New York Giants legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Emlen Tunnell, was named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team on Friday night, joining linebacker Lawrence Taylor as the first two members of Big Blue to make the cut.
Tunnell was one of 14 finalists at the safety position, joining Jack Christiansen, Brian Dawkins, Kenny Easley, Ken Houston, Paul Krause, Yale Lary, Ronnie Lott, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed, Johnny Robinson, Donnie Shell, Larry Wilson and Willie Wood.
“I thought watching, as a former receiver, some of the catches that he made, they were stunning,” Cris Collinsworth said. “Some of the interceptions that he made, he could do the one over the shoulder that is so hard, the high-point catches, and setting up wide receivers and quarterbacks to think that they were open. That’s what this guy was about because if it was in the neighborhood, it was his.”
Tunnell, the first African-American player to don Giants blue, played for the team from 1948-1958 before joining Vince Lombardi’s in 1959 for three seasons. Tunnell was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and a six-time All-Pro. He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1950s and is a member of the Giants’ Ring of Honor.
Here’s what the Giants had to say:
Ignored in the NFL draft, Tunnell walked into the Giants’ office in 1948 and asked founder Tim Mara for a tryout. Thus he became the first African American to play for the Giants and eventually the first to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That is only part of the incredible story that is Tunnell, who suffered a broken neck at the University of Toledo, an injury so severe that both the Army and Navy rejected his efforts to enlist during World War II.
The Coast Guard finally accepted him and, following his service, he enrolled at the University of Iowa. He left the Hawkeyes after the 1947 season and recorded seven interceptions in his debut campaign in the NFL, returning one for a touchdown to help him earn the nickname “offense on defense.”
Tunnell played 11 seasons for the Giants and still holds franchise records with 74 interceptions and 257 punt returns. In 1952, Tunnell gained more yards on interceptions and kickoff returns than the NFL rushing leader did running the ball. He was named All-NFL four times and played in nine Pro Bowls. After finishing his career with the Packers, Tunnell had a record 79 interceptions. A key strut in the Giants’ famed “Umbrella Defense” of the 1950s, Tunnell was a member of the 1956 championship team with Big Blue and won another title with Green Bay in 1961.
The NFL will continue its reveal of the NFL 100 All-Time Team next Friday night.
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