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.