Miller, Lechler among those named to NFL's All-Decade team for 2010s

The National Football League and the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced on Monday the full All-Decade roster for the 2010s, and two Aggies made the cut. Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee elected Von Miller and Shane Lechler to the list.

Von Miller was one of six linebackers to pick up the honor, with his selection being unanimous. Only seven others received unanimous appointments to the All-Decade team.

Following a career in Aggieland that spanned from 2007-2010, Von Miller was selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos (second overall) and has become one of the most-feared outside linebackers in the history of the league. In his first nine seasons, Miller has been elected to the Pro Bowl eight times and has been a first-team All-Pro selection three times (2012, 2015, 2016). Being named Super Bowl MVP after the Broncos’ 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panthers is undoubtedly Miller’s crowning achievement thus far in the NFL.

During his time at A&M, Miller was a three-year starter and an All-American in his 2010 senior campaign. That same season, he won the Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker as the Aggies won nine games and captured a share of the Big 12 South title, making a trip to the Cotton Bowl for the first time since 2004.

Miller finished his career with 104 solo tackles, 181 total tackles, including  33 sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss. His 33 career sacks rank fifth all-time in program history.

Shane Lechler was one of two punters — and eight specialists total — to make the All-Decade team. This is the second time Lechler has made an All-Decade roster, also being named one of the top punters in the 2000s.

Lechler played the first 13 years of his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders before rounding out his playing days with five additional seasons with the Houston Texans.

From 1996-1999, Lechler emerged as one of the greatest punters in the college game. Lechler and the Aggies captured their first and only Big 12 Championship in 1998, with Lechler serving as A&M’s backup quarterback for the Big 12 title game. When he left Aggieland, Lechler held the NCAA record for career punting average with a 44.7 mark. His sophomore season average of 47.0 yards per punt was a school record, with his senior average of 46.5 coming in as the second-greatest season by a punter in A&M history. Those marks have since been passed by Braden Mann (twice) and Drew Kaser.

Lechler was a fifth-round pick by the Oakland Raiders in the 2000 NFL Draft and became an NFL mainstay for almost two decades. Lechler was named to seven Pro Bowls and was a six-time first-team All-Pro honoree. He led the NFL in punting average four times, including an average of 49.0 yards in 2017, which would be his final season.

Lechler holds the NFL record for average yards per punt with 47.6. He was named to the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

For the complete roster of the 2010s All-Decade team as well as rosters for all of the NFL’s All-Decade teams, visit ProFootballHOF.com.