1952 GREEN BAY PACKERS: "And Sometimes In The Darkened Night, You See The Crossroad Sign"

By TJ Troup 

Babe Parilli

My friend and dedicated researcher Nick Webster has inspired me to write about another outstanding pass rushing team; the '52 Packers. Green Bay had fallen on hard times as they had won just eight of their past forty-three games entering the season. Since four teams fought down to the wire in 1951 no one viewed the Packers as contenders. 

Quoting noted historian Eric Goska in his must-read book "A MEASURE OF GREATNESS"..."swept along by a four-game winning streak, the Packers of 1952 ascended to first place in the National Conference with three weeks remaining". 

How did this happen? 

Well, folks follow along for the saga of this very interesting team. Forty-one men suited up for the Packers in 1952 with six men in their last year, and fourteen in their only year. Many times have hammered away in my stories about sources having incorrect data concerning who started, and how many times? Twenty-two positions, and twelve games, thus should add up to 264 total starts among players—yet Pro Football Reference has 274, and Pro Football Archives has 260. Oops! So who did start for Green Bay on offense, and how well did they play? 

Opening day at home against the rival Bears the Packers lose a hard-fought 24-14 decision. The starting left linebacker for the Bears misses two long field goals, a youngster that will go on to acclaim in league history; George Blanda. On the second attempt Ray Pelfrey in his only game with Green Bay in 1952 returns the ball 14 yards, and fumbles, recovered by a hustling Blanda. Bears take the lead on Whizzer White's 30-yard field goal. Green Bay takes the lead in the second quarter after left defensive end John Martinkovic blocks Curly Morrison's punt, and Bob Forte recovers on the Bear five. Three second-half touchdowns by the Bears pave the way for the Bear victory. 

The inconsistent Green Bay offense has an offensive line that began the year with Dave Hanner at left offensive tackle (he will be discussed when we talk about defense), yet by the third week of the season, Dick Afflis is the starter and remains so for most of the campaign. He is powerful, combative, and sure can drive block, yet he struggles in pass protection. 

Aligned next to the "Bruiser" is Steve Ruzich, and he takes most of the snaps, though Dave Stephenson also sees playing time there (he also plays right guard). Ruzich does a commendable job in all facets of offensive line play. The starting center is veteran Jay Rhodemyre, and he is quick, stays on his block, and has a fine campaign. Right guard is a revolving door with Dick Logan, Stephenson, and Wash Serini (he also plays some d-tackle) attempting to play the position. None of them stood out. Right tackle is rookie Steve Dowden in his only year. 

Obviously, the Packer coaching staff believed they could find someone better for '53, yet the youngster sure gave effort and did not embarrass himself. His strongest attribute was his ability to drive block. The Packers finished ninth in the league luggin' the leather and were running back by committee. Tony Canadeo has reached the end of the line, and though once a dynamic back he struggles breaking loose as he averages just 2.9 a carry (usually he is the left halfback). Floyd "Breezy" Reid, and Billy Grimes get plenty of playing time at halfback, but this is a fullback-oriented offense with Fred Cone, Bobby Jack Floyd, and Bill Reichardt getting the bulk of the carries. 

The team leader in rushing is quarterback Tobin Rote, though at times he is aligned at halfback with Parilli at quarterback. Rote has speed and evades tacklers in his attempts to spark the Packer offense. Both Parilli and Rote throw 13 touchdown passes during the season, and both men display the ability to throw deep and are accurate. 

The downside is both men force passes into coverage due to their belief in their arm. Since Rote is more consistent, and the better runner, sure looks like he is the future quarterback for the Packers. Bob Mann still has his moments as the starting left end, yet Carlton Elliott, and Jim Keane (also played right end as did Elliott) receive playing time. 

Film study shows Green Bay in max protection at times—but watching Bob Mann pass blocking is undeniably strange. Why would the Packers max protect? Simply because as the season wears on they have discovered a weapon who explodes on the scene with impressive game after impressive game. 

Bill Howton

Rookie Bill Howton at right end is not only the team offensive MVP, he is already one of the best in the league. Though he has excellent speed and long strides, it is his ability to run razor-sharp routes, and adjust to the ball in flight that sets him apart. He is the go-to guy and a year after Elroy Hirsch's great season...Howton gains 1,231 yards and scores 13 touchdowns. He may not be Hirsch, but boy oh boy can this redhead latch onto the pigskin when it is thrown his way. Talk about a bright future. Bill will sometimes align in tight, yet he is flanked or split many times to give him room to maneuver. 

Green Bay takes on the Redskins in Milwaukee and look strong in the 35-20 win before just 9,657 fans. The defending world champion Rams travel to Milwaukee to take on the Packers in what must be viewed as game of the week? Yes sir, the game is an all-time classic and since both teams are 1-1 the winner would be viewed as a title contender. The Rams have won seven straight against Green Bay and outscored them 273 to 66. 

Quoting Steve Bisheff in the Great Teams, Great Years series on the Rams "trying to pick the best game Bob Waterfield ever played is like trying to decide what Bob Waterfield did best on a football field". After three quarters the Packers lead 28 to 6. Norm Van Brocklin started for Los Angeles and is sacked by Martinkovic and Forte on the first series of the game. Third down and thirty-five and rookie Bobby Dan Dillon pilfers a Dutchman pass. Green Bay overcomes two sacks and a clipping penalty to dirve sixty-eight yards and score. Second quarter Van Brocklin is sacked again by Martinkovic, and left linebacker Bob Forte intercepts Norm. Howton scored on a pass from Rote, and all is well in Packer land 14-6 at the half. Green Bay takes the second-half kick-off and drives 69 yards on a twelve-play drive. Waterfield comes in to play quarterback yet he is sacked also, and Rams punt. The Packers drive 85 yards on nine plays to take what is believed to be a commanding 28-6 lead with 1:27 left in the third quarter. 

From that point on Waterfield completes just 5 of 10 for only 66 yards, yet each Los Angeles drive results in points, and an epic come-from-behind win. Quoting Waterfield "a rally like that can never happen of course, without the cooperation of the other team". "The biggest single reason for what happened was that Green Bay crawled into its shell and tried to protect its lead with safe football". Ok, Bob that is true, but with the Packers down 30-28 late in the game Rote broke loose for 30 yards but fumbled away the ball. If, and turnovers are always paramount...Rote does not fumble or a Packer grabs the loose ball; could Tobin have gotten the ball to Howton for a winning field goal attempt? Green Bay wins five of their next six and the key element was the defense. 

The '51 Packers finished dead last in the key defensive passer rating with a mark of 75.0. 1952 is a different story as they improved to eighth with a mark of 58.5 (league average was 57.7). So who aligned in the secondary during the year? Clarence Self was the nominal starter at left corner. He was more than adequate on pass defense, and was a willing run defender. Since Green Bay was aligned in a 5-2-4 the safety position was vitally important. Most of the year we see veteran Dan Sandifer at left safety, yet he also played right safety. 

Bobby Dillon

Rookie wunderkind Bobby Dan Dillon was the right safety, yet he also played on the left side, and corner in the red zone on goal line defense. His speed sure helped him as an open field tackler, yet he is most important attribute was his ability to play the deep pass, and always be around the ball. Ace Loomis played some safety but became the starter at right corner the second half of the year. A strong pass defender, he helped solidify the secondary. A bright future for this youngster. 

Dom Moselle began the year as the starting right corner, but late in the year, Marvin Johnson got some playing time there, and also at left corner. Rookie Deral Teteak was selected for the Pro Bowl for his performance in 1952. Though there were probably a couple linebackers that truly earned the honor of a pro bowl berth instead of Teteak he did display big play capability against both the run and the pass. Teteak was also utilized on the red dog. 

The starting left linebacker was veteran Bob Forte. He should have taken Teteak's place in Los Angeles for the Pro Bowl. Though historical data/stats is incomplete; it is very possible that Bob was the first left linebacker in league history to record three opponent fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and at least four sacks in a season. He always was a solid run defender on strong side sweeps, and film study shows him on the red dog rushing the passer many times, and he was effective. 

Hal Faverty had a strong rookie campaign at defensive end and linebacker. He hustled, hit, and had a nose for the ball. Faverty is listed as a starter for eleven games, and this is pure folly, but he earned plenty of playing time, and sure helped the improved defense. Ray Bray was born during World War I, and the 35-year-old veteran was a rock at middle guard. Strong, and resilient, he played the run very well, and could put pressure on the passer.

Line coaches Tarzan Taylor and Chuck Drulis rotated a handful of men at the two defensive tackle positions. Afflis began the year at left d-tackle, yet we know he play much more on offense. Rookie Dave Hanner played both d-tackle positions and had an excellent rookie year. His size, and ability to defend the run were a boon to the improved Packer defense. He also could put pressure on the passer. Tom Johnson is the first African-American d-tackle in Green Bay history and he played stalwart football the last eight games of '52. He played much more left d-tackle than right. 

Big Bob Dees received playing time at d-tackle after massive Howie Ruetz was injured. John Martinkovic was agile, mobile, and hostile at left defensive end. Excellent against the run, and very effective, and productive as a pass rusher, he also contributed on special teams. 

Blocking punts became a Martinkovic specialty. John was involved in one of those scoring plays during the campaign that had to be seen to be believed. Fourth quarter at Wrigley in November Reichardt has his field goal partially blocked...he pigskin bounces down the field to Whizzer White, and ricochet's off his arm towards the Bear end zone. A hustling Martinkovic outfights a couple of Bears to recover the ball for a Packer touchdown in a key victory. 

Not sure where Martinkovic would have ranked in the individual sack category, yet no doubt he would have been in the top ten. Lean, combative Abner Wimberly starts at right defensive end, and he is by far the Packers defensive MVP. He shed blocks well, and as such defended the weakside sweep with purpose. Having the play-by-plays of most of the Packer games for the season tells us the following tale; opening day against the Bears, and in the Packers first series on defense Ab takes down Bobby Williams of the Bears to record the first Green Bay "sack" of the season. This would not be the only time that Wimberly recorded a sack early in a game, and he was consistently putting the heat on opposing passers. 

Where did he rank in the league in the sack category you ask? Would venture that he finished in the top three right behind Ford, and Norm Willey. He would be the first Packer in history to record double-digit sacks for the season. This is not conjecture but based upon probability since the Packers set a new league standard with 443 yards in sacks. 

Take a moment and research how many teams after 1952 through 1969 had more than 443 yards in sacks. You will be impressed! 

Whoever was in charge of the Packer defensive scheme could have received the nomination for co-ordinator or line coach of the year. Wimberly truly earned his one and only trip to Los Angeles and the Pro Bowl. Returning to the season—after the blowout loss to Detroit, the Packers put together the four game win streak—their first since 1944. 

Green Bay outfought a tough Eagle team 12-10 even with Vic Sears tying the league record of three opponent fumble recoveries in a game. Then the impressive victory over the Bears at Wrigley, and continuing a strong road trip with a win over the contending Giants at the Polo Grounds. 

The Green Bay offensive line did not allow a sack in this game, while the Packer pass rush punished Conerly and the Giants to the tune of 52 yards lost while attempting to pass. Standing 6-3 and with destiny, in their fateful hands, the Packers fell apart. The powerful Lions and Rams dismantled them, and San Francisco at Kezar is always a challenge. 

Since Billy Grimes continued to be a fine punt return man, and consistent on kickoff returns, you would venture special teams was a Packer strength? Christiansen of Detroit continued to victimize Packers when they punted to him, and Green Bay allowed 25.7 yards on opponent kick-off returns. 

Babe Parilli was barely adequate as a punter, while Reichardt struggled with field goal accuracy making just 5 of 20. A breakeven season that gave hope for the future. So many youngsters contributed, thus coach Ronzani had be savoring the start of '53. 

Finally, the title of this saga comes from a classic Allman Brothers song "Seven Turns".

The Story of Len Ford: Rectifying a Diminished Legacy—Part 3

By Nick Webster 

The Heights – 1951 – The Season of All Seasons 

Prior to the start of training camp, Lenny indicated that he would wear a facemask for protection during the 1951 season, though not one as “cumbersome” as the one he wore in the 1950 Title game.  However, he got comfortable without it in early action and would play maskless throughout the year.  In 1953 after Otto Graham suffered a less severe jaw injury, he wore a plastic mask; this spurred Coach Brown to partner with Riddell on a more permanent solution. The result of this collaboration was the bar we’re all familiar with today, Brown would receive royalties for years as part of this collaboration.  As training camp kicked off, Ford started better than ever. In an opener against the College All-Stars Lenny had a sack-forced-fumble where he then tackled the recovering lineman for a safety and a blocked punt in a dominating win over the College All-Stars. The league was beginning to evolve and rapidly integrate, the Green Bay Press-Gazette proclaiming that the “Packers Pull a ‘Cleveland’ With Four Negros in Action.” Ford had half a season as a full-time defensive player and a more settled personal life, in 1951, he was 25-years old, on the best team in football and primed for success.

The reigning Champion Cleveland Browns opened their 1951 season on the road against the powerful San Francisco 49ers at Kezar Stadium with almost 53,000 of the 59,000-seat venue filled. Temperatures were mild with spotty showers that had fans running for shelter prior to a downpour before halftime.  The 49ers took it to the Browns in the opener, running the ball effectively and often with limited need for passing as they took the lead in the second quarter and stayed ahead throughout. The most effective running was by Verl Lillywhite who ran for 145 yards on 17 carries with Joe Perry effectively locked up with just four yards on 10 carries, despite scoring two touchdowns. The 49ers only dropped back 19 times, with 17 pass attempts and two sacks. Ford played almost entirely from a 3-point stance – something which will change over the course of the season – and only participated in 39 snaps (58% of the teams’ 67 total) as he was replaced by Jim Martin in Q4 with the Browns down on the scoreboard.  Later in the season, we see Ford’s snaps limited due to fourth-quarter blowouts. This was the only time it occurred with the Browns down on the scoreboard. Despite few drop-backs and limited participation, Ford was effective and had the only two sacks the team produced, for 30 yards in losses. It was a disappointing result on the scoreboard, but Ford’s play was exemplary, portending things to come.

Week 2 had the Browns traveling down the California coast to Los Angeles for a rematch of last year’s championship game, but this time in the Coliseum, the home of the Rams. Typical for the era, when travel was slow and difficult, the Browns stayed out on the West Coast between games rather than travel back home. The Browns stayed at the Green Hotel in Pasadena and practiced “in secret” at the public Brookside Park near the Rose Bowl. Paul Brown was either pessimistic or playing possum in stating, “It’s simply not the ball club it used to be” in referring to his team after the 49er loss. Despite beating the Rams in both prior meetings – each at home in Cleveland – the Browns were initially established as 3-point underdogs as visitors off the loss to San Francisco.

The Rams kicked off to the Browns on a beautiful sunny day in the Coliseum with long shadows cast from the participants. The Rams got off to a strong start, scoring the first 10-points of the game and holding a 10-7 lead at the half. But in the third quarter, the Browns came on scoring 21 unanswered points on their path to a 38-23 victory. Ford played nearly 90% of the defensive snaps and was in a 3-point stance for three-quarters of those snaps, fewer than in the first game, but still playing primarily with his fist in the dirt. The Browns would only sack the Rams once, with Bill Willis darting up the middle for an early third-quarter sack. Ford got excellent general pressure, collapsing the pocket and making life difficult but with frequent double-teams and a missed tackle on both a potential sack and stuff, his stat sheet was clean with zero sacks, zero stuffs and a single QB hit on the game.

Ford in a two-point stance at RDE, quickly penetrates, too quickly for the Wideout to execute his down-block

Ford makes contact and pushed the back further towards the goal-line, but misses the tackle

The play is cleaned up by the onrushing Safety for a 5-yard stuff, forced by, but not credited to Ford

Following their victory, the 1 – 1 Browns returned to Cleveland for a matchup against the 0 – 2 Washington Redskins. Two games in with a 2-sack game and a 0-sack game, this is where Ford would begin to dominate play. On the first Redskin series of the game, Ford nailed Redskin QB Harry Gilmer seven yards behind the line of scrimmage and, as the Associated Press put it, "The game really ended in the first two minutes when Cleveland's huge end, Len Ford hit Redskin QB Harry Gilmer as he attempted to pass and end George Young of the Browns plucked Gilmer's fumble out of the air and raced 60 yards for the opening touchdown." That gave the Browns a 7-0 lead that they’d never relinquish on their way to a dominating 45-0 victory over the still winless Redskins. Ford would be removed from the last couple series of this blowout, playing 69% or 47 of 68 snaps. Lenny was also a victim of friendly fire, being hit in the back of the head by a teammate, which may have precipitated his removal from the action. Lenny finished the game with two sacks for 13 yards and the critical early sack-forced-fumble that turned the game. Again, Lenny largely played with his fist in the dirt on over 80% of snaps.

The following week the 0–2–1 Steelers made the short trip to Cleveland to try and get off the schneid.  Lenny increased his experimenting with playing upright from a two-point stance with a 50/50 split of two versus three-point stance. The Steelers are still running their old single wing, so Ford is rarely asked to drop into coverage and is on alert for running plays going wide. Ford plays most of the game logging 63 of the team’s 73 snaps picking up a half-sack for seven yards (shared with George Young), a stuff for two yards and a QB hit causing an incomplete pass as the Browns pitch a second consecutive shutout.

The Steeler scheme has Fran Rogel attempting to take on Ford, he goes low, Ford gets by and hits the QB and the ball goes feebly into the ground

The Week 5 matchup against the Giants was a big game for the Browns, the Giants had the Browns’ number defeating them in both 1950 regular season games before losing the tight playoff matchup the prior December, allowing the Browns to move to the Championship. A tight contest played on a sloppy field saw the Brown take a one-point victory, 14-13, which, for the first time, required that Ford play every defensive snap. Lenny favored a three-point stance which he deploys on 84% of the 57 total snaps.  Quick on the trigger, Ford draws an offside penalty but also posts two sacks for 20 yards and a forced fumble. His five-yard sack, the first of the game, is a thing of beauty a leaping sack, the style of which few can match.

Lined up in a two-point stance Ford rushes off the edge and then dispenses with a chip from the releasing receiver

Ford is then engaged by G Bill Albright, who will be moved to defense in 1952

Lenny leaps and leaves his feet, while engaged with Albright

And grabs Conerly, still in the air and over G Bill Albright, before taking him down for the sack

Lenny’s second sack of the Giants game is a long 15-yarder.  Conerly rolls to his right, away from Ford, but as Young brings pressure he pivots back and gets swamped by Ford forcing Conerly to fumble from the force of the brutal hit, though the Giants are able to recover. The spectacular leaping sack of the QB and blocker, as well as the brutality of the sack/forced fumble would each be highlight plays in the modern age.

Riding a four-game winning streak, the Browns headed to Comiskey Park to take on the Cardinals, the first time Lenny himself has suited up against the South-siders since the Pat Harder incident in 1950.  Lenny is ready to play, despite the fact that Harder has been shipped off to the Lions, putting on his best performance of the season to date. Ford plays 90% of the teams’ 62-snaps in a nearly 50/50 mix of two and three-point stance. Lenny snags three sacks for 25-yards in losses (two solo and two shared – one each with Bill Willis and Derrell Palmer), two stuffs for 11.5-yards in losses (one solo and two of them shared), and a forced fumble, totaling seven tackles made in the backfield a number not matched by modern day greats J.J. Watt or Aaron Donald.

At the halfway mark of the short 12-game 1951 season Ford has logged 9.5 sacks, three stuffs, and three forced fumbles, but Lenny’s best work is yet to come.

In Week 7, the Browns return home for their first matchup of the season against the Eagles who suffered two humiliations against the Browns in 1950. Their second 1950 matchup, following the opening-game drubbing, was famous as well.  The Eagles had continued to describe the Browns in a derogatory fashion as a “finesse” team after the 1950 opening-game loss. This left Paul Brown upset about Eagle Coach Grease Neale, “shooting off his bazooka,” Brown and his team took to prove they weren’t finesse only, by famously throwing no passes in their rematch victory. Unfortunately, this famous story excludes two critical details. First, the Browns did dropback to pass twice in the game; one resulting in a holding penalty and one in an Eagle sack, meaning there were no official pass attempts, but also showing that Brown was not committed to never passing. Second, the game was played in some of the worst passing conditions imaginable, with temperatures just above freezing and constant rain causing an increasingly muddy field. The first 1951 matchup with the Eagles would be different, with dry conditions and temperatures around 50 degrees. The Eagles jumped out to a 10-0 halftime lead, but the talented Browns come back, aided by another Ford classic, to win 20-17 on a fourth-quarter field goal by Lou Groza. Ford participates in 90% of the 79 defensive snaps in a down-stance for nearly 80% of his snaps, the last time in 1951 he’ll spend more time with his fist in the dirt than in a two-point stance.  Lenny logs a single sack for seven yards, two stuffs for four yards and forced a fumble for the third-consecutive game, his fourth of the season.

Following the Eagle victory, the Browns traveled east to the Polo Grounds for an away rematch against the Giants and their vaunted defense. Following a shutout 10-0 victory, Cleveland’s third shutout of the season, Brown states incredulously, “Most everything the New York writers say about the Giants’ greatness on defense is true. What they overlook, or forget to say, is that we have gained more yards against them, scored more points and won more games than the Giants have against us . . . seems to me they should soon start to recognize and admit that our fellows are a pretty tough defensive outfit too.”  Though eight weeks, the Browns are giving up 11.75 points-per-game to the Giants 17+ PPG, and Ford is the star of the tough outfit. Against the football Giants, Lenny plays 88% of the teams’ 68 defensive snaps, just one-quarter of them in a 3-point stance; and this is the last time he’ll play any meaningful snaps with his hand in the dirt. Ford’s defensive gem includes 2.5 sacks (one solo, two shared with Willis and one shared with Kissell) for 19yards lost and 1.5 stuffs for eight yards lost for a total of six tackles for loss.

Returning home the following week against the Bears, the Browns wallop their visitors getting off to a 21-0 lead on the way to a 42-21 victory.  Ford is excellent, but Dub Jones is the MVP on this day going for six touchdowns (four rushing, two receiving) and doing so on just 12 touches (nine rushing attempts, four ending in the endzone and three receptions, two ending in the endzone). Years later, Gale Sayers will match Dub’s six touchdowns on 16 touches, nine runs, two receptions and five kickoff returns. The highlight reel defensive play of the game is turned in by the Bears’ Ed Sprinkle a sack + forced fumble + recovery with a touchdown return, though this is late in the fourth quarter of a blowout.  

Ford has fully transitioned to a 2-point stance playing all but one snap from a standing position. He logs two sacks for 19 yards (a 12-yard sack in the first half and a seven-yard sack-forced- fumble in the fourth quarter – the seven-yard sack was recovered for a loss of just three by the Bears, so the teams’ “Yards Lost tackled” only reflects the three-yard loss). Lenny’s first sack is a prime example of the inability of a guard to flare out wide and stop Ford, who also logged two stuffs for nine yards. His second sack and forced fumble saw the Bears blocking Lenny with a back cutting across the formation to take him on, but it was not good enough. An apparent blemish on his game was a roughing the passer penalty negating a long 95-yard interception return touchdown; closer inspection shows it was Ford’s pressure that caused the errant throw to begin with.  For a man with 14 sacks to this point in the season, however, it’s just Lenny’s second penalty to go with a mere five-yard offside penalty in the first Giant game.

Giants flare out a guard in protection against Ford, who plants his right foot in the dirt . . . 

 

                        . . .  and cuts back underneath the flaring guard, to bear down on the passer

And closed the deal with a sack

Ed Sprinke bears down on Otto Graham who’s focused downfield

Sprinkle leaps in the air his right arm extended in a Tomahawk chop which will become a popular fumble forcing move several decades later

He knocks both the ball and Otto’s helmet loose, causing the fumble

Which Sprinkle scoops up for a recovery and long TD return

The following week the Cardinals came to Cleveland for what would be the first of a three-game series of blowout victories, dominant Brown defensive performances, and early departures for Ford-all with the game well in hand. The Browns scored in the first minute-and-a-half of the game then, on the first play after the Cardinals took possession, Bill Willis swooped in for an eight-yard sac’s this is the way the whole game went for the slumping Cardinals. The Cardinals are not flaring guards out wide or using backs to block Lenny but are typically blocking him with a tackle, perhaps responding to tape of the prior week’s game against Chicago. Ford has only his second game of the season without a sack or a stuff, though he does recover a fumble following a botched handoff in the backfield. He is pulled at halftime of the blowout, replaced by Bob Oristaglio. Ford participated in just 47% of the 75 snaps, all from a 2-point stance. The Browns poured on the pass rush in the second half, the ends pinning their ears back, resulting in a seven-sack second half and a nine-sack game, George Young picking up four and Bob O. three.

In the second game of the spectacular three-game run, the Browns traveled to Pittsburgh and muddy Forbes Field. Despite it being December, Forbes still bore the sand (now mud) infield from a season of use for the Pittsburgh Pirates, with discernable lines at the edge of the old infield. Ford was spectacular, with a huge first-half to bury the Steelers. Standing up for all but two snaps, he finished with five sacks, 2.5 stuffs, a forced fumble, and a total of seven tackles for loss. He logs an eight-yard sack early, his second sack is a zero-yarder (this is a sack under the modern definition, in fact, TJ Watt had two zero-yard sacks in his 2021 modern record campaign and Michael Strahan had one zero-yard sack in his 2001 campaign which set the previous modern sack record).  

An early 8-yard sack sees Lenny come off the edge and around RB blocking to hammer the QB before George Young can get in

Ford notches a 0-yard sack as the QB cannot make a gain attempting to escape the pocket

On Lenny’s third sack the Steelers, inexplicably, leave Ford unblocked and he blasted through for the sack and his sixth forced fumble of the season, which Ford himself recovered on the eight-yard line.  

Lenny off right end unblocked blasts the QB and the ball comes out which Ford recovers deep in Steeler territory

Deep in Steeler territory, this essentially put the game away with a 21-0 lead after a short Graham TD pass.  At the end of the first half, Ford has three sacks, 1.5 stuffs and a forced fumble that he recovered deep in Steeler territory. Lenny’s fourth sack saw the Steelers try to block him with a back that Lenny nimbly sidesteps before pulling the QB down again. Lenny’s final sack is a ‘mop-up’ of the QB scrambling from pressure, dodging potential sackers Bill Willis and then George Young, before being ‘bear hugged’ by Lenny and held up till the whistle blows. Ford is pulled from the game in the early fourth quarter and replaced by Bob O, participating in just 71% of the defensive snaps. The Browns completed their fourth shutout of the regular season, a number only exceeded by the 1944 Giants and 1976 Steelers with five each.

Ford dodges a cut-block attempt by the Steeler RB

Lenny’s fourth sack results after an attempted cut-block from the back fails and he beat George Young in to make the play

Ford’s 5th sack of the Steeler game was a ‘mop-up’ sack, Willis getting early pressure and missing the diving sack, Young coming in but missing a tackle, with Lenny the beneficiary

Going into the final week of the season the Browns are carrying a 10-game winning streak after losing in Week 1 and are about to complete a historic three-game sack streak. They headed to Shibe Park in Philadelphia on a frigid day with snow piled up off the sides of the frozen turf and in the back end of the endzone. Temperatures were below 20 degrees F and wind speeds were approaching 20-MPH. For the first time in the 1951 regular season – and for the first regular season game since Week 4 of 1950 – the Browns did not wear their white jerseys, going with Brown as the home Eagles wore White.  

The entire line got excellent pressure throughout the game with nary a dropback that’s unmolested.  Ford picked up his first sack after George Young whiffed and his second as he and Young met at the quarterback, Young overrunning Burk so Ford takes him down alone. Bill Willis finished second on the team with an impressive 11.5 sacks for the season, likely the highest per-game total ever for a man playing over the center. Most of Willis’ sacks result from quickness with the small but agile Willis beating the blocker off the snap and getting in quickly. George Young, however, often got excellent pressure from his left end position but was beaten to the punch by Ford. Young’s impressive nine-sack season would likely have had four to five additional sacks were his running mate not arriving at the QB first.  

Ford as stand-up right end swoops in for the sack after George Young misses

Lenny logs his second sack of the Eagle game

Lenny’s third sack of the game was a devastating highlight-reel play. In the shadows of the Eagles own goal post Adrian Burk took the snap from his own 9-yard line. Ford was in a 2-point stance, as he was in all but a single snap in this game. Burk faked a pitchout to the right and dropped back, but Lenny was unblocked and slammed the quarterback back into his own goal post, only the frozen metal preventing a safety.  Ford and Burke slid down the goal post to the ground, with the referee slipping and falling at their feet as he’s contacted by the falling Burk on the slippery field.  

Lenny is unblocked and gets immediate pressure

Burke is hit and slammed against his own goal post

The Goal post is the only thing saving him from a Safety as Burke slides down for a sack at the one-yard line, resulting in a fourth-down punt from a snow pile in the back of the endzone

The ensuing punt was made off a snowbank piled in the back of the endzone following the sack back to the one-yard line. After one more series, Ford was pulled in the mid-third quarter for Bob O., who himself picks up 2.5 sacks after Ford’s departure. Lenny participated in just 58% of the 65 plays the Eagles run, playing entirely from a 2-point stance. The right end position combines for 5.5 sacks on the day and the team totals 11 for 92-yards lost.

The three-game run from December second at home against the Cardinals to the final game victory against the Eagles sees the Browns outscore their opponents 101 – 37 and pick up nine, nine, and 11 sacks, respectively, for 29 sacks over the three-game span. In the 70+ years since no team has recorded nine-or-more sacks in three-consecutive games with only the ’89 Vikings of Chris Doleman and Keith Millard logging three-consecutive eight-or more sack games. The 29-combined sacks in three weeks also exceeds the highest since, with the ‘Gold Rush’ of the 1976 San Francisco 49ers posting 10, seven and eight sacks to log 25 total over a three-week span. In the known NFL history, the 1951 Browns had the most sack-per-game in any NFL season at 4.92/per game.

Summarizing the Greatness

Len Ford completed the season with 23 sacks for 188 yards lost, 13 stuffs for 47yards lost, 6 forced fumbles, and 40 tackles for loss, all on just 638 of his team’s 818 defensive snaps in a 12-game season.  

Ties the Single Season Record:  Based on research we’ve completed at the Journal, this would tie Bubba Baker’s 1978 for the most sacks in a single season, albeit in just 12-games.

Second in a 16-game Span: Adding the last four regular season games that Lenny played in 1950, he compiled 27 sacks in a 16-game span.  His 12-game single-season sack streak stands alone above Reggie White’s 21 sacks in 12 non-replacement games in 1987, with the 16-game streak exceeded only by adding Reggie’s 10 sack streak to end 1986 to his 1987 total for 31 sacks in 16 games.  Bubba Baker’s stalwart 1978 had him garnering 22 sacks between Week 2 and Week 13, Lenny had 23, though Reggie White did (excluding scab games) have 24 sacks in 12 consecutive non-scab games from Week 13 of 1986 to Week 12 of 1987.

Tied for Most in Consecutive Games: Lenny’s two-game stretch to end the season with 5 and 3 sacks, respectively was also unique.  Players who put up those types of figures get game-planned for and shut down, typically, in consecutive weeks.  In the official sack era (1982-to-date), the most sacks in consecutive weeks is 7 ½ shared by Kevin Greene (across the final game of 1988 and the first of 1989), Aldon Smith in a November 2012 run, and of all people Johnnie Cooks of the Indianapolis Colts across a couple of November 1984 games.  Only prior to 1982 did any players match Lenny’s 8 sacks in two games, with Oakland’s Ike Lassiter accomplishing the feat across two October 1967 games and Cincinnati’s Mike Reid matching 8 in two games in October 1972.  Bill Stanfill in 1973 and Jim Katcavage in 1964 matched the 7.5 sack, consecutive game streak.

Ford's 1951 Season

Most Team’s sacks Per Game:  The Browns total of 59 sacks in 1951 recently would have led the NFL in every year since 2013 when the Carolina Panthers posted 60 sacks in 16 games. On a per-game basis the Browns’ 59 sacks rates as the top known season in NFL history over the likes of Teams with Nicknames, like the Monsters of the Midway, The Gold Rush or the Doomsday defense.

Unfortunately, after all this success, the following week’s Championship game would be a massive disappointment. The Browns would again face off against the Rams for the Championship this time in warm Los Angeles. However, unlike the 1950 tilt, the Browns would lose in a tight game with Norm Van Brocklin hitting Tom Fears for a long fourth-quarter touchdown to pull ahead 24-17. Ford wouldn’t log a sack in the game despite generally excellent play.

As the honors rolled in after the season, Lenny was the only consensus First-team All-Pro defensive end, with the Rams’ Larry Brink and Lions’ Leon Hart splitting votes as the AP and UPI couldn’t agree.  Along with Tank Younger and Emlen Tunnell, Ford was the first African American named to an All-Pro by either Associated Press or United Press. However, the likes of Duke Slater and Fritz Pollard made some newspaper teams prior to re-integration, and Bob Mann was certainly a snub in 1949. Evaluating performances, honors and verbatims there’s simply no doubt that were a Defensive Player of the Year issued in 1951, Ford would be the winner.

The Story of Len Ford: Rectifying a Diminished Legacy—Part 2

 By Nick Webster 

Len Ford with the Los Angeles Dons

Draft and The Dons

After finishing at Michigan after the 1947 season Ford was not drafted by the NFL. While the NFL was technically re-integrated in 1946 when Kenny Washington was signed to the Rams, this was forced by a policy that required that Los Angeles teams be integrated to use city facilities. The Rams, relocating from Cleveland, therefore had to sign Kenny (and later Woody Strode) to make use of the Los Angeles Coliseum; but they, and other league teams, didn’t need to draft or add to their black players.  

Ford was selected, however, in the third round of the 1948 AAFC Draft by the Los Angeles Dons who, ironically, had ended up in a dispute over their use of the same Los Angeles Coliseum in their inaugural 1946 season when they employed no black players. In 1947 Ezzrett “Sugarfoot” Anderson – an African-American veteran from the Hollywood Bears (the same Minor League team for whom Washington and Strode previously played) – integrated the Dons. Ironically, the Dons had lobbied hard in February of 1948 to bring in Ford’s former Michigan head coach Fritz Crisler as their head coach. GM Harry Thayer asserted, “Crisler can write his own ticket”. Crisler declined the Dons’ offer and just a month later, in March, stepped down as Michigan Head Coach. This ended Crisler’s coaching career, but he stayed with the school as Athletic Director, a position he would hold for another two decades, becoming a beloved Wolverine whose basketball arena was later named after him.

In 1948 with the Los Angeles Dons Ford was an immediate, if inconsistent, contributor. Dons’ new coach Jim Phelan – a successful college coach who would ignominiously go on to one of the worst winning percentages in league history, including consecutive one-win seasons with the Yanks in ’51 and Texans in ‘52 – implemented a unique offense for the 1948 season. Dubbed the “Phelan Spread,” it was designed to highlight the skills of passer Glenn Dobbs and pass catchers Burr Baldwin and rookie Len Ford. As a receiver, Ford was third on the team in receptions but second in both receiving yards and receiving TDs, the latter two being good for eighth and fourth in the AAFC overall. There were some early season issues with Ford's hands and “second rate pass catching, or non-catching, by Len Ford . . .” but as the overall numbers reflect this was not enough to keep him off the field as an offensive weapon. Going back to his Michigan days Ford liked to go for one-handed catches. That sometimes allowed him to stretch out for the spectacular catch but could backfire with drops. He had a long reception of 53-yards against San Francisco and another 50-yarder later in the year while averaging just under 20 yards-per-catch, impressive for a man his size. These numbers and the descriptions speak to the amazing size-speed combo Ford was, he could go for 53-yards or, in an October bout with the Buffalo Bills, “take the ball from Bill fullback Schuette on the 5 and drag the latter across the goal.”

Primary sources are scant for the Dons of this era, but evidence suggests that Ford was a defensive impact-maker as a rookie as well. While Ford didn’t start in their opening game shutout of the Chicago Rockets, he clearly made an impact. On the steamy August day in Soldier Field, former Notre Dame QB Angelo Bertelli could do nothing as, according to Dick Hyland of the Los Angeles Times, “Dale Gentry, Bob Nowaskey, Burr Baldwin and Len Ford contributed greatly to this defensive work by rushing Bertelli until he was dizzy.” the following week Don Coach Jim Phelan saw enough of Ford that he was placed into the starting lineup for their tilt with the Browns. Wally Willis was quoted in the Oakland Tribune saying, “They put on a display a trio of defensive men who take a back seat to no one.  By name they are Len Ford, a giant end who played with Michigan last year . . . Wally Heap . . . and Bob Nelson.” Red Dawson, Buffalo Bills head coach went so far as to say Ford was, “the best he’s ever seen. Exceptionally fast.” By November of his rookie year the Dons’ brass believed Ford, “belongs on the Conference first-team selection. Unlike other star ends who have always made the club by catching passes, Ford plays both offense and defense and is particularly great at both.”  

At season’s end Lenny was named Second-team All-AAFC defensive end, behind established Yankee right end Jack Russell. It’s noteworthy, however, that the team was selected by coaches Carl Voyles of the Brooklyn Dodgers and Red Strader, the coach of Jack Russell’s own Yankees. The AP Team selected from combined AAFC and NFL representatives awarded Ford honorable mention as a rookie.

Off the field, Ford was the talk of the town in Los Angeles, enjoying access to all that Hollywood had to offer.  Described as the “Big Brown frame . . . the whispers of many a girl.” Or the man who was, “breaking more hearts than unrequited love.” This early off-the-field activity may have distracted from his on-field exploits, but later in his career they would take a greater toll as Lenny aged.

More first-hand evidence can be seen of Ford’s performance in 1949 as a Don. Again, Ford was a reliable pass catcher, though his numbers largely matched his rookie figures in an era where pass-catching numbers were increasing dramatically. The Dons’ passing overall was down in 1949, and Len’s flat figures now lead the team. His 36 receptions, including a team record eight in a late-October match against the Chicago Hornets, were aided by numerous targets from rookie quarterback George Taliaferro whose shoulder Ford had separated in that 1947 Big-Ten matchup. On the defensive side of the ball, he was effective again, even seeing some snaps at linebacker in replacement of injured starter Dan Dworsky mid-season. Inconsistency was still an issue in his sophomore campaign as a pro, Los Angeles Times Dick Hyland referring to him as an “in-and-outer . . . looking like a world beater on one play and flattened out on the next by someone his 235 pounds of spring-steel strength should handle with ease.” Later, in praise of left end Burr Baldwin Hyland would say that Baldwin, “makes that big Len Ford look like a No. 1 kind sissy.”  

In an October 23 tilt against the Bills, he stuffed a Bill for a 7-yard loss attempting to get around his left end. In the penultimate game of the season, playing near his Morgan State stomping grounds in Baltimore, Ford was the undisputed star of the game and would have been defensive Player of the Week honors had it existed at the time. In the second half, Ford sacked Colt quarterbacks three times and intercepted a fourth-quarter Y.A. Tittle pass, which he returned 45-yards down the sideline. This directly ended two of three late Colt advances and helped maintain the Dons’ margin in an eventual 21-10 road victory. 

The 1949 UPI All-Star team again placed Ford in the position of honorable mention, with a clear bias for offensive ends. First-teamers Mac Speedie and Alyn Beals were first-first-second and third-third-first in receptions, yards, and TDs. The Second-team was made up of Alton Baldwin and Dante Lavelli who were second-second-second and tenth-tenth-second, respectively, in the same categories. Ford’s one TD reception likely relegated him to honorable mention along with Jack Russell, who had beaten him out in 1948, but who was also similarly defensive-minded.

To the Browns, 1950 and the Injury

The AAFC regular season wrapped up in late November and shortly after the early-December playoffs the league was defunct, with the 49ers, Browns, and Colts heading off to a newly merged NFL.  Respecting that standard football contracts of the day had teams retain rights till June first, Bert Bell organized an AAFC disbursement Draft to distribute players from teams that didn’t survive into the new league, for June second of 1950. This draft was held at the Bellevue – Stratford Hotel on the corner of Broad and Walnut Street in Philadelphia, the same site as the 1950 collegiate draft, just blocks from Bell’s League Headquarters, and a short train ride from Bell’s suburban Philly home.  

Going into the draft, Ford was rumored to be highly desired by then Cardinal coach, VP and GM Curley Lambeau, new Ram head coach Joe Stydahar and new Packer front man Gene Ronzani. Paul Brown recounted later that Lenny was rumored to have an “attitude problem,” which may have impacted his draft status, but Brown believed it was nothing more than his hatred of being on a losing team. Ford’s Dons’ teammate, the Hollywood-born Cal grad tackle Bob Reinhard had signaled his intent to stay on the West Coast, regardless of who picked him. In a work of draft-day wheeling-and-dealing, Lambeau passed on Lenny to select Reinhard, then trading the star back to the West Coast Rams in exchange for three players Jerry Cowhig, Tom Keane, and Bob Shaw.  

But after an excellent AAFC career which saw him named First-team All-AAFC in both 1948 and 1949, Reinhard would start just seven games for the Rams in 1950 before his football career was over, due to chronic back problems. Of Cowhig, Keane, and Shaw, only Keane would come to any acclaim, posting a couple impressive years as a DB picking off 10 passes in 1952 and then making All-Pro with 11 interceptions for the Colts in 1953. Ironically, this success came after being released by the Cardinals in September 1950 prior to the start of the season. He then caught on and played two years for the Rams before seeing success with the 1952 Texans and 1953 Colts. Ford’s second-round selection by the Browns was viewed with some surprise by the local papers, but none of the earlier picks would compare to what was to come from Ford. Only Lou Creekmur, of those picked prior to Ford, would make the Hall of Fame. Ford’s official signing with the Browns was announced by the team on June 28. 

From his very first practices with the Browns Lenny drew praise, with Coach Brown’s first observation of the 1950 team being that, “Len Ford is a terrific end” and that “he splatters ‘em”. Of the 1949 starting defensive ends, only George Young returned. John Yonakor – a star in the early AAFC for the Browns – had come under criticism and was allowed to leave prior to the season; this left Ford as the presumptive starter, and he took advantage. The Browns typically deployed the 5-man line of George Young, John Kissell, Bill Willis, John Sandusky, and Ford from left to right across the line. Horace Gillom and Bob Oristaglio would see time as backup ends and Derrell Palmer and Chubby Grigg as backup tackles.  As would transpire over the following few years, the Brown would tinker with a 4-man line and occasional formations with Willis and Ford aligned side-by-side.

As September rolled around, the Browns prepared for what would be the biggest regular season game in years. The reigning NFL and AAFC Champs were pitted off against each other in Philadelphia, the entire world expecting a decisive Eagle victory. But on Sunday, September 17th the day following the game, the headlines showed the world was wrong.

Crush, Trounce, Rout, Wallop, Drub pick a verb; the Browns immediately staked their claim amongst the best in professional football. So overwhelming was the Browns defense against the Eagles attack that towards the end of the game the Eagles actually ceased using the T-Formation, failing back to their “Z-Wide Formation” a desperation spread formation. The Eagles suffered 18-yards “lost attempted pass,” likely two sacks but possibly one long sack, and the focus of press coverage was on the Browns spectacular offensive play. Ford received some notice for penalties, one a clipping penalty negating a long TD run by halfback Don Phelps, another a roughing the passer penalty for 15 yards. In fact, other than the scoreboard, the most notable disparity in numbers was the Browns 12 Penalties to the Eagles three. One wonders if the NFL refs had their fingers on the scale, albeit to no avail.

The following week the Browns trounced the Baltimore Colts, the weakest of the holdovers from the AAFC to the NFL, Lenny logged his first known sack in the NFL, a 10-yarder on Y.A. Tittle (no play-by-play or full game film of the first game against the Eagles are available to account for the 18 “yards lost attempting to pass.” In week three, the Giants and Browns met in Cleveland in what would be the Browns first loss in the new league. The Giants were a strong squad and – similar to the Browns – had a defense that benefitted greatly from an influx of AAFC talent, obtaining a future Hall of Famer in tackle Arnie Weinmeister and an All-Pro in defensive back Otto Schnellbacher, each from the AAFC’s New York Yankees. The 6-0 shutout at home saw the Browns throw four interceptions without a TD and lose the turnover battle 5-1. The game is best characterized as an offensive misfire rather than a defensive failure. The Browns sacked Conerly four times for 40 yards, and Len came up with his second known sack of the season, a 14-yarder.

In week four at Pittsburgh, the Browns returned to their winning form, however, there was little opportunity for the Browns and Ford to show pass-rushing prowess as the Steelers were still a full-time single-wing team. However, Ford did share a four-yard sack with John Sandusky and Lou Rymkus also took down Joe Geri in a pass attempt for five yards.

Week five would be a defining game of Ford’s career. In week one the Browns dispensed with the 1949 NFL Champs in the Eagles, now they faced the talented but facing 1948 Champs in the Chicago Cardinals. A tough game saw the Cardinals take a 21-10 lead in the early third quarter. This was aided by strict officiating aimed at the Browns, including a dubious Len Ford roughing-the-passer penalty to extend a scoring drive, before the Browns could pull within a TD at 24-17. The Browns came back again and took the lead in the fourth quarter. In the waning minutes of the game, African-American end and punter Horace Gillom was goaded into a scuffle and was ejected from the game. Then, in the final minute of the game, as the Cardinals attempted to come back, Ford made a big play. Lenny logged a 15-yard sack, beating the Cardinals risky blocking scheme which left fullback Pat Harder to handle Ford one-on-one as a pass-rusher, after executing a play-action fake.

Ford lined up wide, offensive tackle aligned to DRT and Pat Harder directly behind QB Jim Hardy, Bill Willis on the Nose in his familiar frog-stance

Ford gets a free release while Hardy and Harder execute play-action

Reverse angle: Harder attempts to block onrushing Ford, Willis has beaten him man creating pressure up the middle

Hardy bails out of Willis pressure, but Ford – unable to be stopped by Harder after building up a head of steam – is there to take Hardy down

A long 15-yard sack for Ford

On the ensuing and penultimate play of the game, another passing situation, Harder got his revenge.  Again, Ford was allowed a free release from his right end position, but there are three backs in the backfield with Harder still aligned behind center. The scheme no longer required Harder to carry out a play-action, but the 5’11” 200-pound fullback is still one-on-one against the 6’4” 245-pound Ford. As he approached Ford, Harder lead with his right elbow to Ford’s left jaw, and Lenny went down as if he were shot. Lenny stayed down, clearly hurt as a penalty flag flew in. After a short stoppage, he was helped off, having completed his last snap of the regular season. To add insult to injury – literally in this case – the flag was thrown against Lenny, and Ford, not Harder, was ejected, the head linesman, Bill Ohrenberger, informed Coach Brown that Ford had been holding. Coach Brown immediately protested, even prior to viewing game-film, “Ford?” yelled back Brown, “Why, he’s the fellow down on the ground, hurt.”

Ford aligned wide at right end, another free release

Harder with no play-action responsibilities slides to Ford’s side

Harder’s right-elbow to Ford’s left-jaw

Ford immediately goes to the ground

A penalty flag flies in just as Jim Martin arrives sacking Hardy for an 8-yard loss and a forced fumble

Ford is helped off the field

In the aftermath of the game, NFL Commissioner Bert Bell fined Ford $50 for the incident, based on hearsay, prior to seeing the film. However, Paul Brown protested as Ford was undergoing surgery for the injuries suffered just as he was informed of the fine. Bell, upon understanding that Ford was under the knife after the incident, rescinded the fine. The media also began noting the outsized penalties called against the Browns with headlines like, “Browns in Ideal Position to Protest Officiating in the NFL.”  To this point in the season, the Browns had been docked for 463 yards in penalties to their opponents' 263. This rate had the Browns producing 92.6 penalty yards per game, a pace that still today would hold the NFL record over the 2013 Seahawks who averaged 88.4 penalty yards per game. Over the remaining seven games the Browns would still be highly penalized but at perhaps a more reasonable rate of 72 yards per game. 

There were concerns of racial undertones to the gameplay as well with both Gillom and Ford ejected.  Paul Brown admitted to being “frightened” by thoughts of a rematch later in the year on Chicago’s majority-black Southside home Comisky Park. Commissioner Bell, upon review of the game film, did not see a need to fine or warn Harder, noting that he had a clean bill previously. The New York Daily News would later refer to this incident generally, including Ford’s ejection, as, “The worst decision in Football this past Autumn.” Coincidentally, Harder was bruised up prior to the Browns-Cardinals rematch and was used sparingly in that game.

The following week, irate Browns owner Mickey McBride demanded that the Cardinals cover the remainder of Ford’s salary and his hospital bills. McBride stated that Ford was, “deliberately slugged . . . there is too much slugging going on . . . Ford hadn’t done a thing out of line.” Cardinals President Ray Benningsen was unconvinced, and Coach Curley Lambeau dug his heels in saying Harder, “just put a good shoulder block on Ford.” Chicago and Ohio columnists came out at odds on the situation, the former noting the rough state of play earlier in the game, the latter focused on the final incident. More concerning for the Browns than the penalty situation, however, were Ford’s injuries. Ford had suffered a broken nose, broken jaw, a broken-cheek bone, a fractured bone in his forehead, two lost teeth, and several chipped and loosened teeth. Ford underwent surgery with Browns physician Dr. Vic Ippolito (a former local Case Western Reserve halfback) observing and plastic surgeon Clifford Kiehn presiding, Ford would have his jaw wired shut following the involved procedure.

Len Ford in Oct 1950, the aftermath of surgery for numerous broken bones

Following a loss in the next week’s rematch against the Giants, the Browns ripped off a 6-game winning streak to enter a playoff and a successful first season in the National League. When the Browns advanced to the NFL Championship game following their win, in their third try, over the Giants, George Young, Browns DE, was injured. Ford, mending from his injury two months earlier, noted Young’s condition and requested to play in the final. Coach Brown agreed, subject to the approval of the team doctor and plastic surgeon. Having had his jaw wired shut Lenny had dropped from 245 to 215 Lbs. on an all-liquid diet but had managed to return to 223, adding weight after having his wires removed.  Lenny had been exercising at the local YMCA since his release from the hospital and deemed himself in playing shape. The doctors also agreed Ford could play, provided we wore a special mask, which was being prepared.

Ford’s mask for the 1950 NFL Title game

The 1950 NFL Title game opened in Cleveland’s sloppy, snow-covered Municipal Stadium with the visiting Los Angeles Rams going for an 82-yard touchdown pass in the opening seconds of the game, immediately putting the Browns on their heels. In early action it was Jim Martin at right defensive end with George Young at left defensive end, playing through injured ribs. But, entering late in the first half, Ford played excellently at defensive right end for essentially the entire rest of the game. Incredibly, considering the circumstances, he registered a long-stuff, a long-sack and consistently pressured Rams QBs as a mainstay in the Ram backfield. In the end of a thriller, the Browns could call themselves NFL Champions in their inaugural season as part of the combined league, an incredible accomplishment.  Paul Brown would say that Ford proved he was a man that day.

1950 was also an interesting year for Ford’s former teammate and lifelong friend Bob Mann.  Having led the NFL in receiving yards in 1949, Mann was asked by the Lions to take a pay cut during the offseason. Refusing, Mann held out and was then dealt to the New York Yankees for Bobby Layne.  Mann arrived in New York to be told by Coach Red Strader that he had no idea why the trade was made, and that it was dreamed up and consummated by “the brass.” After participating in one series of an exhibition game between the Yanks and the Redskins, in which he caught a 50-yard touchdown, Mann was placed on waivers the next day, being told despite having already led the league in receiving – that at 170 pounds. – he was too light to play pro football. Finally, Mann was fired from his offseason job as a beer salesman with the National Beer Company which was, coincidentally, owned by Detroit Lions President Ed Anderson. Mann later claimed he was “blackballed” for his salary demands. Packer Coach Ronzani, in an address to a local Men’s club, denied that any team had been instructed to avoid Mann. Ronzani even said they had been in contact with him about a signing, but Mann was miffed and claimed he could make more money selling real estate than playing. Finally, in November of 1950, Mann would sign with the Packers where he remained through 1954 and the end of his career.

The offseason between 1950 and 1951 was also busy for the recovering Ford.  Lenny was healthy enough in late January to be the newest member of the Browns 12-man basketball squad. This continued his hoops experience from high school and Morgan State. Ford had also been a practice participant in hoops at Michigan and as a semi-pro in prior off-seasons for the New York / Dayton Rens of the National Basketball League.  

In his personal life, Ford followed Bob Mann in becoming a licensed real estate agent and purchased an investment property in his Detroit home. Ford got engaged to Geraldine Bledsoe a senior law school student from Wayne State University, who he had been dating since their days as undergrads at Michigan. Geraldine was introduced to Lenny by her father who was close with the football coaching staff at Morgan State. Upon Lenny’s moving to Michigan to play for the Wolverines, Geraldine’s father looked up Ford and introduced Lenny to his daughter. By June of that year the two wed in Plymouth Congregational Church in Pittsburgh, Pa. Geraldine, whose father was a practicing lawyer in the Detroit area, would go on to great personal success and provide Ford with two daughters Anita and Deborah before the two divorced in 1959. In May, Ford re-signed a contract extension with the Browns, the team fully confident they’d see the old Ford back in the Fall, in fact, they’d get much, much more.