Vinatieri is famous for his clutch kicks like in the snow against Oakland in the 2001 Playoffs.
You can check out the All Decade Offense here and All Decade Defense here. Now time for what coaches describe as one third of the game yet they don’t play their stars in fear of an injury: Special Teams.
Kicker: Adam Vinatieri
Could you pick someone else? Vinatieri has become the most famous kicker is recent history and is perhaps the greatest clutch kicker we’ve ever seen.
Vinatieri hit game winning field goals in the final minute in Super Bowls 36 and 38 and also hit an overtime winner in the snow against the Raiders in the so called “Tuck Rule” game in the 2001 playoffs.
He has won four Super Bowls this decade and earned two Pro Bowl appearances. Vinatieri is likely headed to Canton and if so would become only the second kicker enshrined.
Runner Ups: Jeff Wilkins, Ryan Longwell, David Akers
Punter: Shane Lechler
Punters don’t get much recognition but Lechler has been considered one of the best for quite awhile now.
Lechler has made four Pro Bowls and hold a career average of 46.8 yards per punt, a NFL record. Lechler averaged 49.1 yards per punt in 2007 ranking second all time only to Sammy Baugh. He also had an extremely impressive streak of 33 consecutive games with at least one punt of 50 yards or more.
Runner Ups: Brian Moorman, Mike Scifres
Returner: Dante Hall
This was a two-man race between Dante Hall and Devin Hester, two of the best of all time. In the end I gave the honors to Hall due to his longevity.
Hall made two Pro Bowls and has 12 return touchdowns in his career which ranks second all time. From 2002-2004 Hall was a dynamic, electric weapon that no coverage unit could stop and his moves earned him nicknames such as “The Human Joystick” and “The X-Factor.”
Hester has been just as impressive but with only two seasons returning and a full time switch to wide receiver hinders his resume.
Runner Up: Devin Hester
