Emlen Tunnell’s All - Time Team

Former New York Giants safety Emlen Tunnell was one of the best football players of the 1950s. He was one of the best football players in NFL history. In his terrific autobiography, Footsteps of a Giant, Tunnell selected his All - Time Team. All of the players on the team played during his time in the league. So, this is clearly a team of the best players Tunnell played with and against. I always enjoy seeing who the best players think are the best players and Tunnell put together an interesting team. Here is that team.

Emlen Tunnell’s All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback

John Unitas, Colts

Norman Van Brocklin, Rams, Eagles

Charlie Conerly, Giants

Otto Graham, Browns

Tunnell’s comments:

I’m not ducking when I pick four quarterbacks. Unitas was the best all-around man, but Van Brocklin, Graham, and Conerly were superior to John in some phases of play. Van Brocklin was the greatest long passer of my time. People forget that Graham was a remarkable runner. Conerly, a superlative strategist and leader, didn’t have the receivers or, perhaps, the passing offense that complimented the other three.

Halfback

Hugh McElhenny, 49ers

Ollie Matson, Cardinals

Fullback

Jim Brown, Browns

Steve Van Buren, Eagles

Marion Motley, Browns

Tight End

Billy Wilson, 49ers

Tunnell’s comments:

Billy Wilson unquestionably was the greatest end I played against. He wore me out. After tailing Billy for an afternoon I was bushed, physically and mentally. 

I’ve long thought that Billy Wilson was one of the most underrated receivers, and football players, in league history. It’s a damn shame that his Hall of Fame debate has fallen on the deaf ears of the voters for decades. 

Spread End

Tom Fears, Rams

Tunnell’s use of “tight end” to describe Billy Wilson and “spread end” to describe Tom Fears nicely describes offensive football schematics of the 1950s. 

Tackle

Roosevelt Brown, Giants

Lou Rymkus, Browns

Guard

Frank Kilroy, Eagles

Abe Gibron, Browns

Tunnell’s comments:

Abe Gibron brought maneuvers to guard play that had never been executed before. As Abe puts it, he “went first,” which means that he led plays through areas that guards weren’t expected to penetrate. Critics say Abe went first because he beat the snap. I watched him on hundreds of plays, and I’m still not sure how he did it. 

I like Tunnell’s comments on Gibron because he’s another player that seems to be lost in history. 

Center

Frank Gatski

I’m a little surprised that Jim Parker didn’t make Tunnell’s team. 

Defense

End

Andy Robustelli, Rams, Giants

Len Ford, Browns

Gino Marchetti, Colts

Tackle

Arnie Weinmeister, Giants

Ernie Stautner, Steelers

Linebacker

Chuck Bednarik, Eagles

Bill George, Bears

Joe Schmidt, Lions

Tunnell’s comments:

My selection of three middle linebackers may seem unfair to the tremendous outside backers I’ve seen, but I’m convinced that Schmidt, George, and Bednarik could have been just as great on the outside as they were in the middle.

Safety

Jack Butler, Steelers

Jack Christiansen, Lions

No Emlen Tunnell?!? 

Halfback

Otto Schnellbacher, Giants

Russ Craft, Eagles

Dick Lane, Rams, Cardinals, Lions

Tunnell’s comments:

Otto Schnellbacher, my partner in the original umbrella, wasn’t called “The Claw” just because some writer was desperate for a colorful nickname to put in his story. Otto had marvelous hands, and it was no trick for him to grab a long pass one-handed. He is one of the few on this honor team of mine that doesn’t have a long service record. “Ots” led the NFL in interceptions in 1951 and then retired, just like that. Craft isn’t remembered or appreciated by many fans because Russ played at a time when the football writers weren’t immortalizing defensive players the way they do today. Russ had a couple of years in when I came up to the Giants, and he was the first defensive back to impress me with his knowledge of receivers and his ability to cut down the angles. 

I always enjoy seeing and hearing corners referred to as halfbacks. 

Emlen Tunnell is one of my favorite players from one of my favorite football eras. There really isn’t enough written about him. I’m glad that I finally got my hands on his autobiography.