Aaron Rodgers Wins Fourth N.F.L. M.V.P. Award

Two defensive linemen — Bryant Young of San Francisco and Richard Seymour, who played for the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders — were also selected in voting, which was conducted last month by a panel of 49 members of the news media. Joining them were Packers safety LeRoy Butler, who was in his 16th year of eligibility, and Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Tony Boselli, who had been a finalist for the last six years.

The selection committee also elected three members: the coach Dick Vermeil, who won a Super Bowl with the Rams in the 1999 season; Art McNally, a supervisor of officials, who was the contributor finalist; and Cliff Branch, the Raiders receiver, who was the senior finalist.

Mills, who died of stomach cancer in 2005, went undrafted out of Montclair State, a Division III program, but emerged as a star in the United States Football League before latching on with the Saints in 1986. He reached four out of his five Pro Bowls with New Orleans before finishing his career with the Carolina Panthers, who adopted their “Keep Pounding” mantra after Mills urged them to do so during the team’s N.F.C. title run in 2003.

Seymour, one of Patriots Coach Bill Belichick’s favorite players, had 57.5 sacks across his 12 seasons, more than any other defensive tackle. A three-time Super Bowl winner, he also made the league’s All-Decade team of the 2000s.

Another dominant interior lineman voted onto an all-decade team, Young overcame a gruesome leg injury in his fifth season to finish his 14-year career with four All-Pro selections and 89.5 sacks.

Butler joined the recent surge of safeties inducted into the Hall, following John Lynch and Steve Atwater. Until Thursday, Butler, who helped restore the Packers to relevance during his 12 seasons in Green Bay, had been the only first-team member of the 1990s All-Decade team yet to be inducted. A four-time first-team All-Pro, he was credited with pioneering the Lambeau Leap — and had 38 interceptions and 20.5 sacks.