rams. . . Born July 16, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois.

Yary's reaction to being selected:

Jack Youngblood
Stats | Playoffs | Highlights | Biography

Defensive End. . .6-4, 247. . .Florida. . .1971-1984 Los Angeles Rams. . .14 seasons, 202 games. . .All-America at Florida, 1970. . .20th player selected, first round, 1971 draft. . .Backed up superstar Deacon Jones at defensive left end as rookie, became full-time regular in third season. . .Rugged, determined, durable. . .A dominant defender, perennial Rams' sack leader. . .played 201 consecutive games, a rams record. . .missed only one game in 14 years. . .rams defensive captain. . .Had one sack, one forced fumble, one blocked PAT, touchdown interception of 47 yards in 1975 playoff vs. St. Louis. . . Fractured left fibula in 1979 first-round playoff game, was fitted with plastic brace, played every defensive down in NFC title game, Super Bowl XIV. . . Played in five NFC championship games. . .All-Pro in 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979. . .All-NFC seven times. . . Played in seven straight Pro Bowls, 1974-1980. . . Recovered 10 opponents' fumbles. . .Three-time winner of Dan Reeves Award presented to Rams' MVP. . . Born January 26, 1950, in Jacksonville, Florida.

Youngblood's reaction to being selected:

Class of 2001

2001 Finalist Main Page

Class of 2004 Notes