NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team
The National Football League 50th Anniversary All-Time Team was selected in 1969 by Pro Football Hall of Fame voters from each franchise city of the National Football League (NFL) to honor the greatest players of the first 50 years of the league.[1] A total of 16 players were named, including 15 position winners and one special "legend" category for Jim Thorpe,[2][3] who was described "as the star that never diminishes."[4] At the time, all but three of the players had played in 20 prior years; four were on NFL rosters at the time of the selections: Johnny Unitas, Gale Sayers, John Mackey, and Ray Nitschke.[4] Additionally, two runners-up were also named for each of the 15 positions.[3]
Seven of the sixteen players from the 50th Anniversary All-Time Team also made the
Eleven of the sixteen players from the 50th Anniversary All-Time Team also made the
With Jerry Kramer making the Hall of Fame class of 2018, all members of the 50th Anniversary All-Time Team have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Offense
Source:[3]
| Position | Player | Team(s) played for |
|---|---|---|
| Legend[a] | Jim Thorpe | Chicago Cardinals (1928)
|
| QB | Johnny Unitas[b] | Baltimore Colts (1956–1972) San Diego Chargers (1973) |
FB |
Jim Brown | Cleveland Browns (1957–1965) |
| HB | Gale Sayers[b] | Chicago Bears (1965–1971) |
| SE | Don Hutson | Green Bay Packers (1935–1945) |
| FL | Elroy Hirsch | Chicago Rockets (1946–1948) Los Angeles Rams (1949–1957) |
| TE | John Mackey[b] | San Diego Chargers (1972)
|
OT |
Cal Hubbard | New York Giants (1927–1928, 1936) Green Bay Packers (1929–1933, 1935) Pittsburgh Pirates (1936) |
G |
Jerry Kramer | Green Bay Packers (1958–1968) |
C |
Chuck Bednarik | Philadelphia Eagles (1949–1962) |
Defense
Source:[3]
| Position | Player | Team(s) played for |
|---|---|---|
| DE | Gino Marchetti | Dallas Texans (1952) Baltimore Colts (1953–1964, 1966) |
| DT | Leo Nomellini | San Francisco 49ers (1950–1963) |
| LB | Ray Nitschke[b] | Green Bay Packers (1958–1972) |
| CB | Night Train Lane | Chicago Cardinals (1954–1959) (1960–1965)
Detroit Lions |
S |
Emlen Tunnell | New York Giants (1948–1958) Green Bay Packers (1959–1961) |
Special teams
Source:[3]
| Position | Player | Team(s) played for |
|---|---|---|
| PK | Lou Groza | Cleveland Browns (1946–1967) |
Runners-up
Two runners-up were selected for each of the 15 positions as follows:
See also
- National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
- National Football League All-Decade Teams
Notes
References
- ^ "Ten blacks named to NFL's 'dream team'". The Indianapolis Recorder. September 13, 1969. pp. 8, 11. Retrieved April 8, 2020 – via Hoosier State Chronicles.
- ^ LCCN 74-77093.
- ^ a b c d e f "All-Time NFL Team Announced". San Bernardino Sun. September 7, 1969. p. D-1. Retrieved April 8, 2020 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Oates 1969, pp. 96–99.
