Because of the NFL's "If it happened before the Super Bowl Era, It Doesn't Count" Culture, there is a LOT of Pro Football History that the Casual Pro Football Fan simply does not know about. Great Players, Teams, Championship Games, Breaking The Color Barrier one year before Jackie Robinson made his debut with The Brooklyn Dodgers, etc. (I did discuss this briefly with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the Cleveland Browns Season Ticket Holder Teleconference. Would like to discuss changing this mentality with him some more.)
Part of this are Hall Of Fame Players who for the most part, are forgotten (Except in the Cities they played in and by the teams' fan bases.) and are not brought up when it comes to "The Greatest (Insert Position Here) of All Time" discussions.
So with this in mind, here is my list of The Ten Best Pro Football Hall of Famers you maybe never heard of. (Numbers 10 to 6.)
Halfback: Philadelphia Eagles 1944-1951
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965
Was All-NFL Six Straight Years and won the Rushing Title Four Times. Listed as a Halfback but played more like a Fullback with a hard hitting, bruising style. The Eagles never finished above Fourth Place until he arrived. Helped lead the Eagles to The NFL Titles in 1948 and 1949. He scored the only Touchdown vs The Chicago Cardinals in Blizzard Conditions in the 1948 NFL Title Game. He rushed for 196 yards in the 1949 NFL Title Game.
In 1945, Van Buren pulled of a Rare Triple Crown when he led the NFL in Rushing, Scoring and Kickoff Returns.
Quarterback: Chicago Bears 1939-1950
Inshrined into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965
Luckman was the first T-Formation Quarterback in the NFL. The Bears' Success with Luckman and the T-Formation spurred other NFL Teams to go to this offense.
Luckman was a Five Time All-Pro, Led the NFL Three Times in Touchdown Passes, Was the NFL MVP in 1943. Once threw Seven Touchdown Passes in one Game, and led The Bears to The NFL Championship in 1940, 1941, 1943 and 1946. Threw Five Touchdown Passes in the 1943 NFL Championship Game vs The Washington Redskins.
Middle Guard: Cleveland Browns 1946-1949 (AAFC), 1950-1953
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977
One Year before Jackie Robinson made his Major League Baseball debut in 1947, Pro Football broke the Color Barrier when The Los Angeles Rams signed Kenny Washington and Woody Strode out of UCLA. (When the Rams moved from Cleveland to Los Angeles after the 1945 Season, The Commissioners of The Los Angeles Coliseum put in a stipulation that the NFL intergrates as part of the agreement.) There were also several AAFC Teams that signed African-American Players from the begining of the League, The Cleveland Browns being one of them.
Willis was a quick player with great technique. Willis played at Ohio State for Paul Brown. (Brown broke The Color Barrier at Ohio State when he persuaded Willis to join the team.) Willis proved he could play Middle Guard at the Pro Level on The First Day of Practice, he kept running by the Center to get The Quarterback. (Willis was considered light for his position.)
Willis was an All-Pro Selection (BOTH The AAFC and NFL Versions.) every year of his Pro Career. Was also named to the NFL's All-1940's Team.
Fullback: Cleveland Browns 1946-1949 (AAFC), 1950-1953 (NFL), Pittsburgh Steelers 1955
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968
Before Jim Brown, there was Marion Motley. Ran with Power.
Was All-Pro (AAFC) all four years of the League and All-Pro (NFL) in 1950. The All Time Rushing Leader in AAFC History. Led The NFL in Rushing in 1950. Averaged 5.7 Yards a Carry in his Career. Named to both the NFL All 1940's Team and The NFL 75th Anniversary All Time Team. Great Runner and Blocker in the Browns Trap Play.
Cornerback: Los Angeles Rams 1952-1953, Chicago Cardinals 1954-1959, Detroit Lions 1960-1965
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974
This is one of the most unlikely success stories in the history of pro football. Lane was in the Army, then had a job at an aircraft factory. Fed up with his job, he asked The Los Angeles Rams for a tryout. He tried out as an End/Reciever (...which is why he wore 81.) but was moved to Cornerback.
As a Rookie with the Rams, he intercepted 14 passes in a 12 Game Season. (Still a Record even as the number of games in a season has expanded since.)
Aside from his ball hawking abilities, Lane was also a vicious tackler. He loved to tackle his opponents around the Head and Neck Area (Back then, it was Legal.) and this technique was nicknamed "The Night Train Necktie".
Lane was a Six Time First Team All-Pro, named to the 1950's All Decade Team and The NFL 75th Anniversary Team.
"Night Train" is also considered by many to be the most famous nickname in the history of sports.
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