HALL OF FAME

L.A. Times Archives

Jan. 28, 2001 12 AM PT

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CLASS OF 2001

NICK BUONICONTI

Linebacker . . . 1962-1968 Boston Patriots, 1969-1974, 1976 Miami Dolphins . . . 14 seasons, 183 games . . . Thought to be too small for pros . . . Had an immediate impact with Patriots, helping to capture 1963 AFL Eastern Division title . . . Played in five AFL All-Star games with Patriots and one with Miami after 1969 trade . . . Seventh in Patriot history for career interceptions, 24 . . . Was Dolphins’ MVP in 1969 . . . After AFL-NFL merger was named to two Pro Bowls, 1973 and 1974 . . . Driving force of Dolphins’ famed “No Name Defense” . . . 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 . . . 32 career interceptions . . . Voted to All-Time AFL Team in 1969.

MARV LEVY

Coach . . . 1978-1982 Kansas City Chiefs, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills . . . Regular season 143-112-0, playoffs 11-8-0, overall 154-120-0 . . . Under Levy, Chiefs improved each season, from 4-12 in 1978 to 9-7 in 1981 . . . Set a standard for NFL coaches when he took Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls . . . Guided Bills to playoffs in eight of 11 seasons . . . Ranked fifth in playoff victories among NFL coaches with 100-plus wins . . . NFL Coach of the Year 1988 . . . AFC Coach of the Year 1988, 1993, 1995.

MIKE MUNCHAK

Guard . . . 1982- 1993 Houston Oilers . . . 12 seasons, 159 games . . . Selected by Houston in first round (eighth overall) of 1982 draft . . . Earned starting left guard spot as rookie . . . Munchak was key to an offensive line that kept the Oilers at or near top of NFL’s offensive statistical categories . . . Oilers led NFL in total offense in 1990 and passing offense in 1990 and 1991 . . . Team was second in points scored in 1990 and total offense in 1991 . . . Team was fourth in NFL in 1993 in average gain per rushing play (4.4) and average gain per offensive play (5.3) . . . In 1988, Munchak led line that gave up 24 quarterback sacks, fourth best in NFL . . . Six times in next season, offensive line gave up no sacks . . . Named All-Pro four times, All-AFC seven times and selected to play in nine Pro Bowls.

JACKIE SLATER

Tackle . . . 1976-1995 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams . . . 20 seasons, 259 games . . . Retired tied for third 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 quarterbacks and 37 running backs played behind Slater . . . Blocked for seven 1,000-yard rushers . . . Played in 107 games in which runner gained 100-plus yards . . . Twenty-seven times Ram quarterbacks passed for 300-plus yards in a game with Slater as blocker.

LYNN SWANN

Wide receiver . . . 1974-1982 Pittsburgh Steelers . . . Nine seasons, 115 games . . . No. 1 draft pick (21st overall), 1974 . . . Used primarily on punt returns as rookie . . . Became regular wide receiver second season, responded with 49 catches for 781 yards and league-high 11 touchdowns . . . Finished season by winning MVP honors in Super Bowl X with 161 yards on four catches . . . Included was a 64-yard game-winning catch . . . 336 receptions for 5,462 yards, 51 touchdowns . . . 364 reception yards ranked first in Super Bowl record book when he retired . . . 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.

RON YARY

Tackle . . . 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 . . . Possessed speed, agility, intelligence, aggressiveness, hard-work ethic . . . Durable, sat out only two games because of injury (broken ankle, 1980) . . . Continued to play with broken foot same year . . . Military duty forced him to sit out first three games, 1969 . . . Took over as regular right tackle in midseason, 1969 . . . All-Pro, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 . . . All-NFC eight consecutive 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 championship games.

JACK YOUNGBLOOD

Defensive end . . . 1971-1984 Los Angeles Rams . . . 14 seasons, 202 games . . . 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 . . . A dominant defender, perennial Ram sack leader . . . Played 201 consecutive games, a Ram record . . . Sat out only one game in 14 years . . . Had one sack, one forced fumble, one blocked PAT, touchdown interception of 47 yards in 1975 playoff vs. St. Louis . . . Suffered broken 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 consecutive Pro Bowls, 1974-1980.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

SELECT GROUP

Members elected in their first year of eligibility:

Lance Alworth: 1978

Raymond Berry: 1973

George Blanda: 1981

Mel Blount: 1989

Terry Bradshaw: 1989

Jim Brown: 1971

Willie Brown: 1984

Dick Butkus: 1979

Earl Campbell: 1991