# 1997 All-Pro Team

The 1997 All-Pro Team is composed of the National Football League players that were named to the Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, and The Sporting News All-Pro Teams in 1997. Both first and second teams are listed for the AP team. These are the three teams that are included in Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. In 1997 the Pro Football Writers Association and Pro Football Weekly combined their All-pro teams, a practice with continues through 2008.

## Teams

Offense :
| Position | First team | Second team |
| Quarterback | Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers (AP, PFWA, TSN) | Steve Young, San Francisco 49ers (AP-2) |
| Running back | Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos (AP, PFWA, TSN) Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions (AP, PFWA, TSN) | Jerome Bettis, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP-2) |
| Fullback | Mike Alstott, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (AP) | Charles Way, New York Giants (AP-2) |
| Wide receiver | Herman Moore, Detroit Lions (AP, PFWA, TSN) Rob Moore, Arizona Cardinals (AP, PFWA) Tim Brown, Oakland Raiders (TSN) | Yancey Thigpen, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP-2) Andre Rison, Kansas City Chiefs (AP-2) Tim Brown, Oakland Raiders (AP-2) |
| Tight end | Shannon Sharpe, Denver Broncos (AP, PFWA, TSN) | Wesley Walls, Carolina Panthers (AP-2) |
| Tackle | Tony Boselli, Jacksonville Jaguars (AP, PFWA, TSN) Jonathan Ogden, Baltimore Ravens (AP, PFWA, TSN) | Willie Roaf, New Orleans Saints (AP-2) Todd Steussie, Minnesota Vikings (AP-2) |
| Guard | Larry Allen, Dallas Cowboys (AP, PFWA, TSN) Dave Szott, Kansas City Chiefs (AP, PFWA) Randall McDaniel, Minnesota Vikings (TSN) | Will Shields, Kansas City Chiefs (AP-2) Randall McDaniel, Minnesota Vikings (AP-2) |
| Center | Dermontti Dawson, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP, PFWA, TSN) | |
Special teams :
| Position | First team | Second team |
| Kicker | Richie Cunningham, Dallas Cowboys (AP, TSN) Pete Stoyanovich, Kansas City Chiefs (PFWA) | Jason Hanson, Detroit Lions (AP-2) |
| Punter | Bryan Barker, Jacksonville Jaguars (AP, PFWA) Matt Turk, Washington Redskins (TSN) | Matt Turk, Washington Redskins (AP-2) |
| Kick Returner | Michael Bates, Carolina Panthers (PFWA, TSN) Eric Metcalf, San Diego Chargers (AP) | Darrien Gordon, Denver Broncos (AP-2) |
| Punt Returner | Darrien Gordon, Denver Broncos (PFWA, TSN) |
| Special Teams | Larry Whigham, New England Patriots (PFWA) |
Defense :
| Position | First team | Second team |
| Defensive end | Bruce Smith, Buffalo Bills (AP, PFWA, TSN) Michael Strahan, New York Giants (AP, PFWA, TSN) Robert Porcher, Detroit Lions (PFWA) | Chuck Smith, Atlanta Falcons (AP-2t) Reggie White, Green Bay Packers (AP-2t) Neil Smith, Denver Broncos (AP-2t) |
| Defensive tackle | John Randle, Minnesota Vikings (AP, PFWA, TSN) Dana Stubblefield, San Francisco 49ers (AP, PFWA, TSN) Joel Steed, Pittsburgh Steelers (PFWA) | Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (AP-2) Ted Washington, Buffalo Bills (AP-2) |
| Middle linebacker | Levon Kirkland, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP, PFWA, TSN) Hardy Nickerson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (AP) | Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens (AP-2t) Junior Seau, San Diego Chargers (AP-2t) Winfred Tubbs, New Orleans Saints (AP-2t) |
| Outside linebacker | Jessie Armstead, New York Giants (AP, PFWA, TSN) John Mobley, Denver Broncos (AP, PFWA, TSN) | Derrick Brooks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (AP-2) Chris Slade, New England Patriots (AP-2) |
| Cornerback | Deion Sanders, Dallas Cowboys (AP, PFWA, TSN) Aeneas Williams, Arizona Cardinals (AP, PFWA, TSN) Aaron Glenn, New York Jets (PFWA) * | James Hasty, Kansas City Chiefs (AP-2) Cris Dishman, Washington Redskins (AP-2t) Doug Evans, Green Bay Packers (AP-2t) |
| Safety | LeRoy Butler, Green Bay Packers (AP, PFWA, TSN) Carnell Lake, Pittsburgh Steelers (AP, PFWA, TSN) | Merton Hanks, San Francisco 49ers (AP-2) Darryl Williams, Seattle Seahawks (AP-2) |

## Key

* AP = Associated Press first-team All-Pro
* AP-2 = Associated Press second-team All-Pro
* AP-2t = Tied for second-team All-Pro in the AP vote
* PFWA = Pro Football Writers Association All-Pro
* TSN = The Sporting News All-Pro