NFL Accomplishments
Hendricks' height was a major passing-lane obstacle for quarterbacks and his long arms pulled down errant passes (26 career interceptions as a pro) with amazing grace and also made him the most feared kick-blocker of his era - 25 blocked punts, field goals or PATs, the unofficial NFL record. Some of his blocks were instrumental in key games, such as his blocked field goal in Super Bowl XV and his blocked punt that set up a touchdown in the Raiders 1977 playoff win known as the Ghost to the Post. Hendricks also recovered 16 opponent's fumbles and registered four safeties. He scored touchdowns on an interception, a fumble return, and a blocked punt. Also, although sacks were unofficial until Hendricks' last two seasons, he unofficially recorded 60-1/2 career sacks with a career-high of 8-1/2 in 1980. His pass coverage was represented by the 26 interceptions and over 95 passes deflected in his 15 seasons.
Hendricks was a member of four Super Bowl-winning teams (three with the Raiders and one with the Colts) and was a Pro Bowl selection eight times, at least once with each of his three NFL teams.
Hendricks played in 215 straight regular-season games. He also participated in eight Pro Bowl games, seven AFC championships and four Super Bowls (V with the Colts, XI, XV and XVIII with the Raiders). Hendricks was named All-Pro as a Colt in 1971, as a Packer in 1974, and twice as a Raider in 1980 and 1982. He also earned second-team All-Pro honors five other times (1972, '73, '76, '77, '78). He also earned All-conference honors in 1971, '72, '74, '76, '80, '81 and '82, while being named 2nd-team All-AFC in 1973, '78 and '83.
Hendricks was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990, his second year of eligibility. In 1999, he was ranked number 64 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
He currently works on behalf of ex-players as part of the Hall of Fame Player's Association. He also was named as one of the members of the NFL's all time 75th anniversary team in 1994. NFL Network's "Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players" named him the 82nd greatest NFL player of all time.
He won the Bronko Nagurski Legends Award in 2008.
Read more about this topic: Ted Hendricks