Editor's Note; Chris Willis is head of the Research Library at NFL Films and is the author of the upcoming Red Grange: The Life and Legacy of the NFL's First Superstar.
He also authored 2014's The Man Who Built the National Football League: Joe F. Carr and 2012's Dutch Clark: The Life of an NFL Legend and the Birth of the Detroit Lions.
In 2017 he released Walter Lingo, Jim Thorpe, and the Oorang Indians: How a Dog Kennel Owner Created the NFL's Most Famous Traveling Team and a decade earlier he wrote The Columbus Panhandles: A Complete History of Pro Football's Toughest Team, 1900-1922
In 2005 he wrote Old Leather: An Oral History of Early Pro Football in Ohio, 1920-1935'
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 combing through newspapers such as GBPG, Pottsville Republican, Canton
Repository, Chicago Daily Journal, and more who would publish play-by-plays
of early NFL games.
Other resources such as the Pro Football Hall of Fame, NFL teams (especially the Packers and team historian Cliff Christl), Newspapers.com, Pro Football Reference, and more contributed mightily to the rankings.
Next up in our series of the Pre-WWII players is the
Quarterback position.
This era started out as mostly single-wing quarterbacks-tailbacks
that transformed into the T-Formation quarterbacks (starting around 1940). Early
players who played the quarterback or blocking back position were asked to do
just that, they would block, and on occasion threw a pass or punt. Lastly, they
would be asked to run the ball, or go out on a pass route. Usually they were also
asked to kick field goals and extra points.
When the T-Formation came in, the quarterback became even
more of a passing “weapon.” “The most essential element of a pro
quarterback is to be, number one a great passer. Because no matter how smart
you are, how great a leader, no matter what you know about football, if you
can’t throw under pressure, you’re never going to be a great quarterback,” once
said Sid Luckman, Bears Hall of Fame quarterback. The position then would morph
into the quarterback position we see today.
Here is the list of the Top 30 Pre-WWII quarterbacks:
1) Sammy Baugh (1937-1952) Nicknamed
“Slingin’ Sammy,” the slender, 6-2, 182-pound Baugh was simply the best
quarterback of the NFL’s two-way era. Nobody threw a better pass and from more
angles than the former TCU star. Drafted by the Washington Redskins in the
first round in 1937…Played 16 NFL seasons (165 games), all with the
Redskins…dominated his position playing out of the single-wing (played T-Formation
QB starting in 1944)…won 2 NFL championships, 1937, 1942 and played in 3 more,
losing in 1940, 1943, 1945…won first title as a rookie in 1937…Led NFL in
passing (rating) 6 times- still a record (tied by Steve Young)…Led the NFL in
completions 5 times; passing yards 4 times and passing TDs twice (1940, 1947)…twice
set NFL record for completion percentage for a single season, in 1940 (62.7)
and again in 1945 by completing 70.3%, which lasted until 1982 when Ken
Anderson broke it with 70.6…was first QB to threw 6 TDs in a game against
Brooklyn in 1943 (Oct. 31)…NFL 1940s All-Decade Team…Charter Member of the Pro
Football Hall of Fame, 1963…NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team…After
Baugh retired following the 1952 NFL season, he held every career passing
record: attempts (2,995); completions (1,693); passing yards (21,886); TD
passes (187)…also a great punter, that could change field position in a flash, a career average of 45.1 was an NFL record for over 60 years; led NFL in punting
average 4 times…Named First-team All-Pro by NFL-AP 4 times (1937, 1940, 1942,
1943); by New York Daily News 4 times; by UP 3 times; by I.N.S. and AP 2 times;
and once by the Detroit Free Press and Pro Football Illustrated (both in
1943)…Second-team by NFL in 1942; by UP twice (1938, 1941); by I.N.S. in 1940
and by Collyers in 1938 and 1941…Honorable Mention by NFL twice, 1938, 1941 and
by UP in 1944.
Baugh’s
Best Season, 1943: Led the NFL in passing, punting and
interceptions on defense with 11, which set an NFL record (although he did not
win NFL MVP, losing to Sid Luckman)…he
had arguably the greatest single-game performance in history: on Nov. 14 in a
42-20 win over the Detroit Lions, Baugh fired four touchdown passes,
intercepted four passes and got off an 81-yard punt, the longest of the year in
the NFL. He guided the Redskins to the Eastern Division title with a 6-3-1
record. Once again he would be outdone by Luckman in the NFL Championship Game,
losing 41-21.
“Sammy
Baugh is the best player ever. He was so automatic that he hardly ever looked
at his receivers. He was the nearest thing to perfection.”—Sid Luckman, former Bears Hall of Fame quarterback.
“He was the best passer I
ever saw. He could do everything. He could pass, he could play defense, and he
was the best punter.”—Ace Parker,
former Hall of Fame quarterback.
“Baugh was the best as far as I’m concerned. He could not
only throw the ball. He could play defense, he could punt the football, he ran
it when he had to. He knew football, played it, and everybody had confidence in
him.”—Bill Dudley, former Hall of
Fame back.
“Sammy Baugh, oh, he was brilliant. One of the best
quarterbacks that ever played.”—Ralph Kercheval, former Dodgers All-Pro back.
“(Baugh) would cock the ball, bring it down, and drift off
as if about to run, coach again, make a mock throw to one side, and shoot a
touchdown to the other. I have seen him make bullet-like throws with his
tremendous wrist action as he was nailed by a hard tackle and falling.”—Steve Owen former Giants Hall of Fame coach.
2) Sid Luckman (1939-1950)
The perfect signal-caller for the T-Formation during this era. Was first-round
pick in 1939. The 6-0, 197-pound Luckman played 12 seasons (128 games) in the
NFL, all with the Chicago Bears. His peak years in this era (6 seasons) was
just as good any player, regardless of position…Member of 3 NFL Championship
squads with the Bears, 1940-1941, 1943 (won a 4th in 1946)- he beat
Baugh twice in ’40, ’43 (lost to him in ’42)…just a pure winner, from 1939-1944
his Bears teams went 51-11-2…helped usher in the T-Formation as the predominate
offense in the NFL by helping the Bears defeat the Redskins, 73-0, in the 1940
title game…tremendous athlete, maybe not the pure passer like Baugh but could
make all the throws, very good throwing deep; able ball handler and fakes…”I’ve
never seen a player who worked as hard as Luckman. When everyone else left the
practice field, he stayed on. He practiced pivoting and ball-handling by the
hour. When he went to his room at night, he stood before a mirror and practiced
still more. He became a great player simply because he devoted about 400
percent more effort to it than most athletes are willing to do,” once
said George Halas about Luckman…Threw 5 TD passes in 1943 championship game and
had 2 interceptions on defense…Won Joe F. Carr NFL MVP Award in 1943 (beating
out Baugh’s great all-around year) when he led the league in passing yards
(2,194) and passing TDs with 28, both new single-season records- the TD mark
lasted until 1959 when Johnny Unitas threw 32…NFL 1940’s All-Decade Team…Pro
Football Hall of Fame, 1965…from 1940-1944 had 16 career interceptions on
defense…was the first player in NFL history to threw for 7 TDs in a game against
Giants in 1943; also set passing yards in a single game that day with 433
yards…Named First-team All-Pro by NFL in 1941-1942 and by the AP in 1941-1944;
by NYDN in 1941-1944; by UP in 1943 and by I.N.S. in 1942, 1944; also by Pro
Football Illustrated in 1943-1944…one of the few QBs of his era that had more
TDs (137) than INTs (132); in the postseason had 7-4 ratio…
Years: 1939-1944
|
Sammy Baugh
|
Sid Luckman
|
Games (reg.)
|
60 games
|
61 games
|
Games (post)
|
4 games
|
5 games
|
Attempts (reg.)
|
1,076 att.
|
725 att.
|
Attempts (post)
|
63 att.
|
63 att.
|
Completions (reg.)
|
617 comp. (57%)
|
377 comp. (52%)
|
Completions (post)
|
39 comp. (61%)
|
36 comp. (57%)
|
Passing Yards (reg.)
|
7,248 yards
|
6,994 yards
|
Passing Yards (post)
|
489 yards
|
577 yards
|
TDs-INTs (reg.)
|
71 TDs/76 INTs
|
67 TDs/56 INTs
|
TDs-INTs (post)
|
4 TDs/7 INTs
|
6 TDs/2 INTs
|
Rushing TDs:
|
1 TD (0 in post)
|
3 TD (1 in post)
|
NFL Championships:
|
1942
|
1940, 1941, 1943
|
NFL MVPs:
|
Zero
|
1943
|
On defense- INTs:
|
27 INTs (3 in post)
|
16 INTs (2 in post)
|
Punting
|
||
Wins-Losses-Ties
|
45-16-4
|
51-11-2
|
Wins-Losses (post)
|
2-2
|
4-1
|
Head-to-Head:
|
3-3 (1-2 post)
|
3-3 (2-1 post)
|
Although Luckman got the best of Baugh in two of three
championship games- and bested him in the 1943 MVP race- in the end, Baugh was
slightly better as a defensive back and much better as a punter to grab the top
spot.
Kicker/Scorer:
Driscoll dominated kicking stats during his career. Finished career with NFL
record 402 points (broke by Hutson with 542)…set NFL record with 51 career FGs
(broke by Bob Waterfield with 60)…set NFL record with points in a season with
78 in 1923; three years later broke that record by scoring 86 points (broken by
Hutson in 1941 with 95 points)…First player in NFL history to kick 4 FGs in a
game in 1925 (Oct. 11) against Columbus, a 19-9 victory…in his 10 years in the
NFL unofficially scored 34 total TDs (28 rush.; 4 rec.; 1 punt ret.; 1 fumble
rec.).
“Another great back of that
time who should also be remembered was Paddy Driscoll. Paddy was a runner, a
passer and a great dropkicker. He could drop-kick it through the uprights from
anywhere from 50-yard line in. And he was a good defensive player as well.”—Red Grange, told author Richard Whittingham.
“The greatest quarterback I have ever seen.”—Walter Camp on Driscoll.
“There is no more intelligent player in pro football than
Paddy. He handles punts unerringly, excels at the aerial game, and his accuracy
in punting and drop-kicking has never been surpassed. He is the final word as a
triple threat performer.”—wrote
Wilfred Smith of the Chicago Tribune, in naming Driscoll First-team
All-Pro in 1926.
4) Arnie Herber (1930-1940, 1944-1945) A
stocky, powerful passer, the 5-11, 203-pound Herber played 13 NFL seasons with
the Giants, but mostly with the Packers (11 years)…Because of short fingers and
pudgy hands Herber gripped the ball with his thumb over the laces, helped him
throw long passes without a wiggle. Mainly throwing out of a tailback spot in
Lambeau’s Notre Dame box offense, Herber thrived in passing downfield. “Herber
is the best long passer ever,” once said Curly Lambeau….threw 81 career
TD passes, including 31 that were 30-yards or more…at one point held all the NFL
career passing marks, until Baugh passed him; career stats: attempts (1,175),
completions (481), yards (8.041) and TDs (81)…Helped the Packers win 2 NFL
Championships, 1936, 1939…threw 4 TD passes in four career playoff games; including
two in the 1936 game, a 21-6 victory over the Redskins…Named to NFL 1930s
All-Decade Team…Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966…Named First-team All-Pro in
1932 by the NFL (HB) and UP; and in 1935 by Collyers…Second-team by NFL in
1935-1936; Collyers in 1932, 1936; and by GBPG in 1935…Honorable Mention by NFL
in 1933 and 1937 and by the Football Writers in 1939…Elected to Packers Hall of
Fame in 1972…durable player, played in 129 NFL games…Led the NFL in attempts,
completions and TD passes 3 times, 1932, 1934 and 1936…finished in top 5 in TD
passes 9 times…elected to 1 Pro Bowl, 1939….not an effective runner, only 3
rushing TDs.
“Herber’s touchdown passes
can be as demoralizing as a Ruthian home run. He has the uncanny knack of
arching a long pass so that the receiver simply races to the spot, makes the
catch and speeds on without breaking stride.”—Clark Shaughnessy, on Herber
5) Benny Friedman (1927-1934)
The first pure passing quarterback in the NFL. “No football team can be
successful in these days without a good forward passer. The time when a ground
attack could carry a team to successive victories has gone forever. To make a
running attack successful a passing attack is needed to spread the defense,” wrote
Friedman in his 1931 book “The Passing
Game”…The 5-10, 183-pound Friedman played 8 seasons (81 games) with 4
different teams- Cleveland, Detroit, N.Y. Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers. Just a
great passer…set NFL record with 20 TD passes in 1929 (broken in 1942 by Cecil
Isbell with 24)…Led NFL in passing TDs four consecutive years, 1927-1930…his 66
career TD passes set an NFL record (broken by Herber)…First player to threw 5
TDs in a single game against Frankford in 1930 (Oct. 19)…could run when he wanted
to, had 18 career TDs, including 6 in 1928…In 1928 Led the NFL in scoring with
55 points and XPs with 19…made 71 career XPs…only blemish on resume— he did not
win a NFL championship; came close in 1929 when he guided the Giants to a
13-1-1 record but lost out to the Packers (12-0-1) by one game…First-team
All-Pros- Green Bay Press-Gazette: 4 times (1927-1930); NFL: 3 times
(1928-1930); Chicago Tribune: 3 times (1927-1929); twice by Collyers (1929-1930) and Roy Andrews
(1927, 1929); once each in 1930 by the Milwaukee Sentinel, Red Grange, and Ernie
Nevers…after decades was finally elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in
2005.
“Friedman was the first of
the great precision passers, the forerunner of the Sammy Baughs and Y.A.
Tittles.”—Joe “Doc” Alexander,
former All-Pro center, said in 1964.
“Until Friedman came along, the pass was used as a
desperation weapon in long-yardage situations on third down- or when your team
was hopelessly behind. Benny demonstrated that the pass could be mixed with
running plays as an integral part of the offense.” – George Halas, former Bears end and Hall of Fame coach.
“They talk about great passers today, but remember that the
football has been changed three times since the early 1930s, and each time it
has been made narrower and the axis pulled in. Anybody could throw today’s
football. You go back to Benny Friedman playing with the New York Giants in the
late 1920s and early 1930s. He threw that old balloon. Now who’s to tell what
Benny Friedman might do with this modern football. He’d probably be the greatest
passer that ever lived.” – Red
Grange, former Bears Hall of Fame halfback.
“Friedman was the first pro I was conscious of strictly as
a passer. The pass in those days was a third-down play. Friedman, who was
probably ahead of his time, would throw on first down and was criticized for
it.” – Wellington Mara, Giants Hall
of Fame owner.
6) Joseph “Red” Dunn (1924-1931)
The man they called “Red” was the main engine that helped the Green Bay Packers
win 3 straight NFL Championships, 1929-1931…also was on the 1925 Chicago
Cardinals championship team (4 total titles)…the 5-11, 177-pound Dunn could do
everything within Lambeau’s offense while with the Packers; was best known for
his passing; overshadowed by Friedman in passing game…on defense was a sure
tackler and ballhawk; as well as returned punts…after playing his first three
seasons with Milwaukee and the Chicago Cardinals, joined the Packers in 1927
and would play 8 NFL seasons total (92 games)…in 1925 with the Cardinals threw
9 TD passes…had best year in 1930 with Packers, throwing a career-high 11 TD
passes in championship year, including tossing 3 to defeat Frankford (Nov. 27th)
on Thanksgiving…he followed that up with 8 TD passes in 1931…unofficially
counted for 48 career TD passes; twice he tossed 3 scores in a single game…also
ran for 5 TDs and caught one…excellent kicker, converted 75 XPs and 13 FGs;
scored 150 career points…First-team All-Pro in 1930 by the NFL and Red
Grange…Second Team by the NFL in 1931; by Collyers in 1924 and 1930; by Green
Bay Press-Gazette in 1930 by the UP in 1931…Honorable Mention by the GBPG in
1929…Elected to the Packers Hall of Fame in 1976. Just a notch below Friedman
during his era (won more games than Benny) but can make a strong case to be a
Hall of Famer.
“He was a very good passer
and very good signal caller. He had charge of the team on the field and was a
leader.” – Mike Michalske, former
teammate and Hall of Fame guard.
“Red Dunn could throw the ball as well as anybody at the
time. Benny Friedman was considered the best pro passer then, because he had
the big college reputation, but every time we played the (NY) Giants, Red
outplayed Benny as far as I’m concerned.” –
Johnny “Blood” McNally, former teammate and Packers Hall of Fame back, told
author Ralph Hickok.
7) Cecil Isbell (1938-1942) The
tall, athletic Isbell (6-1, 190) played just 5 seasons in the NFL (54 games),
all with the Green Bay Packers. His short tenure was one of excellence as he
thrived in Lambeau’s passing offense (tailback position). “Isbell was a master at any
range. He could throw soft passes, bullet passes, or long passes,” once
said Curly Lambeau…Played career with a chain attached from his body under his
pads so he couldn’t raise his left arm too high- if he did he would dislocate
his shoulder out of place…Compared to some of his contemporaries, Isbell was
known as a better passer than Sid Luckman and a better runner than Sammy
Baugh….strong passer who made all the throws; took over passing offense from
Herber. On film one of best throws was the out route, had great timing with Don
Hutson…Member of the Packers team that won the 1939 NFL Championships; where he
threw 1 TD pass in the 27-0 victory over the Giants…Highly thought of, named to
NFL 1930’s All-Decade Team- Isbell is the only All-Decade QB not in the Hall of
Fame…made 4 Pro Bowls, 1938-1939, 1941-1942…in his 54 career games threw 61
TDs…excellent runner, rushed for 10 career TDs- eclipses Baugh (9), Luckman (4)
and Herber (3) and over 1,5000 yards; led the Packers in rushing in 1938-1939
(beating out Clarke Hinkle)…great 2-year stretch where in 1941 led NFL in
attempts, completions, passing yards with 1,479- set a new NFL record- and TDs
with 15…had better year in 1942 when he
led league in completions (146), passing yards (2,021) and TDs with 24- all new
NFL single-season records- helping All-Pro receiver Don Hutson win NFL MVP…Named
First-team All-Pro by UP in 1938 and 1941; by NFL in 1941-1942; by New York
Daily News in 1941-1942, and by Collyers in 1941…Second-team by NFL, 1938, 1940;
by UP in 1940; by I.N.S. in 1938-39, 1942; and by NYDN in 1938, 1940…Elected to
Packers Hall of Fame in 1972.
“I worked with another
great passer at Green Bay, Cecil Isbell, he would be in the Hall of Fame today
if he hadn’t quit playing football so early. If he stayed in the NFL his name
would be all over the record books and they would talk of him in the same terms
they do of Luckman and Baugh.”- Don
Hutson, told author Richard Whittingham.
“Played a couple of years with Cecil. In my book, he ranks
along the side of Sid Luckman and Sammy Baugh. He had a nice soft pass, he was
a pinpoint passer, he could pass to a spot. He was a beautiful passer.”- Clarke Hinkle, former Packers Hall of Fame fullback.
“Arnie Herber is just a passer…But this Isbell is a passer,
kicker, runner and a line bucker… Green Bay’s attack is three times more potent
now than it has been in recent years and the answer is Isbell.”- George Halas said in 1938 about Herber.
8) Jimmy Conzelman (1920-1929) The
6-0, 175-pound Conzelman was a versatile player with 5 teams during a 10-year
career (102 games). Playing for Decatur, Rock Island, Milwaukee, Detroit and
Providence. Great leader, he was player-coach for nine of those ten years…Named
to NFL 1920’s All-Decade Team…had career game in 1922, despite an inferior
opponent, scoring 5 rushing TDs against the Evansville Crimson Giants- he
followed that up by rushing for two TDs the following week to defeat Rochester,
26-0. That’s 7 rushing scores in two games…Player-Coach of the 1928 Providence
Steam Roller who won the NFL championship…unofficially scored 29 total TDs in
career (16 runs; 1 KOR, 1 INT return); excellent receiver as 11 of them came in
the passing game…Named First-team All-Pro in 1923 by Guy Chamberlin and Canton
Daily News…Second Team in 1923 by Green Bay Press-Gazette and in 1925 by
Collyers…Honorable mention in 1922 by Chamberlin…Elected to the Pro Football
Hall of Fame in 1964.
9) Ace Parker (1937-1941, 1945-1946)
One of the best all-around athletes to play the quarterback position. The 6-0,
178-pound Parker played major league baseball for 2 seasons with the
Philadelphia A’s; while also playing 6 seasons in the NFL with 2 teams,
Brooklyn and Boston. Finished career playing one season in the AAFC in 1946
after the war- which he lost three prime years…very versatile, could run, pass
and play defense with the best of them; tough as nails on the field. In the
passing game was very instinctive- like Baugh- and was creative who could
impact the game…played first three seasons under Potsy Clark, but played his
best as a pro for two years under Jock Sutherland in 1940-1941…great year in
1940; won NFL Joe F. Carr MVP Award; was 2nd in NFL in passing TDs
with 10 (Baugh- 12); 3rd in punting; and 1st in extra
points made (19) and was tied for 1st in interceptions on defense
with 6; he led the NFL in interceptions return yards (146); while guiding
Brooklyn to an 8-3 record, one game back of the Eastern Division champions
Redskins….First-team All-Pro in 1938 by NFL, I.N.S., UP, Football Writers, Ray
Flaherty and New York Daily News; in 1939 by Football Writers and Collyers; in
1940 by NFL, I.N.S., Collyers and NYDN…Second-team by NFL in 1939; by I.N.S. in
1937, 1939; by Collyers in 1938, and by NYDN in 1939…Honorable Mention by the
NFL in 1941…had 22 career passing TDs, 10 rushing, 3 receiving, 2 on interception
returns and 1 on a punt return; also punted and kicked 25 extra points…Elected
to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972.
“I’ll tell you the best I ever saw: Ace Parker… He could punt, he could pass,
he could run, he could play defense. I mean, he could do it all.” – Sammy Baugh on Parker.
“Parker could throw the ball. He could kick. He could call
signals. He could do all those things.” –
Hank Soar, former Giants Pro Bowl back.
“Ed Danowski was a great
player. But he didn’t think he was a good player. He was timid. I loved playing
with him. He could throw the football, it was like picking it off a table,
right in your hands. Hit you right there. He could punt and he could run with
the ball.” – Hank Soar, former Giants
Pro Bowl back.
“Ed Danowski was one of the finest passers the Giants ever
had, and one of the most accurate in football history…Danowski never paid any
attention to a rusher. He never took his eyes off his receivers. He threw many a
pass which he never saw completed, when rifled the ball he was hit and went
down. ”- wrote Steve Owen in his
book, My Kind of Football (1952).
11) Joey Sternaman (1922-1930)
The younger brother of former Bears co-owner Dutch Sternaman, the diminutive
5-6, 150-pound “Joey” played much bigger than his smallish size. Joey played
one year with Duluth (1923) and in the rival AFL with the Chicago Bulls (1926),
but otherwise played most of his NFL career with the Bears (7 years)…playing in
the Bears T-Formation, Sternaman did everything well, especially running the
offense and calling signals; Sternaman could run, pass and excelled in the
kicking game- mostly by dropkicking...he accounted for 18 career FGs and 58
extra points; as well as scoring 26 total TDs in the NFL (101 games)…In 1924
alone he provided the only points in three Bears victories including a 6-0 win
over the Cardinals (Oct. 19) by kicking both FGs- he outdueled Paddy Driscoll
that game…in 1925 NFL President Joe Carr selected Sternaman over Driscoll for
his All-Pro team…in 1926 while playing in the AFL he finished 2nd in
scoring with 52 points, on spot ahead of Red Grange (50 points); while leading
the league in FGs made with 9…Named First-team All-Pro in 1923 by Canton Daily
News; in 1924 by Collyers and Green Bay Press-Gazette, who named him again in
1925…Second Team by Collyers in 1923, 1925 and by the Chicago Tribune in
1926…Honorable Mention by Collyers in 1930.
“When I joined the Bears
little Joey Sternaman was the quarterback, and there was never a better one
than him. He could run with the ball, he was smart, he could pass, he could
kick.”—Red Grange, former teammate
and opponent in 1926.
“Moley was a very good
runner and also a good passer. He was a threat to us all those number of years
with the Bears.”—Glenn Presnell,
former Spartans-Lions All-Pro back.
“He’s smart and better than two men in the secondary line,”—said Chris Cagle, Brooklyn Dodgers back in 1933, to
the Brooklyn Eagle naming Molesworth First-team All-Pro.
14) Curly Lambeau (1921-1929)
Playing two seasons (1919-1920) before they joined the NFL, the 5-10, 187-pound
Lambeau played 9 years (77 games) in the NFL, all with the team he helped
founded, the Green Bay Packers. He was also the coach…Either player or coach of
6 NFL championship teams in this era, 1929-1931, 1936, 1939, 1944…played all
backfield spots, including quarterback…called plays on field, loved to use the
forward pass as a weapon and not as last resort.
“Curly Lambeau was one of the
finest passers that ever lived. Because of him and his concept of the passing
game out team was way ahead of the times. Where other pro teams used the pass
as a last resort, the Packers employed it as an offensive weapon,” once
said Cal Hubbard in 1967. …
Second-team All-Pro by George Halas in 1922 and by
the Green Bay Press-Gazette in 1923-1924…was excellent passer, his best skilled
and he taught it to his backfield players as the key weapon in his Notre Dame
box offense, especially in the 1920s…unofficially threw 24 passing TDs; 8
rushing; 3 receiving; kicked 6 FGs and 19 XPs…had best year throwing in 1924
when he tossed 8 TDs- all wins for the Packers…NFL 1920’s All-Decade Team
(halfback)…Charter Member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963 (mainly for
coaching)…Selected for Packers Hall of Fame in 1970.
“Curly
was rough and rugged. He was a very good passer and a good hard runner, too. He
was about 190 pounds, he had the weight and the determination.”—Charlie Mathys, former Packers teammate.
16) Henry “Two-Bits” Homan (1925-1930)
Aptly nicknamed “Two-Bits” the tiny 5-feet-5, 145-pound Homan played 6 years
(81 games), all with the Frankford Yellow Jackets. Very elusive, Homan was
known for his ability to make defenders miss. Was an excellent receiver and was
one of the best kick returners in the NFL’s early years…key member of the
Yellow Jackets team that won the 1926 NFL Championship. On Dec. 4th
of that year Homan made the biggest play of the year. Down 6-0 to the Bears
with less than two minutes remaining Homan caught a 27-yard pass from Hust
Stockton to score the game-winning TD, with the extra point the Jackets pulled
off a 7-6 miracle win. The win over the Bears proved to the difference in the
standings as they held off the Bears with a 14-1-2 record (Bears 12-1-3)…scored
10 career TDs, with 7 of them receiving…underappreciated in the honors
department…Named Third-team All-Pro by Collyers in 1926…unofficially listed as
having a average of 13.6 yards on punt returns (82 returns), ranking higher
than Hall of Famers, George McAfee (12.8) and Jack Christiansen (12.7); had a
70-yard punt return for a TD in 1925 to help defeat Cleveland, 13-7.
“Give
me ‘Two-Bits’ and I’ll give you the best football team in the country.”—Red Grange, about Homan in 1969.
“Hughitt,
in addition to being a great passer, wins his position because of his canny field
generalship.”—wrote George Halas,
naming Hughitt First-team All-Pro in 1922.
19) Harry Newman (1933-1935) A
protégé of Benny Friedman (both played at Michigan), the 5-8, 179-pound Newman
played just 3 seasons in the NFL (32 games), all with the New York Giants. Key
contributor to the Giants, playing in the NFL’s First Championship Game against
the Bears. Had a great title game going 13 of 19 for 209 yards and 2 TDs (had 1
INT); also had 2 punt returns for 36-yards and 2 kickoff returns for 48-yards)…hurt
back and missed the last four games of the regular season in 1934 and the NFL
Champ. Game (Sneakers Game; Danowski starred)…as a rookie in 1933, dominated the
QB position by leading the NFL in attempts (136), completions (53), yards (973)
and TDs with 11—closest to him was Glenn Presnell with 6…Despite being a
gifted passer, Newman set an NFL record for rushing attempts in a game against
the Packers in 1934 (Nov. 11). He ran the ball a whopping 38 times—a mark that
wouldn’t be equaled until Jim Nance of the Patriots did it in 1966 and
surpassed by O.J. Simpson (39 carries) in 1973…In 1933 named First-team All-Pro
by the NFL and Second-team by UP, GBPG and the Brooklyn Eagle…Second-team in
1934 by NFL, UP, and GBPG…scored 6 rushing TDs and 1 kickoff return TD…after a
contract dispute with Tim Mara, left the Giants and played in the rival AFL for
two seasons, 1936-37…did not play in the NFL again.
“Harry was a sort of Benny
Friedman clone, he was short, stocky an indestructible (player) and a very
smart quarterback, just like Friedman.”—Wellington Mara, former Giants owner, about Newman.
“I was very impressed by Newman. I thought he was a great
quarterback. Good ball faker. I liked him, thought he was a good ballplayer.”—Charles “Ookie” Miller, former Bears All-Pro
center.
“There
was a football player. He could do everything. Brainy? Say he could pick a flaw
in the opposition’s defense quicker than any player to ever step into a pair of
cleats.”—Leo Lyons, former
Jeffersons player and team manager, about Boynton.
"I've seen Sammy Baugh play. I've seen Sid Luckman, Davey O'Brien and
Ed Dankowski in action. Going back past the current crop, I've watched Benny
Friedman and the passing greats of his era. I never saw one who could pass
quite like Hall."—said Dutch Clark, Rams coach, to the Cleveland Plain
Dealer in 1939.
24) Bernie Masterson (1934-1940) Tall
and wiry at 6-3, 195-pounds, Masterson played 7 seasons (72 games) in the NFL,
all with the Bears. Durable and steady in Halas’s T-Formation, Masterson didn’t
wow you with his athletic gifts, but was one of the best passers Halas ever had
in the first two decades…very productive in the passing game, had 34 career TD
passes and twice led the NFL in Y.P.A., 1935, 1937…Led NFL in TD passes in 1937
with 9 (ahead of Baugh, Danowski, Herber)…9 times he tossed 2 TDs in the same
game…Member of the 1940 Bears NFL championship squad, as well as 3 division-winning
teams…1 Pro Bowl, 1940…Honorable mention by NFL in 1936; somehow snubbed in
1937…during the decade of the 1930s threw for 3,154 yards, only Herber and
Danowski threw for more…went into coaching after his playing career was done.
26) Al “Bert” Bloodgood (1925-1928, 1930)
At 5-8, 153-pounds, the smallish Bloodgood played 5 years (35 games) for 4
different teams- Kansas City, Cleveland, N.Y. Giants and Packers. He had two
good years playing with Kansas City (25-26) playing for Roy Andrews; in 1926
scored 47 of the Cowboys 76 points for a team that went 8-3. Also that season
was just the 2nd player in NFL history to kick 4 FGs in a
single-game defeating Duluth, 12-7, joining Paddy Driscoll (1925)…in 1927
joined Cleveland with Benny Friedman and coached again by Andrews, playing more
tailback, scored a team-high 45-points- that went 8-4-1. Finished 2nd
in NFL in scoring that year behind Jack McBride (57 points) He was ahead of
Paddy Driscoll, Ernie Nevers, and Verne Lewellen…Member of the 1930 Packers
championship team (but only played 3 games)…a very good all-around back, scored
10 career TDs, including a career-high 3 to help defeat Red Grange’s New York
Yankees in 1927 (Nov. 24); he also kicked 11 FGs and 12 XPs…In 1926 named First-team All-Pro by Collyers and Second-team quarterback by Green Bay
Press-Gazette…Named Third-team by Collyers in 1925.
28) Charlie Mathys (1921-1926) After
playing one year with Hammond (1921), the 5-10, 195-pound Mathys played the
next five seasons with the Green Bay Packers (52 total games). Although he only
tallied 5 total TDs in his career, Mathys excelled in the passing game for
Curly Lambeau’s Notre Dame box offense. In his 47 career games he tossed 8 TDs
(maybe 10 in career)…unofficially threw 6 TDs in 1925 for the Packers. In those
games, they went 5-1…retired after suffering an arm injury in 1926…Elected to
the Packers Hall of Fame in 1977.
“Never
did we have a more loyal player on the team. And we won’t ever forget that it
was Charlie’s brilliant play that helped put the Packers where they are today
in the pro football world.”—Curly
Lambeau, about Mathys retirement in 1926.
29) William “Wild Bill” Kelly (1927-1930)
One of the more colorful characters who played in the NFL’s early years. “Wild
Bill” Kelly played 4 seasons (52 games) in the NFL for 3 different teams- New
York Yankees, Frankford, and Brooklyn. The 5-10, 184-pound Kelly was a
tremendous athlete, being able to do everything, but thrived in the passing
game. Could throw with the best of the early quarterbacks including Benny
Friedman….in his career threw 23 TDs…7 times in career he threw at least two
TDs in a game…rushed for 6 TDs…had best year in 1928 with the Yankees (playing
more tailback in single-wing and Gibby Welch playing BB role) when he tossed 8
TDs…tragedy struck Kelly when he died in 1931, from what some reports said of
alcohol, at the age of 26.
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 quarterbacks:
Carl
Brumbaugh
Paddy
Driscoll
Red
Dunn
Ed
Danowski
Benny
Friedman
Arnie
Herber
Cecil
Isbell
Harry
Newman
Curly
Oden
Best of the Rest:
Johnny
Armstrong (1923-1925)
Johnny
Bryan (1922-1927)
Milt
Ghee (1920-1921)
Jack
Hagerty (1926-1930, 1932)
Arnie
Horween (1921-1924)
Al
Mahrt (1920-1922)
“Bo”
McMillin (1922-1923)
Walt
“Pard” Pearce (1920-1922, 1924-1925)
Bob
Rapp (1922-1926, 1929)
Harry
“Cobb” Rooney (1924-1930)
Phil
Sarboe (1934-1936)
Rube
Ursella (1920-1921, 1924-1926, 1929)
Gilbert
“Gibby” Welch (1928-1929)
Roy
Zimmerman (1940-1948)
Tomorrow: Halfbacks
simply extraordinary....thank you for this, Chris
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