All-Time Football › Best 1970s Lineup

Best 1970s NFL Lineup

The greatest starting 11 of the 1970s, chosen from every team of the era by iKnoBall's era-adjusted engine — and the record they'd run over a full 17-game season.

143projected season
avg overall 96
95
QB
Roger Staubach
Quarterback · 1970s
96
RB
O.J. Simpson
Running Back · 1970s
93
WR1
Steve Largent
Wide Receiver · 1970s
92
WR2
Lynn Swann
Wide Receiver · 1970s
98
OL
John Hannah
Offensive Guard · 1970s
99
DL
Joe Greene
Defensive Tackle · 1970s
98
LB
Jack Lambert
Linebacker · 1970s
96
CB
Mel Blount
Cornerback · 1970s
93
S
Cliff Harris
Free Safety · 1970s
98
FLEX-O
Mike Webster
Center · 1970s
97
FLEX-D
Jack Ham
Linebacker · 1970s

Why This Is the Era's Best Team

Roger Staubach headlines the 1970s at a 95 overall. The engine assembles a complete lineup — quarterback, backfield, receivers, the offensive line, and a full defense — from across the era's teams, then plays out all 17 games. Their 143 projection captures an era-defining core, measured on the same era-adjusted scale as every other decade so the comparison is fair.

Full 1970s Player Rankings

PlayerPositionEraOVR
Roger StaubachQuarterback1970s95
O.J. SimpsonRunning Back1970s96
Steve LargentWide Receiver1970s93
Lynn SwannWide Receiver1970s92
John HannahOffensive Guard1970s98
Joe GreeneDefensive Tackle1970s99
Jack LambertLinebacker1970s98
Mel BlountCornerback1970s96
Cliff HarrisFree Safety1970s93
Mike WebsterCenter1970s98
Jack HamLinebacker1970s97
Randy WhiteDefensive Tackle1970s96
Alan PageDefensive Tackle1970s96
Earl CampbellRunning Back1970s96
Dan DierdorfOffensive Tackle1970s94
Art ShellOffensive Tackle1970s94
Gene UpshawOffensive Guard1970s94
Ted HendricksLinebacker1970s93
Jack YoungbloodDefensive End1970s93
Terry BradshawQuarterback1970s93
Joe DeLamielleureOffensive Guard1970s93
Tom MackOffensive Guard1970s93
Larry CsonkaRunning Back1970s93
Larry LittleOffensive Guard1970s93
Ron YaryOffensive Tackle1970s93
Fran TarkentonQuarterback1970s93
Carl EllerDefensive End1970s93
Franco HarrisRunning Back1970s93
Ken HoustonStrong Safety1970s93
Rayfield WrightOffensive Tackle1970s92

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Frequently Asked

What is the best 1970s NFL lineup of all time?

iKnoBall's era-adjusted engine picks Roger Staubach (QB, 1970s), O.J. Simpson (RB, 1970s), Steve Largent (WR1, 1970s), Lynn Swann (WR2, 1970s), John Hannah (OL, 1970s), Joe Greene (DL, 1970s), Jack Lambert (LB, 1970s), Mel Blount (CB, 1970s), Cliff Harris (S, 1970s), Mike Webster (FLEX-O, 1970s), Jack Ham (FLEX-D, 1970s) as the greatest 1970s team, projecting them to a 14–3 season.

How good was the 1970s NFL?

The top 1970s lineup projects at 14–3 with an average starter rating of 96. Ratings are era-adjusted so a dominant 1970s season is measured on the same scale as any other era.

Who was the best player of the 1970s?

On iKnoBall's scale the top-rated 1970s player is Roger Staubach at a 95 overall. See the full 1970s rankings above.

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Ratings are era-adjusted and computed by iKnoBall's simulation engine. Records are model projections for entertainment, not predictions. Player names belong to their respective owners; iKnoBall is an independent fan-made game.