7) Denver Broncos, Super Bowl XXXII
Starting Lineup
LT: Gary Zimmerman
LG: Mark Schlereth
C: Tom Nalen
RG: Brian Habib
RT: Tony Jones
This line was better than the 1998 offensive line; the 1997 line also featured future Hall of Fame tackle Gary Zimmerman. This group helped Elway to a Pro Bowl season—he passed for 3,635 yards and 27 touchdowns—and helped Terrell Davis to an incredible 1,750-yard rushing season.
Center Tom Nalen was one of the greatest center’s in NFL history and, in my opinion, belongs in the Hall of Fame.
6) Green Bay Packers, Super Bowl I
Starting Lineup
LT: Bob Skoronski
LG: Fuzzy Thurston
C: Bill Curry
RG: Jerry Kramer
RT: Forrest Gregg
Future Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg led this line. He and left tackle Bob Skoronski were named to the 1967 Pro Bowl. Throw in the tough Bill Curry at the center and an excellent guard combination of Fuzzy Thurston and Jerry Kramer, and you had an all-time dominant offensive line.
5) Washington Redskins, Super Bowl XVII
Starting Lineup
LT: Joe Jacoby
LG: Russ Grimm
C: Jeff Bostic
RG: Fred Dean
RT: George Starke
The Redskins, over the last 40 years, have had some great offensive lines; I think this was the finest group of “hogs” they have ever had. The left side of Jacoby and Grimm was dominant; center Joe Bostic was steady in the middle. Fred Dean and George Starke played on the right side and did a great job all year. Super Bowl XVII was the crowning achievement for this group as they completely took the game over in the second half and led the Skins to their first Super Bowl title.
4) Oakland Raiders, Super Bowl XI
Starting Lineup
LT: Art Shell
LG: Gene Upshaw
C: Dave Dalby
RG: George Buehler
RT: John Vella
This group launched fullback Mark van Eeghen to a 1,012-yard season while helping quarterback Ken Stabler earn a Pro Bowl nomination. Stabler passed for 2,737 yards and 27 touchdowns during the regular season while only suffering 19 sacks. He was sacked only twice in the Super Bowl, going 12-of-19 for 180 yards and a score.
This unit was anchored on the left side by future Hall of Famers Art Shell and Gene Upshaw. The duo combined for 14 Pro Bowl appearances, and this line combined to spearhead one of the most memorable teams in Raiders history.
3) Miami Dolphins, Super Bowl VIII
Starting Lineup
LT: Wayne Moore
LG: Bob Kuechenberg
C: Jim Langer
RG: Larry Little
RT: Norm Evans
This line helped Larry Csonka and Mercury Morris combine for 2,117 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns in 1972. The duo rushed for 1,957 yards a year later.
Right, guard Larry Little and center Jim Langer are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yet, there’s no denying that all five of these blockers helped to produce back-to-back Super Bowl wins and perhaps the most impressive two-season run of any NFL team in history.
2) Dallas Cowboys, Super Bowl XXVII
Starting Lineup
LT: Mark Tuinei
LG: Nate Newton
C: Mark Stepnoski/John Gesek
RG: John Gesek/Kevin Gogan
RT: Erik Williams
This was the Great Wall of Dallas at the height of its powers, and the evidence is in the history books. Troy Aikman passed for 3,445 yards in 1992 behind this group while only suffering 23 sacks on 473 passing attempts. He passed for 3,100 yards the following season.
Running back, Emmitt Smith racked up 1,713 yards rushing and 18 touchdowns in 1992. A year later, he rushed for 1,486 yards.
There has never been a more dominating offensive line in history. They were big, fast, and mean. I combined the 92 and 93 teams here; the dominance of an outstanding bills team in two blowouts Super Bowls was indicative of the greatness of this offensive line.
The turning point of Super Bowl XXVIII was the start of the second half when the Cowboys were down 13-6. They came out ran six straight running plays, and from there, the game would become a 30-13 rout.
1) 1975 St.Louis Cardinals
ST. LOUIS, MO – DECEMBER 10: Defensive end Ron McDole #79 and defensive tackle Bill Brundige #77 of the Washington Redskins pursues a fumble along with tackle Dan Dierdorf #72 of the St. Louis Cardinals in an NFL game on December 10, 1977 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. The Redskins defeated the Cardinals 26-20. (Photo by Nate Fine via Getty Images)
Starting Lineup
LT: Roger Finnie
LG: Bob Young
C: Tom Banke
RG: Conrad Dobler
RT: Dan Dierdorf
No, they never made it to the Super Bowl but they are the greatest offensive line in NFL history. ‘These guys’ allowed an all-time NFL record low of 8 sacks during the 1975 season protecting a very immobile Jim Hart (Cardinals all-time passing leader who when he retired was the 3rd leading passer in NFL history). Hart’s favorite target was the great Cardinals speedster Mel Gray (6th round draft pick, 45 TD’s).
When it came to run blocking, the ‘Big Red Line’cleared the way for Terry Metcalf and Jim Otis to rush for 168 yards per game during 1975-76, en-route to records of 11-3 (division title).
This offensive line allowed “Air Coryell” to flourish.
