NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2010s - Defense

The National Football League's All-Decade Teams have been determined by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee.
 

1920s |  1930s | 1940s  | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s  | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s

The 55-member team is the result of votes cast over the last several weeks by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 48-member selection committee. Only players who received at least one selection to a Pro Bowl, Associated Press All-Pro team or Pro Football Writers Association all-conference team during the 2010-19 seasons were eligible.

Eight unanimous selections – quarterback TOM BRADY, defensive tackle AARON DONALD, linebacker VON MILLER, running back ADRIAN PETERSON, offensive tackle JOE THOMAS, kicker JUSTIN TUCKER, defensive end J.J. WATT and guard MARSHAL YANDA – appear among the 53 players.

NFL’S ALL-DECADE TEAM OF THE 2010s
 

OFFENSE | DEFENSE | SPECIAL TEAMS/COACHES

(Years listed through the 2019 NFL season)

 

 

ENDS

 

CALAIS CAMPBELL

College:  Miami (FL)
Pro Career: 2008-2016 Arizona Cardinals; 2017-19 Jacksonville Jaguars

Campbell is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and has been named first-team All-Pro twice. Recorded at least 6.0 sacks in eight of the last ten seasons (2009-19) and one of four defensive linemen to register at least 30 passes defensed since 2011. A recipient of the 2019 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, given to the NFL player who best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community.

CAMERON JORDAN

College: California
Pro Career: 2011-19 New Orleans Saints

Jordan has recorded at least 7.5 sacks in seven different seasons and became just the fourth player in Saints history to have at least five seasons with double-digit sack totals. An explosive and physical defensive end, Jordan has been selected to five Pro Bowls. He has appeared in 144 games with 143 starts, posting career totals of 87 quarterback sacks, two interceptions, 47 passes defensed, 10 forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries and one blocked kick.

JULIUS PEPPERS

College: North Carolina
Pro Career: 2002-09, 2017-18 Carolina Panthers; 2010-13 Chicago Bears; 2014-16 Green Bay Packers

Peppers finished his career ranked fourth in NFL history with 159.5 career sacks. He produced 21 career opponent fumble recoveries, which is the second-most of any player in the NFL since 2000 at time of his retirement. Peppers appeared in 266 games with 240 starts during his career, appearing in all 16 games in 15 of his 17 seasons. He was named to nine Pro Bowls and selected first-team All-Pro three times.

*J.J. WATT

College: Wisconsin
Pro Career: 2011-19 Houston Texans

Watt has recorded 92.0 sacks, 13 fumble recoveries, 22 forced fumbles and 51 passes defensed during his career. He became the second-fastest NFL player to reach 80.0 career sacks, doing so in just 92 career game. Watt has been named NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times, first-team All-Pro five times and selected to five Pro Bowls. In 2017, he was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year for his outstanding work in the community.

 

TACKLES

 

GENO ATKINS

College: Georgia
Pro Career: 2010-19 Cincinnati Bengals

Atkins has recorded 75.5 career sacks in 10 seasons. His eight Pro Bowl selections are the most ever by a Bengals defensive player. He led the Bengals in sacks five times in and finished in at least a share of the NFL lead for sacks by an interior defensive lineman five times. Atkins was selected first-team All-Pro three times and All-AFC five times.

FLETCHER COX

College: Mississippi State
Pro Career: 2012-19 Philadelphia Eagles

A five-time Pro Bowler and four-time first- or second-team All-Pro selection, Cox has produced 48.0 career sacks (career-high 10.5 sacks in 2018) during his eight seasons with the Eagles. Since 2015, he ranks 2nd among NFL defensive tackles in forced fumbles with 11 trailing only Aaron Donald (13) in that category. Cox helped lead the Eagles to an NFL Championship with a victory in Super Bowl LII.

*AARON DONALD

College: Pittsburgh
Pro Career: 2014-2019 St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams

Donald earned first-team All-Pro honors five times and has been selected to six Pro Bowls. He’s only the third player in NFL history named back-to-back NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2017, 2018). During his six seasons in the NFL, Donald recorded 330 career tackles (224 solo), 59.5 sacks and 13 forced fumbles. He had one of the best defensive seasons (2018) in NFL history, finishing with 20.5 sacks, the most ever by a defensive tackle.

NDAMUKONG SUH

College: Nebraska
Pro Career: 2010-14 Detroit Lions; 2015-17 Miami Dolphins; 2018 Los Angeles Rams; 2019 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Suh started all 142 career regular season games he has played in, totaling 478 tackles (107 for loss), 56.0 sacks, 32 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one interception. Since entering the NFL, his 107 tackles for loss are fifth-most and his 166 quarterback hits rank seventh. He is third among defensive tackles in sacks (56.0) in that time. Suh has been selected to five Pro Bowls and been named first-team All-Pro three times.

LINEBACKERS

CHANDLER JONES

College: Syracuse 
Pro Career: 2012-15 New England Patriots; 2016-19 Arizona Cardinals

Jones is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and has been named first-team All-Pro twice. He has played in 103 games (100 starts) and recorded 396 tackles, 77.0 sacks, 19 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, one INT and 19 passes defensed. Six season he has recorded double-digit sack totals and he leads the NFL in sacks (41.0) and tied for the league lead in tackles for loss (57) since joining the Cardinals in 2016.

LUKE KUECHLY

College: Boston College
Pro Career: 2012-2019 Carolina Panthers

Kuechly was a tackling machine and the face of the Panthers defense for eight seasons. He finishes his career with 1,092 tackles, the most in the NFL since he entered the league. His 18 interceptions are most by a linebacker since 2012 and third-most in Panthers history and his 75 tackles for loss are tied for fifth among linebackers over that same span.

KHALIL MACK

College: Buffalo
Pro Career: 2014-17 Oakland Raiders; 2018-19 Chicago Bears

Mack has posted four consecutive double-digit sack seasons during his six-year career. His career totals include 94 games (93 starts), 398 tackles (308 solo), 61.5 sacks, 86 tackles for loss, 20 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, two interceptions (both returned for TDs) and 19 passes defensed. Mack was named 2016 Associated Press and PFWA NFL Defensive Player of the Year and became the first player in NFL history to be named to the Associated Press All-Pro first-team at two positions (defensive end and linebacker) in 2015.

*VON MILLER

College: Texas A&M 
Pro Career: 2011-19 Denver Broncos

Miller, seven-time Associated Press first-team All-Pro selection, has totaled 490 tackles (380 solo), 106 sacks, two interceptions for 68 yds., 21 passes defensed, 26 forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries during his career. He owns the most seasons (7) with double-digit sack totals in Broncos history and is one of three players in NFL history with 10 or more sacks in seven of his first eight seasons. Miller was named MVP of Super Bowl 50.

BOBBY WAGNER

College: Utah State
Pro Career: 2012-2019 Seattle Seahawks

Wagner has been named to six Pro Bowls and is a five-time first-team All Pro selection. He has started 118 of 119 games played over eight seasons and has recorded 1075 tackles (645 solo), 19.5 sacks, 10 INTs, 47 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and four total touchdowns. He helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl XLVIII championship.

PATRICK WILLIS

College: Mississippi
Pro Career: 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers

At the time of his retirement, Willis was one of just 7 players since the merger in 1970 selected to the Pro Bowl in each of their first 7 seasons. In 2007, he was named the Associated Press’ Defensive Rookie of the Year. Willis was named first-team All-Pro five times and his career totals include 112 games (112 starts), 950 tackles (733 solo), 20.5 sacks, eight interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 60 tackles for loss. 

 

CORNERBACKS

 

PATRICK PETERSON

College: LSU
Pro Career: 2011-19 Arizona Cardinals

Peterson has been voted to eight straight Pro Bowls, seven times at cornerback (2012-18) and once as a kick returner (2011). He earned first-team All-Pro honors three times, with two selections at cornerback (2013, 2015) and one as a kick returner (2011). He has started all 138 games played over his nine seasons recording 438 tackles, 25 INTs (one returned for a TD), four sacks, 83 passes defensed, two forced fumble and 12 fumble recoveries.

DARRELLE REVIS

College: Pittsburgh 
Pro Career: 2007-2012, 2015-16 New York Jets; 2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2014 New England Patriots, 2017 Kansas City Chiefs

Revis earned seven Pro Bowl nominations during his 11-year career. He was named first-team All-Pro four times and won a Super Bowl with the Patriots during the 2014 season. His career stats include 496 tackles (411 solo), 29 interceptions for 466 yards and three touchdowns, 139 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries, while starting 142 of 145 games played.

RICHARD SHERMAN

College: Stanford
Pro Career: 2011-17 Seattle Seahawks, 2018-19 San Francisco 49ers

Since entering the NFL in 2011, Sherman has registered 35 interceptions and 114 passes defensed. His 35 interceptions lead the league, and his 114 passes defensed rank 3rd among all active players. Sherman has been selected to play in the Pro Bowl five times and was named first-team All-Pro three times. He led the league in interceptions with eight in 2013 and in passes defensed with 24 in 2012.

 

SAFETIES

 

ERIC BERRY

College: Tennessee
Pro Career: 2010-18 Kansas City Chiefs

Berry has been named first-team All-Pro three times (2016, 2015 and 2013) and selected to five Pro Bowls. He was named the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year following the 2015 season after being diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma during the 2014 season. His career totals include 89 games played (87 starts), 14 Interceptions – five of which were returned for touchdowns, 51 passes defensed, 445 tackles (377 solo) and five and a half sacks.

EARL THOMAS

College: Texas
Pro Career: 2010-18 Seattle Seahawks; 2019 Baltimore Ravens

Thomas has posted 30 career interceptions, which ranks first among active NFL safeties. He has registered a career-high 5 interceptions in a season three separate times (2010, 2013 & 2015). His seven Pro Bowl selections tie for fourth among active NFL defenders. He has been named first-team All-Pro three times and helped the Seahawks produce five Top 5 defenses (yards allowed) during his nine-year tenure.

ERIC WEDDLE

College: Utah
Pro Career: 2007-2015 San Diego Chargers; 2016-18 Baltimore Ravens; 2019 Los Angeles Rams

Weddle, a six-time Pro Bowl safety and five-time All-Pro selection, collected 29 interceptions, five defensive touchdowns, eight forced fumbles and 1,179 tackles in 201 career games played (186 starts) across 13 NFL seasons. He added 98 passes defensed, 38 tackles for loss, eight forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries.

 

DEFENSIVE BACKS

        

CHRIS HARRIS, JR

College: Kansas 
Pro Career: 2011-19 Denver Broncos

Harris has four Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl Championship during his nine-year career. He was selected as a first-team All-Pro once following the 2016 season. His career stats include 139 games played (121 starts), 20 interceptions returned for 457 yards and four touchdowns. Harris also registered 86 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 23 tackles for lost and 518 tackles (443 solo).

TYRANN MATHIEU

College: LSU
Pro Career: 2013-17 Arizona Cardinals; 2018 Houston Texans, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs

Mathieu helped lead the Chiefs to a Super Bowl LIV Championship. He was been selected to one Pro Bowl and been named first-team All-Pro twice. He has started 89 of his 98 total games played and intercepted 17 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown. Mathieu has added 61 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, nine sacks, 36 tackles for loss and 472 tackles (416 solo).