1981 Pro Bowl
{{Short description|National Football League all-star game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox Pro Bowl
|type=pb
|name=1981
|image=1981 Pro Bowl logo.gif
|visitor=AFC
|home=NFC
|visitor_qtr1=0
|home_qtr1=3
|visitor_qtr2=7
|home_qtr2=6
|visitor_qtr3=0
|home_qtr3=0
|visitor_qtr4=0
|home_qtr4=12
|date=February 1, 1981
|stadium=Aloha Stadium
|city=Honolulu, Hawaii
|visitor_coach=Sam Rutigliano
|visitor_coach_team=Cleveland Browns
|home_coach=Leeman Bennett
|home_coach_team=Atlanta Falcons
|MVP=Eddie Murray
|MVPteam=Detroit Lions
|anthem=
|coin_toss=
|halftime=
|referee=Gordon McCarter
|attendance=50,360
|network=ABC
|announcers=Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell, Fran Tarkenton & Lynn Swann
}}
The 1981 Pro Bowl was the NFL's 31st annual all-star game which featured the outstanding performers from the 1980 season. The game was played on Sunday, February 1, 1981, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was NFC 21, AFC 7.{{cite web|title=1981 Pro Bowl game book |url=http://www.nflgsis.com/1980/Post/05/55140/Gamebook.pdf |work=NFL Game Statistics & Information |publisher=National Football League |format=PDF |access-date=January 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222241/http://www.nflgsis.com/1980/Post/05/55140/Gamebook.pdf |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |url-status=live }}
Sam Rutigliano of the Cleveland Browns led the AFC team against an NFC team coached by Atlanta Falcons head coach Leeman Bennett. The referee was Gordon McCarter.
Rookie placekicker Eddie Murray of the Detroit Lions was named the game's Most Valuable Player.{{cite news|title=NFC Clobbers AFC in Pro Bowl|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tk4NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rW0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5176%2C94062|access-date=January 16, 2012|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=February 2, 1981|agency=AP|page=20}}
Players on the winning NFC team received $5,000 apiece while the AFC participants each took home $2,500.{{cite web|title=NFL Pro Bowl history |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/10540742 |publisher=CBSSports.com |access-date=January 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810235233/http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/10540742 |archive-date=August 10, 2011 |url-status=live }} The game was the first in NFL history played in February.{{citation needed|date=January 2012}}
AFC roster
=Offense=
| class="wikitable" width=75%
!width=10%|Position !width=30%|Starter(s) !width=30%|Reserve(s) |
| align=center|Quarterback
|{{Small|17}} Brian Sipe, Cleveland |
| align=center|Running back
|{{Small|34}} Earl Campbell, Houston |{{Small|20}} Joe Cribbs, Buffalo |
| align=center|Fullback
|{{Small|43}} Mike Pruitt, Cleveland |{{Small|32}} Franco Harris, Pittsburgh |
| align=center|Wide receiver
|{{Small|83}} John Jefferson, San Diego |{{Small|80}} Jerry Butler, Buffalo |
| align=center|Tight end
|{{Small|89}} Kellen Winslow, San Diego |{{Small|87}} Dave Casper, Houston |
| align=center|Offensive tackle
|{{Small|73}} Doug Dieken, Cleveland |
| align=center|Offensive guard
|{{Small|73}} John Hannah, New England |{{Small|63}} Doug Wilkerson, San Diego |
| align=center|Center
|{{Small|52}} Mike Webster, Pittsburgh |{{Small|54}} Tom DeLeone, Cleveland |
=Defense=
| class="wikitable" width=75%
!width=10%|Position !width=30%|Starter(s) !width=30%|Reserve(s) |
| align=center|Defensive end
|{{Small|71}} Fred Dean, San Diego |{{Small|85}} Julius Adams, New England |
| align=center|Defensive tackle
|{{Small|79}} Gary Johnson, San Diego |{{Small|76}} Fred Smerlas, Buffalo |
| align=center|Outside linebacker
|{{Small|52}} Robert Brazile, Houston |{{Small|59}} Jack Ham, Pittsburgh |
| align=center|Inside linebacker
|{{Small|58}} Jack Lambert, Pittsburgh |{{Small|57}} Steve Nelson, New England |
| align=center|Cornerback
|{{Small|37}} Lester Hayes, Oakland |{{Small|27}} Greg Stemrick, Houston |
| align=center|Free safety
|{{Small|26}} Gary Barbaro, Kansas City |{{Small|48}} Tim Fox, New England |
| align=center|Strong safety
|{{Small|31}} Donnie Shell, Pittsburgh | |
=Special teams=
| class="wikitable" width=75%
!width=10%|Position !width=30%|Starter(s) !width=30%|Reserve(s) |
| align=center|Punter
|{{Small| 8}} Ray Guy, Oakland | |
| align=center|Placekicker
|{{Small| 1}} John Smith, New England | |
| align=center|Kick returner
|{{Small|86}} J.T. Smith, Kansas City | |
NFC roster
=Offense=
| class="wikitable" width=75%
!width=10%|Position !width=30%|Starter(s) !width=30%|Reserve(s) |
| align=center|Quarterback
|{{Small|10}} Steve Bartkowski, Atlanta |{{Small|7}} Ron Jaworski, Philadelphia |
| align=center|Running back
|{{Small|34}} Walter Payton, Chicago |{{Small|32}} Ottis Anderson, St. Louis |
| align=center|Fullback
|{{Small|31}} William Andrews, Atlanta | |
| align=center|Wide receiver
|{{Small|17}} Harold Carmichael, Philadelphia |{{Small|84}} Alfred Jenkins, Atlanta |
| align=center|Tight end
|{{Small|88}} Jimmie Giles, Tampa Bay |{{Small|80}} Junior Miller, Atlanta |
| align=center|Offensive tackle
|{{Small|72}} Dan Dierdorf, St. Louis |{{Small|67}} Pat Donovan, Dallas |
| align=center|Offensive guard
|{{Small|72}} Kent Hill, L.A. Rams |{{Small|60}} Dennis Harrah, L.A. Rams |
| align=center|Center
|{{Small|61}} Rich Saul, Los Angeles |{{Small|57}} Jeff Van Note, Atlanta |
=Defense=
| class="wikitable" width=75%
!width=10%|Position !width=30%|Starter(s) !width=30%|Reserve(s) |
| align=center|Defensive end
|{{Small|60}} Al Baker, Detroit |{{Small|99}} Dan Hampton, Chicago |
| align=center|Defensive tackle
|{{Small|65}} Charlie Johnson, Philadelphia |{{Small|90}} Larry Brooks, L.A. Rams |
| align=center|Outside linebacker
|{{Small|59}} Matt Blair, Minnesota |{{Small|56}} Dave Lewis, Tampa Bay |
| align=center|Inside linebacker
|{{Small|53}} Bob Breunig, Dallas |{{Small|64}} Jack Reynolds, L.A. Rams |
| align=center|Cornerback
|{{Small|49}} Rod Perry, L.A. Rams |{{Small|24}} Lemar Parrish, Washington |
| align=center|Free safety
|{{Small|21}} Nolan Cromwell, Los Angeles | |
| align=center|Strong safety
|{{Small|45}} Gary Fencik, Chicago | |
=Special teams=
| class="wikitable" width=75%
!width=10%|Position !width=30%|Starter(s) !width=30%|Reserve(s) |
| align=center|Punter
|{{Small|13}} Dave Jennings, N.Y. Giants | |
| align=center|Placekicker
|{{Small| 3}} Eddie Murray, Detroit | |
| align=center|Kick returner
|{{Small|21}} Mike Nelms, Washington | |
References
{{reflist|35em}}
External links
- {{cite web|title=1981 Pro Bowl players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1980/probowl.htm |publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=January 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120030330/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1980/probowl.htm |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |url-status=live }}
{{1980 NFL season by team}}
{{Pro Bowl}}
{{NFL on ABC}}