By Chris Willis, NFL Films
Pro Football Journal is pleased to present his picks of the best-ever Pre-WWII players—
Choosing the greatest of any position during the Pre-WWII period (circa 1920-1944) is always a daunting task, but resources used to put together this list was going through game footage; newspapers of the era; testimonies of players, coaches & executives, as well as sportswriters who wrote about the game; magazines and any individual honors, All-Pro teams, and greatest of all-time lists.
As for statistics, the NFL didn’t keep official stats until 1932, so that is taken into consideration when making these evaluations. Besides Total Football I and II, another great source used was The Football Encyclopedia, by David Neft, Richard Cohen and Rick Korch, who recreated stats for the NFL’s early years through play-by-plays and newspaper reports. It’s the closest thing we have to early numbers.
In 1920 the Rock Island Argus (sportswriter Bruce Copeland) choose the
“first-ever” APFA-NFL All-Pro team (APFA in 1920)- he listed 3 teams. The
Associated Press, UP and I.N.S., selected their All-Pro teams during this era.
While newspapers such as Green Bay
Press-Gazette (GBPG), Buffalo News
and Courier, New York Daily News (NYDN), Boston Post, Detroit Free-Press, Milwaukee Sentinel, and Chicago Tribune would select All-Pro
teams as well; while publications like Collyers’
Eye and Pro Football Illustrated
magazines also listed All-Pro honors. NFL coaches, such as George Halas, Guy
Chamberlin, Curly Lambeau, Leroy Andrews, and Ray Flaherty also picked All-Pro
teams during this era, as well as NFL players like Red Grange, Ernie Nevers and
Lavvie Dilweg. NFL President, Joe F. Carr, selected an All-Pro team (two
squads) in 1925 that was printed in Liberty
Magazine.
Team success also contributed to the
ranking, as well as going through newspapers such as GBPG, Pottsville Republican, Canton
Repository, Chicago Daily Journal, and more who would publish play-by-plays
of early NFL games to get a better sense of how they these players played the
game.
Resources such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame, NFL teams (especially the Packers and team historian Cliff Christl), Newspapers.com, and Pro Football Reference, and more contributed mightily.
Next up in our series of the Pre-WWII players is the
Tackle position.
“The
name of the game for linemen is sacrifice. There isn’t much glory in it for
them, and there’s a lot of pain,” said Ed Healey to the Toledo Blade in 1975.
Tackles of this era were usually the biggest man on
the team. Typically standing above 6-feet and weighing 200, to the heaviest at
around 250-pounds. Writing in his 1935 instructional book, Football, former NFL head coach Potsy Clark listed 11 coaching points
for the perfect tackle: (see scan above)
“As
the game is played today, lineman are called upon to shift their weight and
power in the wink of an eye. They may ‘feint’ in one direction and drive
through in another, to cover, momentarily, the direction of the ball carrier.
That takes control. And to knock down a 230-pound lineman who is as tough as
all-get-out, that takes power,” said Bill Morgan, former
Giants All-Pro tackle (tackle number 25 on list).
Here is the list of the Top 35 Pre-WWII tackles:
1) Cal Hubbard (1927-1933, 1935-1936)
Number one on the list is the great Cal Hubbard, considered the “most feared lineman of his time.” The
6-2, 253-pound Hubbard played 9 years of pro ball (105 games) with the New York
Giants (1927-28, 1936), Green Bay Packers (1929-33, 1935) and Pittsburgh
Pirates (1936)….he played his first two years as an end, making All-Pro both
years…moved to tackle when he joined Curly Lambeau’s Packers in 1929…member of
4 NFL Championship teams, 1927 Giants, 1929-1931 Packers…excelled as a blocker
on offense, and backed up the line on defense (sometimes standing up like a
linebacker)… “I never played harder than I did against the Bears. I can still hear
Halas hollering from the sidelines for me to lay off his center, George
Trafton. Trafton was a mouthy guy. He was always lipping off. So I knocked the
hell out of him every chance I got,” said Hubbard in 1976…First-team
All-Pro three times by the NFL (1931-1933) and UPI (31-33); as well as being
named twice First-team by Collyers (1932-33) and once by Chicago Daily News
(1933)…Named to NFL 1920s All-Decade Team…scored 2 career TDs, including an
interception return against the Giants in 1935 (16-7 win)…Elected as Charter
Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1963)…Named NFL’s All-Time Tackle for
the 50th Anniversary All-Time team in 1969…Named to NFL 75th
Anniversary All-Time Two Way Team (1994)…only man to be elected to the Pro
Football and Baseball Hall of Fames (as an umpire)…Elected to Packers Hall of
Fame in 1970.
“I never saw a better
lineman, either on offense or defense.”—Curly Lambeau, Packers Hall of Fame coach.
“Hubbard is the best tackle I’ve seen…He’s very fast, I’ve
tried to block him out, and it can’t be done. I’ve seen him on defense start
through the line and shove it entirely out of position. He must be 35 now, but
he is all man, and I’ve never seen a better football player.”—Dutch Clark, Hall of Fame back, about Hubbard in
1932.
“There never was a better lineman than that big umpire.”—George Halas, Bears Hall of Fame end and coach,
told Arthur Daley of the New York Times.
“The best lineman I
ever saw was Cal Hubbard.”—Jimmy Conzelman, former NFL back and Hall
of Fame coach.
“A giant of a man who could outrun any back in the league
for 30 yards…Cal, with his combination of speed, weight, and timing, was a
devasting blocker. On defense he made them run the other way.”—Steve Owen, former Giants tackle and head coach.
“The greatest tackle I ever played against or got clobbered
by.”—Red Grange, former Bears Hall
of Fame halfback.
“Probably the greatest tackle I ever played against was Cal
Hubbard of the Packers. Hubbard was the left defensive tackle and he stopped
everything.”—Mel Hein, former Giants
Hall of Fame center-linebacker.
2) Pete “Fats” Henry (1920-1923,
1925-1928) Nicknamed “Fats”, mainly for his odd body shape at
5-feet-11, 245-pounds, but Henry was just as fast and athletic as any back in
the NFL during his era. A 60-minute performer, Henry played 8 years with
Canton, New York Giants and the Pottsville Maroons (86 games)…also played for
Pottsville in 1924 when they were not an NFL-team…Member of 2 NFL Championship
teams with Canton (1922-23), paring with fellow tackle Link Lyman for the
league’s best duo…those two seasons helped Bulldogs to back-to-back titles with
an overall record of 21-0-3…Named First-team All-Pro by Rock Island Argus
(1920), Buffalo News (1921), and Green Bay Press-Gazette, Collyers, and George
Halas in 1923…First-team All-Pro by Guy Chamberlin twice (1922-23) and the
Canton Daily News in 1923…Named Second-team by the Ohio State Journal in 1925…Selected
to NFL 1920s All-Decade Team…Named to NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time
Two Way Team (1994)…also one of the NFL’s best kickers and punters during his
era- once booting a 94-yard punt for Canton (1923)…In 1923, Henry led the NFL
in Extra Points made (25) and was second in FGs made with 9 (Paddy
Driscoll- 10). His 59 points scored was 2nd in NFL behind Driscoll’s
78 points as he led the league champions, Canton Bulldogs, to an 11-0-1 record—if an MVP vote was done that year, Henry could’ve easily won the award…Charter
Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963…Named to NFL 75th
Anniversary All-Time Two-Way Team (1994).
“As an end for the Bears I
played directly opposite him on hundreds of plays and only once in all that
time was I ever able to block him out.”—said George Halas, in 1962.
“Tackles will come and tackles will go but never will pro
football enthusiasts see the peer of Wilbur Henry.”—wrote the Canton Repository in 1922.
“Pete Henry was the most unusual specimen you ever saw. He
was fast and could run all day. You hit him and your head would go in clear up
to your neck. How he could play.”—Cal Hubbard, former teammate with Giants (1927) and Packers Hall of Fame tackle.
“He was the best tackle I ever saw.”—Grantland Rice on Henry.
“It was like bouncing off a rubber ball. I never budged him
once. After five minutes, I felt as I had just finished a full 60-minute
game…anything you’ve read or heard about Pete Henry is true. He was a great
one.”—Charlie Berry, an All-Pro end
with Pottsville Maroons, about playing against Henry in 1925.
3) Roy “Link” Lyman (1922-1928,
1930-1931, 1933-1934) Very agile for his size at 6-2, 233-pounds,
given credit for pioneering more sophisticated defensive play on the line, by
shifting and sliding, opponents were forced to adjust to his tactics with new
blocking strategies…a dominant force on defense, almost unblockable at times…in
1937 former Bears teammate Bill Hewitt called “Lyman the greatest of them all”…played
11 years (133 games) with 4 different franchises- Canton, Cleveland, Frankford
and several stints with the Chicago Bears (1926-28, 1930-31, 1933-34)…Member of
4 NFL Championship teams; Canton (1922-1923), Cleveland (1924) and Chicago
Bears (1933)…never played for a losing team in 11 NFL seasons…Scored 6 career
TDs, including 4 in 1924 for the NFL Champions Cleveland Bulldogs (had 3 fumble
recovery and 1 TD catch, 50-yards vs Dayton)…First-team All-Pro by Collyers in
1924, 1930, 1934; by NFL President Joe Carr in 1925; by Green Bay Press-Gazette
in 1930, 1934; NFL in 1930; Red Grange and Milwaukee Sentinel in 1930; Brooklyn
Eagle in 1933 and UPI in 1934 at the age of 36…Second-team All-Pro by Collyers
in 1923, 1925; NFL in 1928, 1934; and GBPG in 1924 and 1928…somehow overlooked
for NFL 1920s All-Decade team; should’ve been selected over Steve Owen…Elected
to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964 (2nd class), when he was
called “the cleverest tackle of his time on defense.”
“(Link) Lyman was a linebacker and was the best all-around lineman I
ever played against.” —said Cal Hubbard in 1976.
“Lyman was the first
lineman I ever saw who moved from his assigned defensive position before the
ball was snapped. It was difficult to play against him because he would vary
his moves and no matter how you reacted, you could be wrong.”—Steve Owen, former NFL lineman and Giants Hall of
Fame coach.
“Link Lyman, ranked head and shoulders above any other
tackle in Joe Carr’s ‘cash and carry’ gridiron wheel…Lyman’s comeback was most
remarkable and some coaches claim Link’s work this placed him on a higher plan
than Cal Hubbard, former Packers lineman, who was considered the peer of all
tackles in the land. It was next to impossible to take Lyman out of a plat and
he would cut holes a mile wide for the Bears backs.”—wrote G. W. Calhoun of the Green Bay Press-Gazette,
when naming Lyman First-team All-Pro in 1934 at the age of 36.
“The greatest football player, college or pro, I ever saw
was Link Lyman. If it hadn’t been for Lyman, nobody ever would have heard of
poor Bill Hewitt at all. He taught me more about football than I ever learned
in my life before.”—Bill Hewitt,
former Bears Hall of Fame end.
4) Albert G. “Turk” Edwards (1932-1940) Another
Hall of Famer, the 6-2, 255-pound Edwards played 9 years (86 games) with the
Boston-Washington Redskins, helping protect Sammy Baugh and opening holes for
halfback Cliff Battles from his left tackle spot…consistently showed raw power
and intimidation; emphasized strength more than speed…”I stood up a little more than
they do now, but otherwise the techniques haven’t changed,” said
Edwards to sportswriter Murray Olderman…selected to NFL 1930s All-Decade Team…Numerous
First-team All-Pros; including 4 times by the NFL (1932-33, 1936-37) and 3
times by UP (1934, 1936-37) and Chicago Daily News (1933-34, 1936); also twice
First-team by Collyers (1937-38), I.N.S. (1937, 1939), New York Daily News
(1937, 1939), Green Bay Press-Gazette (1933, 1935) and Boston Post (1934-35)…Named
Second-team three times by NFL (1934, 1938-39); and once by Collyers (1932),
UPI (1933), GBPG (1934), and NYDN (1938)…Elected to the Pro Football Hall of
Fame in 1969…Member of 3 divisional winning teams and 1 NFL Championship, 1937
Redskins…career ended on an unusual knee injury during a coin toss against the
Giants in 1940…scored 2 career touchdowns, including returning a block punt for
a score in a 7-0 victory over the Dodgers in 1932…known for blocking punts, (including
3 in a game against the Giants in 1937, to help clinch the Division title)…nicknamed
the “Rock of Gibralter” because he played with such immovable and impregnable
tendencies…amiable and easy going Edwards was all business on the gridiron. “When
he got mad, which was rarely, he could play the whole side of the line
himself,” recalled Wayne Millner, Redskins Hall of Fame end and
teammate…after playing career, went into coaching, was Redskins head coach for
3 seasons (overall record of 16-18-1) in 1946-1948.
“(Turk) Edwards was plenty
tough and liked it. For a big fellow he had lots of speed and often was down
the field as fast as his ends.”—wrote the Green Bay Press-Gazette, naming Edwards First-team All-Pro in 1933.
“I considered Turk Edwards the greatest tackle who ever
lived- college or pro. He could handle anyone. I’ve seen him on defense pick up
an opposing lineman and throw him backward and break up a single wing sweep
before it even got started. He was absolutely awesome.”—Mel Hein, former Giants Hall of Fame center, about
Edwards in 1969.
“Edwards was a great tackle, he was just a bull of tackle,
hard to block. I knew he was going to be hard to block right from the
beginning. He was hard to handle, offense and defense. Turk is one of the best.”—George Musso, former Bears Hall of Fame lineman.
“Turk was the biggest man on the field and the fastest
lineman on the field. He was a really good leader. He was captain of our team.”—Clyde Shugart, former Redskins teammate and guard.
5) Joe Stydahar (1936-1942, 1945-1946)
“Jumbo Joe” was a mainstay for the Monsters of the Midway. The rather large,
6-4, 233-pounder was the Bears first ever 1st-round draft pick, in
1936, and was a starter for 9 years (84 games)- although he missed 2 years due
to WWII (1943-1944)….Member of 3 NFL Championship squads with the Bears,
1940-41, 1946, protecting Sid Luckman and paving rushing lanes for backs George
MacAfee and Bronko Nagurski with a bulldozing style, throwing around his
233-pound frame…Better on defense than offense, Stydahar was a hard-hitter on
the Bears front line. “When you charge, you have to keep your head
up. Sure, you lose a lot of teeth that way, but you make a lot of tackles,”
once said Stydahar…selected to NFL 1930s All-Decade team…First-team All-Pro
four times by the NFL (1937-40), Collyers (1936-37, 1939-40), and New York
Daily News (1937-40); three times by UPI (1937-39) and two times by I.N.S.
(1938, 1940) and Ray Flaherty (1936, 1938)…Second-team three times by NFL
(1936, 1941-42); twice by I.N.S. (1937, 1942); and once by UPI (1936), Collyers
(1938), AP (1941)…Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.
“It
helped me tremendously to play next to Joe for so many years. A true
partnership built up. We got to know exactly what to expect from one another.”—Dan Fortmann, former teammate and Hall of Fame guard.
6) Duke Slater (1922-1931) Dominate
tackle during his ten-year career in the NFL, playing for Milwaukee, Rock
Island and Chicago Cardinals (90 games)…One of the early black players in the
NFL…The 6-1, 215 Slater was hard to block on defense, making many tackles at or
behind the line of scrimmage, while on offense one of the hardest to get
around…Voted First-team All-Pro by Collyers in 1922, 1925; Second-team,
1930…Voted Second-team All-Pro by Green Bay Press-Gazette, six times,
1923-1925, 1927, 1929-1930…First-team twice by Chicago Tribune (1926, 1929) and
once by the Chicago Daily Times, Red Grange and Ernie Nevers, all in 1930. In
1931 Lavvie Dilweg selected Slater for his All-Opponent Team…Leroy Andrews
named him First Team in 1927 and Second Team in 1929…On Dec. 8, 1929 scored his
only NFL touchdown with the Cardinals on an interception returned in a 26-0
victory over the Orange Tornadoes…blocked for Cardinals fullback Ernie Nevers
when Nevers scored 6 rushing TDs (his 40-point game) in 1929 vs the Bears…Twice
a Hall of Fame Finalist, 1970-1971…a crime that he’s not in the Hall of Fame.
“In the old
Cardinals-Bears games, I learned it was absolutely useless to run against
(Duke) Slater’s side of the Cardinal line."—George Halas on Slater.
“They can bring all the tackles in the
country, but this fellow [Duke] Slater is the best of them all. Slater is a
marvel and is so strong and powerful that he seems to sweep one-half of the
line aside when he charges. I’ve played against Slater, and I know what I’m
talking about.”— Red
Grange on Slater.
“Slater makes the most of his position:
is powerful, has huge hands, is very seldom caught, and hasn’t slowed a bit in
the 6 years I have played opposite to him.”—wrote Lavvie Dilweg in the Green Bay Press-Gazette in
naming Slater to his 1931 All-Opponent Team.
“Duke Slater, the veteran colored tackle, seemed the dominant figure in
that forward wall which had the Bear front wobbly. It was Slater who opened the
holes for Nevers when a touchdown was in the making.” —from Chicago
Herald-Examiner, Nov. 29, 1929, on the day Cardinals fullback Ernie Nevers scored
40-points.
“Duke was a helluva body blocker and you
couldn’t play him outside nor inside because he was big and quick and could
easily sideswipe you out of the play with his body block.” —Hunk Anderson,
former Bears lineman.
7) George Christensen (1931-1938) Nicknamed “Big Chris,” the rather large, 6-2, 238-pound Christensen, played 8 seasons (95 games) with the Portsmouth Spartans-Detroit Lions…Voted to NFL 1930s All-Decade Team…Member of one NFL Championship team, 1935 Lions…Either First- or Second-team All-Pro by the NFL or UPI, five times, 1932-1936…Twice named First-team All-Pro by the Green Bay Press-Gazette, 1931, 1933 and Collyers, 1933-1934…Lions team captain who also served as line coach while playing…big, fast, athletic tackle, who would sometime pull on end runs for halfbacks Ernie Caddell, Dutch Clark and Glenn Presnell in Potsy Clark’s single-wing offense…was part of offensive line that established NFL record for rushing yards in a single-season with 2,885 yards (in 12 games), a record that stood until 1972 when the Miami Dolphins broke it (in a 14-game season)…just like Duke Slater, no reason he’s not in the Hall of Fame.
Good
tackles were numerous with Christensen of Portsmouth the best of the lot. This
husky Spartan was a demon on the attack while on the defense, he raised havoc
with every club Potsy Clark’s hirelings bumped into this past season.”—wrote George W. Calhoun Green Bay
Press-Gazette, wrote in 1933 after naming Christensen to All-Pro team.
“On
our club was a tackle who I think should be in the Hall of Fame. His name is
George Christensen and he was as good a tackle as I ever saw on a pro team.
Most of the men who played with him or against him would say the same thing.”—Dutch Clark, Lions teammate and Hall of Fame back.
“George
Christensen was the biggest man on the team at 238 pounds and we used to
consider him a freak. But I’ll tell you, he was one of the fastest men we had.”—Jim Steen, Lions teammate in 1974.
8) Ed Healey (1920-1927) Healey
was an end at Dartmouth, but moved to tackle once he started playing pro
ball…Rather compact at 6-1, 207-pounds, Healey played 8 seasons (89 games), his
first 2+ years with Rock Island, then during the 1922 season was sold to the
Chicago Bears for $100, since he played George Halas so tough, the Bears owner
wanted Healey for his team…Known for being tough at the point of attack, Healey
used his broad shoulders and rather large hands to good use when blocking. “I
loved playing in the line and I loved bodily contact,” said Healey in
1965…First-team All-Pro four times by the Green Bay Press-Gazette, 1923-26; twice
by Collyers, 1925-26.; and once by NFL President Joe Carr in 1925; the Chicago
Tribune in 1926 and Leroy Andrews in 1927…Second-team by Collyers in 1924 and
by the Ohio State Journal in 1925…Selected to NFL 1920s All-Decade
Team…Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964 (Hall’s second-ever class)…rugged two-way star, who was called “most versatile tackle ever” by
Halas…played on the famous Red Grange-Bears barnstorming tour of 1925-26. “He
was as good a tackle as I have ever seen. Oh, how he loved to come downfield
under a punt! He was an absolutely vicious football player,” once said
Red Grange in 1978.
“Ed Healey was one of the
greatest linemen I ever saw.”—Joey
Sternaman, former Bears teammate.
“Healey, giant tackle of the Chicago Bears, didn’t have to
take his hat off to any lineman in the pro game. He is a perfect blocker.”—wrote the Green Bay Press-Gazette in naming Healey
First Team All-Pro in 1925.
9) Frank “Bruiser” Kinard (1938-1944,
1946-1947) The 6-1, 216-pound Kinard, played with a tough,
aggressive, durable work ethic for 9 seasons (101 games) for two teams, the Brooklyn
Dodgers and New York Yankees of the AAFC after WWII (1946-47).…his nickname of
“Bruiser” was perfect…also known to be very fast, running a 10.4 in the 100 in
full gear, which helped Kinard in running down ballcarriers from sidelines to
sidelines...60-minute player, only missed 1 game due to injury…flourished with
the Dodgers in 1940-41, when Jock Sutherland was hired as head coach. Kinard
was ideal for his single-wing attack which took advantage of Kinard’s
aggressive, speedy style…very surprising to not have made the NFL All-Decade
Team of the 1940s, should’ve made it over Al Blozis and Vic Sears…First-team
All-Pro three times by AP (1940, 1943-44) and New York Daily News (1940-41,
1944); Named First-team twice by the NFL (1940-41), I.N.S. (1940, 1942) and
once by Collyers (1940), Football Writers (1938), UPI (1941) and the Detroit
Free Press (1944)…Second-team three times by UPI (1938-39, 1944) and the by NFL
(1938-39, 1942), and twice by AP (1941-42), NYDN (1938, 1942) and I.N.S. (1938,
1944)…Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1971.
“The Brooklyn team used to
have plays designed just for the blocking of Kinard. They’d get Frank out there
against a defender and he’d just mow them down. He made the work easy for the
ballcarrier…Once Bruiser threw the lead block, there was daylight for the
ballcarrier- and Bruiser never missed throwing that block.”—Joe Stydahar, former Bears Hall of Fame tackle.
“Bruiser was one of the great football players for his
size, that was ever in football.”—Ray Flaherty, former Hall of Fame coach.
10) Len Grant (1930-1937)
The underrated Grant lands at number ten. The huge, 6-3, 235-pounder was a
mainstay on the New York Giants line for 8 seasons (92 games) throughout the
1930’s, playing mainly left tackle. Strong like a bull, Grant could do
everything very well on both sides of the ball…A former college boxer, Grant
always showed toughness while playing the tackle position…Member of 1 NFL
Championship team with Giants, 1934 (won Sneakers Game)…Started at left tackle
in the first NFL Championship Game against the Bears in 1933…First-team All-Pro
twice by the UPI (1931-1932) and once each by the New York Post (1931), Collyers
(1932) and the Brooklyn Eagle (1933)…Second-team by the NFL and Green Bay
Press-Gazette in 1933 and Collyers in 1931…Honorable mention by NFL in
1935-1936 and Collyers in 1930…a year after retiring from the NFL in 1938
tragedy struck Grant when he was hit by lightning while playing golf, he died at
the age of 32.
11) Jim Barber (1935-1941) Another
massive tackle, at 6-3, 223-pounds, Barber played 7 seasons (76 games) for the
Boston-Washington Redskins at right tackle, anchoring their line with fellow
tackle Turk Edwards. Protecting Sammy Baugh for his entire career, Barber was a
physical and smart player, played six of his seven years under Hall of Famer
Ray Flaherty…Member of 1 NFL championship team with the Redskins, 1937…First-team All-Pro twice by the UPI (1939-1940) and once each by the NFL (1939),
Football Writers (1939) and by his coach Ray Flaherty in 1938…in 1939-1940 he
beat out Kinard, Edwards for First-team honors…Second-team by Collyers and New
York Daily News in 1940; and Honorable mention by the NFL four times, 1936,
1938, 1940-41.
“Jim didn’t get the notoriety of some, but he was a fine, dependable player, and a tough one.”—Ray Flaherty, former Redskins Hall of Fame coach.
12) Bill Lee (1935-1942, 1946)
The 6-2, 231-pound Lee played 9 seasons (82 games) with two franchises; Brooklyn
Dodgers for his first three years and the Green Bay Packers for six seasons- where
he had his best years from 1937 to 1942…Played mainly right tackle…Member of 1
NFL championship team with Green Bay, 1936…Elected to NFL 1930s All-Decade
Team, despite not any First-team All-Pro selections…Selected to 1 Pro Bowl
(1939)…NFL Honorable mention four times, 1935-36, 1938-39…Named Second-team
All-Pro in 1935 by the Green Bay Press-Gazette; in 1936 by Chicago Daily News;
in 1939 by Football Writers and in 1940 by the AP.
“Bill Lee covered himself with glory for Brooklyn and was one of
the best of the 1935 crop of recruits. Lee had all the qualifications of an
‘ace’ tackle. He has lots of fight and always was right on top of the ball.” —wrote the Green Bay Press-Gazette about Lee in 1935.
13) Buford “Baby” Ray (1938-1948)
The biggest tackle on the list, the aptly nicknamed “Baby” Ray, stood 6-feet-6,
250-pounds, massive, but very agile tackle who played 11 years (116 games) for
the Green Bay Packers at left tackle…Could dominate on both offense and defense;
plus with height would block kicks and punts…Member of 2 NFL Championship teams
with Green Bay, 1939, 1944…Elected to NFL 1940s All-Decade Team…1 Pro Bowl
(1939)…First-team All-Pro twice by Collyers (1939, 1941); Pro Football
Illustrated (1943-1944) and once by UPI (1941) and New York Daily News
(1943)…Second-team by UPI (1939, 1943-1944); Detroit Free Press (1943) and the
NYDN (1941, 1944)…Honorable mention by NFL five times (1939, 1941-1944)…Elected
to the Packers Hall of Fame in 1973…after his playing career was over became a
coach (college) and then a scout for the Packers.
“He was a big boy. In those
days, anybody who was bigger than 6-2 or 6-3 was a big guy. He was steady. He
was there every game. I don’t think he ever got hurt. Reliable.”—Aldo Forte, former NFL lineman with Bears and Lions
and played one year with Ray in Green Bay (1947).
14) Steve Owen (1924-1931, 1933)
“Stout” Steve played 9 years (97 games) in the NFL with three different
franchises, but mostly with the Giants (1926-31, 1933)…won 1 NFL Championship
with the Giants as a player, 1927- helping the defense allowed only twenty
points all season and pitching ten shutouts in 13 league games (playing
alongside Cal Hubbard and Al Nesser)…Commonly referred to as a “bull-dozer with a brain”…Had best years
in 1929-1930 being named First-team All-Pro by Collyers (1929), Leroy Andrews
(1929) and the NFL (1930)…Second-team in 1926 by the Green Bay Press-Gazette
and honorable mention in 1929…Selected to the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team…went
on to coach the Giants for 24 years…Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in
1966 (as a tackle-coach).
“No doubt he was the
toughest man I ever knew. He was bigger than most of the players then, and he
loved to mix it up. If you liked that kind of action, you just had to love
watching Steve in action.”—Tim Mara,
Giants Hall of Fame owner.
15) Bill Owen (1926-1936)
The younger brother of Hall of Famer Steve Owen (he’s one spot below), gets
overlooked but was just as good a player as his more popular brother. Stocky,
at 6-foot, 210-pounds, Bill bounced around the NFL in his first three seasons
playing one year each with Kansas City, Cleveland and Detroit. But found a home
with his brother with the Giants, playing 8 seasons at right tackle in New York…
Played 11 total seasons (138 games)…Member of 1 NFL Championship team with
Giants, 1934…Had his best years in 1930-1931, Named First-team All-Pro by
Collyers (1930-31); Chicago Daily News (1930); Red Grange (1930) and Curly
Lambeau (1931)…Second-team by UPI (1931) and the NFL (1931)…Honorable mention
by the NFL in 1932-1933.
“Owen had a great year on
the gridiron for Detroit. He was a 60-minute line man and wanted more. Built on
powerful lines, Owen made good use of his strength and there wasn’t a line that
was able to hold him out.”—wrote
the Green Bay Press-Gazette on Owen, in naming him First-team All-Pro in 1928.
16) Russell “Bull” Behman (1924-1931) Nicknamed
“Bull”, the squatty, 5-feet-10, 215-pound Behman played 8 years (100 games
total) of pro football, all with the Frankford Yellow Jackets, except for in
1926 when he played for the Philadelphia Quakers of the rival AFL. Very athletic
and versatile tackle during the 1920’s; also very intelligent, acted as line
coach for Yellow Jackets…in a game against the Columbus Tigers in 1925 (Oct. 31st)
Behman scored 2 TDs, one on blocked punt return and one on a 45-yard
interception return, in a 19-0 victory…that same year he made 5 FGs and 12 XPs
(scoring 39 points)…Won 1926 AFL Championship with the Quakers, playing right
tackle; was best tackle in the AFL that season…First-team All-Pro by Green Bay
Press-Gazette and the NFL (ahead of Link Lyman) in 1928; by GBPG, Collyers,
Chicago Tribune and coach Leroy Andrews in 1929…was head coach of the Yellow
Jackets for three seasons as player-coach, 1929-1931 (13-20-7 record).
“A monstrous man who could
stand firm as Gibraltar or move like a cat. Behman was almost impossible to
block. Coaches had to assign so many extra blockers to him that plays came
apart.”—wrote historian Roger Treat
in the 1952 NFL Encyclopedia, naming Behman to his All-Time Team.
“Bull Behman of Frankford was the best tackle in the
league. Behman is built right for this pro footballing and he makes all of his
200 plus poundage count. The former Bucknell captain is very smart and he often
sensed the play before the ball was snapped.”—wrote the Green Bay Press-Gazette, naming Behman First-team
All-Pro in 1929.
17) Ed Widseth (1937-1940)
Widseth replaced Grant-B. Owen when he arrived in New York in 1937 as a first-round draft pick (fourth overall). The 6-1, 223-pound Widseth played just 4
seasons (44 games) with the Giants, but was highly respected by opponents and
his coach Steve Owen….Very strong at point of attack, used his strength to make
plays in the backfield…Member of 1 NFL championship, 1938 Giants…Had best year
that championship season by being Named First-team All-Pro by the NFL, UP,
I.N.S., Collyers, Football Writers and New York Daily News- voted ahead of
Kinard and Edwards…Second-team in 1937 by UPI, Collyers, and NYDN…Named Second-team by the NFL in 1937 and 1939 and honorable mention in 1940—also named H.M.
by the AP in 1940.
18) Jack Johnson (1934-1940) Rather
large at 6-feet-4, 216-pounds, Johnson played all 7 seasons with the Detroit
Lions (76 games)…member of 1 NFL championship team, 1935 Lions; played on same
line as All-Pros, tackle George Christensen and guard Ox Emerson…scored 2
career TDs, including one on a 60-yard fumble recovery in 1937 against the Cleveland Rams…always a notch below the big time tackles during his era, as he was named honorable mention by the NFL for six straights seasons, 1934-39…First-team All-Pro
by Collyers in 1936 and Second-team by I.N.S. twice (1938-39)…in 1939 was
Second-team by Collyers and I.N.S. and Honorable mention by Football Writers…1
Pro Bowl (1939).
19) Howard “Cub” Buck (1920-1925)
The rather portly, 6-feet, 260-pound Buck started his professional career
before the NFL was founded in 1920; playing for the Canton Bulldogs from
1916-1920, alongside Jim Thorpe, Pete Calac and Joe Guyon….he joined the
Packers in 1921…played 6 seasons in the NFL (60 games)…would probably be higher
if his prime years were in the NFL; known to be the strongest man in pro
football during his time…coached by Curly Lambeau in Green Bay, showing a
desire to win. Buck couldn’t stand to lose…also kicked, converting 24 XPs and
10 FGs, and was one of the league’s better punters during the early 1920’s…based
on newspaper accounts, Buck led the Packers in scoring in 1923 and was credited
with having 19 punts in a game against St. Louis in 1923…Elected to the Packers
Hall of Fame in 1977.
“The finest lineman I ever
played with or against,” – once said
Jim Thorpe, about Cub Buck.
“He knew every rule in the book. And in view of the fact
that he had captained the team at Wisconsin and had played some pro football at
Canton before he joined us, he was an awful lot of help to Curly with the
coaching, particularly concerning line play. And in that line, he was a stone
wall.”—Charlie Mathys, former
teammate and Packers Hall of Famer.
20) Willie Wilkin (1938-1943, 1946)
Huge tackle at 6-4, 260-pounds, Wilkin simply overpowered you at the line of
scrimmage- could also run, one newspaper wrote that Wilkin “could run the 100-yard dash in less than 11
seconds”…protected Sammy Baugh, mainly at left tackle (replaced Edwards in
1941). “He was extremely fast for a lineman. He was one of the most valuable
players we had,” said Sammy Baugh about Wilkin…member of 1 NFL
Championship team, 1942 Redskins…3 Pro Bowls (1940-42)…in 1939-1940 named
Honorable mention All-Pro by the NFL…best years were in 1941-1942; was named
First-team All-Pro by the NFL, AP, and New York Daily News both years…in 1943
Honorable mention by the Detroit Free Press…did join Marine Corp in 1944, then
came back to play one more year in 1946.
“(Wilkin) is just about as
strong as Samson was reported to be- maybe stronger.”—wrote Collier’s magazine.
21) Gus Sonnenberg (1923, 1925-1928,
1930) The shortest tackle on the list is Sonnenberg, at 5-feet-6,
196-pounds, the man they called “Gus,” played 6 seasons in the NFL for 4 teams,
playing mostly for the Providence Steam Roller (3 of those years). A former pro
wrestling champion, Sonnenberg was a tough opponent, willing to knock anybody
down to open a hole; well known for his trademark “flying tackle” technique…Member
of the 1928 Steam Roller squad that won the NFL Championship, helping open
holes for All-Pro backs George “Wildcat” Wilson and Curly Oden…also kicked at
times, making 18 career FGs and 33 XPs. In 1925 with Detroit, had great two
weeks in October (11th, 18th), kicking FGs to defeat
Frankford (3-0) and Dayton (6-0, both FGs)…Scored only career TD when playing
for Columbus in 1923, a 1-yard run in a 27-3 victory over the Oorang Indians…First-team All-Pro in 1923 by Guy Chamberlin and in 1925 by the Ohio State Journal
and Green Bay Press-Gazette…In 1927 was named First Team again by the Green Bay
Press-Gazette and Second-team by coach Leroy Andrews…In 1925 NFL President Joe
Carr named him Second-team…In 1928 was First-team by the Chicago Tribune and
Second-team by the NFL and GBPG…Carl Storck, manager of the Dayton Triangles
and NFL Vice-President, said Gus “is one mighty sweet athlete.”
“Sonnenberg is a veteran
pro footballer who made a great comeback when he changed from Detroit to
Providence. The Steamroller is a superb lineman and often galloped down the
field faster than his ends. In addition to this he is quite some kicker.” —wrote the Green Bay Press-Gazette, in naming
Sonnenberg First-team All-Pro in 1927.
22) Armand Niccola (1934-1942)
The 6-2, 226-pound Niccola was one of the most underrated players during his
era, simply because his team always lost. Niccola played 9 seasons (97 games)
with the Pittsburgh Pirates-Steelers. Had only 1 winning season with
Pittsburgh- in 1942- went 7-4 (overall record was 29-69-4)…Durable and strong
tackle…Named honorable mention by the NFL three times (1935-36, 1938)…Second-team All-Pro twice by the UPI (1935-36) and Third-team by the Green Bay Press-Gazette
in 1935…very versatile, kept with team as a kicker, making 34 career FGs and 71
XPs; twice he led the NFL in FGs made in 1935 (6) and 1936 (7), and finished second in 1940 (6 made; Clarke Hinkle first with 9). Would also kickoff…After playing
days were over had a successful career as a high school coach in the Pittsburgh
area.
23) Tony Blazine (1935-1941)
Similar to Niccola, the 6-0, 232-pound Blazine didn’t win too many games,
playing 7 seasons (73 games) in the NFL with six of them with the Chicago
Cardinals (one with the Giants, 1941). His overall record with the Cards was
19-43-6. Did play in the 1941 NFL Championship Game with Giants (lost 37-9)…Described
by sportswriters as a little “chubby” Blazine became well respected for his
toughness and blocking skills…In 1935 was named Second-team All-Pro by the NFL;
then named Honorable mention by NFL three times (1937-39)…also Honorable mention by Football Writers in 1938-1939…scored 1 career TD, against the Bears
in 1938 (lost 16-13) on a fumble recovery…In 1963 after Blazine passed away, former
NFL tackle Lou Rymkus was quoted as saying he “rates Blazine the greatest
tackle he has watched perform.”
24) Frank Cope (1938-1947)
Built like a brick wall, the 6-2, 225-pounds Cope played 10 years with the New
York Giants (98 games), mostly at left tackle…member of 1 NFL Championship
team, 1938 Giants…First-team All-Pro in 1944 by UPI, Pro Football Illustrated,
and I.N.S. and in 1945 by the AP…Second Team by I.N.S. in 1940; UPI in 1945;
and by the New York Daily News in 1944-1945…Honorable mention by the NFL in
1942…Cope was a master at blocking kicks-punts.
25) Bill Morgan (1933-1936) The
powerfully built Morgan, at 6-2, 232-pounds, played just 4 seasons in the NFL,
all with the New York Giants. Playing for Steve Owen, Morgan had a highly
successful tenure on the line, playing in 48 games. Playing on the same line as Hein, Del Isola, Grant
and Gibson, the stout Morgan fit in quite well with the rotation of stars. The
Giants went a combined 33-17-1 in his four seasons, won 3 division titles and
won 1 NFL Championship in 1934 (winning the Sneakers Game)…His best years were
in 1934 and 1935, Morgan was Named First-team All-Pro both seasons by the NFL,
Chicago Daily News and the Green Bay Press-Gazette…in the NFL vote he beat
Edwards and Lyman in 1934 and Edwards and George Christensen in 1935…in 1935
was also named First-team by UPI, Collyers, and the Boston Post…Honorable mention by the NFL in 1933 and 1936; and by the Brooklyn Eagle in 1933…played
excellent in the 1934 NFL Championship Game, known as the Sneakers Game,
afterward Bears fullback Bronko Nagurski was asked who played well for the
Giants, he mentioned “Ken Strong and Bill Morgan, the big left
tackle.” Lou Little, Columbia
head coach who attended the game said afterward “Morgan turned in the greatest
tackle job I’ve ever seen. It’s a perfect example of what a one-man rampage can
do to a great running attack”…retired after just 4 seasons, deciding to
go back home to Oregon, where he was a successful salesman for United States
Rubber Company.
“Morgan climaxed a great
season by playing super-ball in the championship game against the Bears. Morgan
is a lively customer on the defense and he seemed to have a super sense when it
comes to solving plays.”—wrote the
Green Bay Press-Gazette in naming Morgan First-team All-Pro in 1934.
“Bill Morgan again earned All-American recognition for his
performance at tackle with New York. He was the slashing type of forward and
generally spent a lot of time in the opponents’ backfield. Morgan started off
at a fast clip and gained speed as the season went on. On offense, Coach Steve
Owen used him as the ace hole maker and he seldom left anything standing up.”—wrote the Green Bay Press-Gazette the following
year in 1935.
26) Hugh Blacklock (1920-1926)
Tall and thick at 6-0, 220-pounds, Blacklock played 7 years in the NFL (59
games) with six of them at tackle for the Chicago Bears (one with Brooklyn in
1926)…After college he went into the Navy for WWI, then in 1919 played for
Hammond All-Stars with Halas, pre-NFL…Played right tackle (started all 11
games) and was member of the 1921 Chicago Staleys that won the NFL
Championship…First-team All-Pro by the Rock Island Argus in 1920 and by George
Halas in 1922…Named honorable mention in 1922 by Guy Chamberlin…like fellow tackle
Ed Healey he played on the famous 1925-1926 Red Grange-Bears barnstorming tour.
“Henry of Canton, and
Blacklock of the Staleys, have no peers in the professional field with all the
angles of the game considered…Blacklock was less sensational than Henry, but a
terror to all opponents within his reach. His perfect condition told, too.”—wrote Bruce Copeland, sports editor, Rock Island
Argus, naming Blacklock First-team All-Pro in 1920.
27) Fred Gillies (1920-1926, 1928) Played
before the NFL was founded with Cornell-Hamburgs and the Hammond All-Stars in
1919 against the Canton Bulldogs (Nov. 27th) with Jim Thorpe-
teammate of George Halas and Paddy Driscoll…One of the early good tackles in
the APFA-NFL era, the 6-3, 218-pound Gillies played 8 seasons (71 games) with
the Chicago Cardinals.- although he only played 1 game in 1928 as he was the
head coach (had 1-5 record). Helped opened
holes for All-Pro back Paddy Driscoll…Won 1 NFL Championship with Cardinals,
1925…Nicknamed “Boo,” Gillies was very good at run blocking; started out
playing left tackle, but mostly played on the right side…Named Second-team
All-Pro by George Halas in 1922 (Bears played against the Cardinals twice that
year, defeating the Bears both times) and by the Canton Daily News in 1923.
“I have found him (Gillies)
to be a great team player who respects everyone’s opinion and who had the
ability to form any group of players into a working and winning team.”—said Red Grange about Gillies in 1961.
28) Ed Kolman (1940-1942, 1946-1947,
1949) Kolman played 6 years in the NFL (66 games) with 2
teams- the Bears for five and the Giants for one…Nicknamed “Big Ed,” Kolman had
his career interrupted by the War, when he joined the Navy…the 6-2, 232-pound
tackle (mostly playing the left side) was a key contributor to the great Bears
teams of the early 1940s (playing on the same line with Stydahar, Fortmann, Turner)...Member
of 2 NFL Championship teams with Bears, 1940-1941…Honorable mention All-Pro by
the NFL in 1940 and 1942, while earning Second-team honors in 1941…Named Second-team All-Pro by UPI in 1940 and by the New York Daily News in 1941-1942…I.N.S.
named him First-team in 1942…intelligent player on the field, that when after
career was over, became a long-time offensive line coach with the Giants
.
“Maybe there are better
tackles in the league than Ed Kolman and Bruiser Kinard but we doubt it.”—wrote Jack Mahon of I.N.S. when naming Kolman First-team All-Pro in 1942.
“(Kolman) was a feisty guy who’d give you 100 percent.”—said Luke Johnsos to the Chicago Tribune in 1963
about Kolman.
29) John Mellus (1938-1941, 1946-1949)
Compact at 6-0, 214-pounds, Mellus played 4 years with the New York Giants (41
games) before joining the service for WWII…he came back to play in the AAFC for
San Francisco and Brooklyn….but his four years with the Giants gets him on the
list…Member of the 1938 New York Giants that won the NFL Championship…although
he didn’t start for the Giants in 1938 he made the Pro Bowl; making another one
in 1941…First-team All-Pro in 1941 by Collyers and AP…Named Second-team in 1939
by Football Writers, I.N.S. and the New York Daily News; and by the NFL for two
years, 1940-1941…Also named First-team by the Chicago Herald-Examiner in 1939
and Second-team in 1941…scored 1 career TD, returning a fumble 21-yards to help
beat the Redskins, 21-7, in 1940 (a year that the Redskins only lost 2 games in
the regular season).
30) Dick Stahlman (1924-1925, 1927,
1931-1933) The 6-2, 219-pound Stahlman played 7 years in the NFL
for 7 different teams. A nomad, Stahlman played in 69 games, mainly for the
Giants (17 games) and Packers (27 games)…Member of 3 NFL Championship squads,
Giants in 1927, Packers in 1931 and the Bears in 1933, but was never a true
star but solid contributor…Had his best year in 1931 with the Packers, earning
First-team All-Pro honors by Collyers and his head coach Curly Lambeau; while
earning Second-team honors from the NFL…In 1925 with the Akron Pros, he earned Second-team team honors from the Green Bay Press-Gazette and honorable mention honors from the Ohio State Journal.
31) Russ Hathaway
(1920-1927) Built
like a bowling ball, the 5-11, 238-pound Hathaway played eight NFL seasons for
5 teams (64 games)…In 1919 before the NFL was founded Hathaway played a few
games at tackle-guard for Pine Village…His best NFL years were with the Dayton
Triangles (1920-1924) and the Pottsville Maroons (1925-1926)…Played in 2 games
with the 1922 Canton Bulldogs that won the NFL Championship…Known to be very
powerful and fast, Hathaway was a member of the 1925 Pottsville Maroons that
nearly won the NFL title, he started all 12 games, mostly at left tackle…Named
First-team All-Pro in 1923 by Guy Chamberlin who named him Honorable mention
the year before, 1922…Second Team by George Halas in 1922 and by the Green Bay
Press-Gazette in 1923…also a kicker, making 10 career FGs and 28 XPs (scoring
58 career points). In 1921 he kicked a 20-yard FG to defeat Akron Pros, 3-0,
snapping the Pros 19-game unbeaten streak and cost them a chance at winning
back-to-back APFA-NFL championships.
“Hathaway, the other
wingman, tips the beam at 240…His speed is not interfered with by his immense
bulk and he gets down under kicks with amazing speed.”—wrote the Shamokin News-Dispatch, Oct. 20, 1926.
“Hathaway is a good enough tackle for any man’s team.”—wrote the Pottsville Republican, 1926.
32) Chet Adams (1939-1943, 1945-1950)
Adams played five years for two teams- Cleveland, Green Bay- before joining the
Marines during WWII (total of 52 games). He played 6 more years after that.
Will focus more on his first five years before the War…the 6-3, 233-pound Adams
made 2 Pro Bowls with Cleveland Rams, 1941-1942, playing mainly left tackle and
sometimes playing next to All-Pro guard Riley Matheson…also kicked making 39
XPs and 6 FGs during these five seasons…Second-team All-Pro by the NFL (1942);
AP (1942-1943); I.N.S. (1940), Collyers (1941) and New York Daily News (1940,
1943)…Honorable mention twice by the AP (1940-41) and once by the NFL (1941).
“Adams was the most
versatile and hard-worked tackle in the league. He was shifted from one side of
the Green Bay line to the other and received little rest during the tough
season.”— wrote the Detroit Free
Press on naming Adams First-team All-Pro in 1943.
33) Clarence “Steamer” Horning
(1920-1923) Nicknamed “Steamer,” because he would “steamrolled
over his opponents,” Horning played for the Detroit Heralds in the
Pre-NFL years (1916-1919), before spending 4 seasons with Detroit, Buffalo, and
the Toledo Maroons (1922-1923), playing 36 career games (also played with
Rochester Jeffersons)….the 6-0, 196-pound Horning was a brick to move off his
tackle spot, playing mainly right tackle. Very intelligent and athletic player…he
made a great impression on Hall of Fame end and coach Guy Chamberlin, who named
Steamer to his First-team All-Pro squads in 1922 (ahead of Lyman) and 1923…the
Canton Daily News named him honorable mention for 1923…a great leader on those
early Detroit teams, was team captain for the Heralds in 1920-1921…scored 2
career TDs, including one on a 15-yard pass while with Toledo against the
Milwaukee Badgers in 1922 (Oct. 8), that helped the Maroons tie the Badgers,
12-12…also was known to perform kick-off duties…after his playing career was
over coached high school football in Detroit (Highland Park) for over twenty
years.
“Now this same ‘Steamer’ is
out there with the Toledo Maroons and is playing his old game of tackle, which
is said to be one of the very best in the country.”—wrote the Fremont (OH) News-Messenger, Oct. 6, 1923.
“In Steamer Horning, captain of the team, the Detroit
Heralds claim to have one of the greatest offensive tackles in the game today.”—wrote the Dayton Herald, Dec. 4, 1919.
34) Milo “Lou” Lubratovich (1931-1935)
The 6-2, 230-pound Lubratovich played 5 years (53 games) in the NFL, all with
the Brooklyn Dodgers. A stalwart for the Dodgers at left tackle, Lubratovich
was consistently the team’s best lineman…First-team All-Pro in 1932 by the
Green Bay Press-Gazette (along with Hubbard and G. Christensen)…in 1933 named honorable mention by the NFL.
35) Lee Artoe (1940-1942, 1945-1948)
Artoe is another tackle, like Chet Adams and Ed Kolman, who had their early
years interrupted by the War when he joined the Navy…The 6-3, 234-pound Artoe
was another mainstay on the Bears front line (Fortmann, Musso, Kolman, Turner,
Stydahar)…gained reputation of being a tough, hard player to play against, some
say he was rather “mean on the field”…Member of 2 NFL Championship teams with
Bears, 1940-41…best year was in 1942 when he was named First-team All-Pro by
the NFL, AP, New York Daily News and Second-team by I.N.S…in 1940 he was named honorable mention by the NFL and AP; while in 1941 named by NFL, AP and
Collyers…selected to 3 straight Pro Bowls (1940-1942)…in 1942 NFL Championship
Game against the Redskins had a 50-yard fumble return for a TD- although the
Bears would go on to lose, 14-6…excellent kicker, who booted a Bears record
52-yard field goal against the Giants in 1942 (Oct. 27th), the
record lasted until 1975 when Bob Thomas kicked a 55-yarder.
“He was a real tough guy, a
real hitter. He played both sides of the ball for us and even kicked for us.
That was Lee Artoe.”—said Ken
Kavanaugh, former Bears end and teammate, in 2005.
Here are three players who I wanted to get on the list but
just couldn’t fit them—
Al
Blozis (1942-1944) Gentle giant, Blozis stood 6-feet-6,
250-pounds. He played just 3 years with the Giants and only 23 games. But made
an immediate and lasting impact. When on the field, truly dominated the line of
scrimmage, both on offense and defense. In 1943, just his second season, was
named First-team All-Pro by UPI, Pro Football Illustrated and AP…life was cut
down when killed in France during World War II, he was just 26 years
old…thought so highly of, he was named to the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team.
Century
Milstead (1925-1928) The 6-1, 213-pound Milstead took the NFL
by storm with the New York Giants in 1925, making First-team All-Pro as a
guard, Collyers. Then in 1926 signed with the Philadelphia Quakers of the rival
AFL, teaming with fellow tackle Bull Behman to help the Quakers to the
title…after the league folded returned to the Giants to play just two more
seasons (1927-1928), playing tackle. In 1927 was named First Team by the
Chicago Tribune and Second-team by the Green Bay Press-Gazette and helped the
Giants win the 1927 NFL Championship (on the line with Hubbard, Nesser, Stahlman and
Owen).
George
Musso - listed on the Guard list…played his first four
seasons at tackle for the Bears (1933-1936); excelling at tackle too; making
First-team All-Pro by Brooklyn Eagle in 1933 and NFL, Collyers, and Chicago
Daily News in 1935…helped the Bears win the 1933 NFL Championship…elected to
the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982.
Bonus
Note: In 1947 the editors of Pro Football Illustrated selected 51 players for their “roster of all-time all-stars”
(1921-1946 years). Among those players they selected 9 tackles:
“Cub”
Buck
Turk
Edwards
Pete
“Fats” Henry
Cal
Hubbard
Ed
Healey
Link
Lyman
Duke
Slater
Gus
Sonnenberg
Joe
Stydahar
Best
of the Rest:
1) Ralph Scott (1921-1927)
2) Boni Petcoff (1924-1926)
3) Bub Weller (1923-1928)
4) Walt “Speed” Ellis (1924-1927)
5) Russ Stein (1922, 1924-1926)
6) Paul Jappe (1925-1928)
7) Ed Weir (1926-1928)
8) Roger Ashmore (1926-1929)
9) Don Murry (1922, 1924-1932)
10) Bill Kern (1929-1930)
11) Jap Douds (1930-1934)
12) Herb Blumer (1925-30, 1933)
13) Lou Gordon (1930-1938)
14) “Tiny” Engebretsen (1932-1941)
15) Lloyd Burdick (1931-1933)
16) Harold Ely (1932-1934)
17) Harry Field (1934-1936)
18) Jim MacMurdo (1932-1937)
19) Ade Schwammel (1934-1936, 1943-1944)
20) Ernie Smith (1935-1937, 1939)
21) Art Buss (1934-1937)
 |
| Baker (right) |
22) Conway Baker (1936-1945)
23) Al Babartsky (1938-1939, 1941, 1943-1945)
24) Phil Regazzo (1938-1941, 1945-1947)
25) Bill Young (1937-1942, 1946)
Mostly After WW II or Career Interrupted by War:
26) Vic Sears (1941-1943, 1945-1953)
27) Lou Rymkus (1943, 1946-1951)
 |
| Wistert |
28) Al Wistert (1943-1951)
29) Chet Bulger (1942-1950)
30) Joe Coomer (1941, 1945-1949)
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