The NFL's First All-Time Team (1942)

LOOKING BACK
By John Turney

In December of 1942, the Sporting News polled some of the NFL's All-Time greats in order to compose an All-Time team, which was purported to be the NFL's first (of many) sich teams.

Here is the team and the (votes) each received:
Ends—Don Hutson, Green Bay (7), and Bill Hewitt, Chicago Bears & Eagles (6).
Tackles—Cal Hubbard, Green Bay & New York (6), and Turk Edwards, Boston and Washington (3).
Guards—Danny Fortmann, Bears (5), and Mike Michalske, Green Bay (5).
Center—Mel Hein, New York (6).
Quarterback—Earl (Dutch) Clark, Detroit & Portsmouth (3).
Halfbacks—Sammy Baugh, Washington (6), and Cliff Battles, Boston and Washington (4).
Fullback—Bronko Nagurski, Bears (6).

At the time Baugh was as much known for his single-wing work as his T-formation quarterbacking and he was chosen as a halfback. Clark was a single-wing player who ran, passed and kicked. He was chosen as the quarterback.

Mel Hein declined to vote for himself, thus preventing him from being a unanimous selection.