Thursday, July 20, 2023

Throwback Thursday: George Allen’s All - Time Team

This Flicker was originally published 8/6/20. 

I was flipping through George Allen's book Pro Football's 100 Greatest Players. It's a fun, interesting read. It was so fun and interesting that I had to post the All-Time Team that he included in the book. Allen was born in 1922. He started his long, distinguished coaching career in 1948. He's seen, coached, and coached against some of the best football players in the game's history. It should be kept in mind that Pro Football's 100 Greatest Players was published in 1982.

George Allen's All-Time Team

Offense

Quarterback
Sammy Baugh

Halfbacks
Jim Brown
O.J. Simpson

Fullback
Bronko Nagurski

Receivers
Don Hutson
Lenny Moore

Tight End
Pete Pihos

Tackles
Jim Parker
Forrest Gregg

Guards
Danny Fortmann
Ron Mix

Center
Mel Hein

Place Kicker
George Blanda

Defense

Defensive Ends
Deacon Jones
Gino Marchetti

Defensive Tackles
Bob Lilly
Leo Nomellini

Middle Guard
Bill Willis

Linebackers
Chuck Bednarik
Bill George
Dick Butkus

Cornerbacks
Herb Adderley
Dick "Night Train" Lane

Safeties
Jack Christiansen
Emlen Tunnell

Punter
Sammy Baugh

***

I love seeing an all-time team that has Sammy Baugh on it. Twice.

It's interesting that Allen took some liberties with the positions that a couple players played. That's not to say that Lenny Moore never played outside the backfield and Ron Mix never slid inside to guard. Each did those things but Moore played running back and Mix played tackle for the majority of their careers. One of Allen’s All - Time tackles, Jim Parker, played more games at guard than Mix. 

It's cool to see Allen recognize Bill Willis and the departed middle guard position. 



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