THE PIONEERS: THE BEST 20 NFL PLAYERS FROM 1920 TO 1959
Because it is nearly impossible to compare players from different eras, I have narrowed the focus of this book to players from the past 65 years (1948–2013), or what I’ll loosely term the Modern Era. But that doesn’t mean the players who preceded them don’t deserve mention in this book.
Here is a list of the 20 best NFL players from 1920 to 1959. There are 11 years of overlap with the book’s master list, which means a few of the players in the chapters that follow had careers that span both eras. There’s even one player (Otto Graham) who makes both lists.
2. Sammy Baugh, quarterback
3. Sid Luckman, quarterback
4. Don Hutson, receiver
5. Red Grange, halfback
6. Jim Thorpe, back
7. Cal Hubbard, offensive lineman
8. Mel Hein, center
9. Emlen Tunnell, defensive back
10. Marion Motley, fullback
11. Steve Van Buren, halfback
12. Gino Marchetti, defensive end
13. Andy Robustelli, defensive end
14. Bronko Nagurski, halfback
15. Paddy Driscoll, quarterback
16. Elroy Hirsch, wide receiver
17. Bobby Layne, quarterback
18. Bob Waterfield, quarterback
19. Pete Pihos, tight end
20. Roosevelt Brown, offensive lineman