Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee names the NFL All-Decade Teams through an internal process that operates independently from league officials. Members review player performance and historical significance to make their choices without any public vote determining these rosters.
The first official team honored players from the 1920s era of professional football with subsequent decades following in chronological order through the 1940s. The selections began reflecting modern statistical tracking methods by the 1950s and continued through the most recent 2010s roster honoring athletes active during the digital broadcasting boom.
Some athletes appear on multiple decade lists due to extended careers spanning ten-year periods such as Jerry Rice or Tom Brady who dominate discussions for their respective eras. Players like defensive linemen frequently secure spots on teams from the 1970s and 1980s while quarterbacks from the 1990s and 2000s receive disproportionate attention compared to specialists.
Historical omissions spark debate among historians and former players alike because certain Hall of Famers were left off early rosters. Positional biases favor offensive stars while defensive contributors sometimes get overlooked and disagreements arise regarding the cutoff dates for eligibility within each decade.
The official NFL All-Decade Teams differ significantly from the Sports Illustrated list released in 2009 and the league's own 50th Anniversary Team selected players based on a broader historical scope. The 75th Anniversary roster included more recent stars than the original decade lists while the 100th Anniversary Team attempted to balance all eras equally unlike the decade-specific approach.