14 No. 1 overall picks went on to become Pro Football Hall of Famers. Who are they?
Being selected No. 1 overall in a draft is an honor and tribute to talent. Sometimes it works out and other times it doesn’t. A look at 14 players who were the top pick in the draft and went on to earn a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. One comes with an asterisk: He was an AFL selection.
Bill Dudley
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Bill Dudley played three seasons each with the Steelers (1942, ’45-46), Detroit Lions (’47-49), and Washington Redskins (’50-51-53). His career was interrupted in 1943 and ’44 when he served with the Army Air Corp during World War II. He returned to the Steelers during the 1945 campaign. The 1946 season was, for Dudley, one for the record book; as he led the league in rushing, punt returns, interceptions, and “lateral passes” attempted. He was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player that year. The following season, Dudley scored 11 touchdowns for the Lions on one punt return, one interception return, seven pass receptions, and two rushes. Six times Dudley was named first- or second-team All-NFL.
Tom Brady will be a free agent this offseason. Does the G.O.A.T. want to follow others to another team?
Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t, many athletes have learned this idiom is true … too late. That isn’t to say there is anything devilish about Tom Brady’s current relationship with the New England Patriots. More to give the G.O.A.T. something to ponder if he decides to find a new home when free agency strikes.
Joe Namath
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Joe Namath is a legend for his play on the field and charisma off it. He led the New York Jets to their lone Super Bowl title (III). Namath finished his career as a Ram, going 2-2 in four games. Namath threw three TD passes and five picks for the Rams.
The 2019 Ravens have broken the franchise record for rushing yards in a single season and are on pace for an NFL record in a passing league
The modern NFL is a passing league, we are constantly reminded. Running the ball is inefficient and the forward pass is the only way to move the football effectively in 2019. No point even bothering trying to run the ball. Throw, throw and then throw some more.
This is something of an exaggeration of course. But the idea that you can set rushing records in 2019 AND be one of the best offenses in football would have seemed fanciful in August. Yet, with two games still remaining this season, the Baltimore Ravens sit atop the AFC North (and many pundits’ power rankings too) on the back of a historic ground attack.
After 14 games, the Ravens have amassed 2,830 rushing yards at an average of 5.53 yards per attempt and an astonishing 202.1 yards per game. The next most run-happy team is the San Francisco 49ers. Most years San Francisco’s 149.1 yards per game would easily be the most. But not this year.
The Ravens still have two games left to play, but this is still the most rushing yards they have amassed in a single season in team history. They already have 156 yards more than they managed in 2003, the previous best when thanks to 2,066 yards from Jamal Lewis they powered their way to 2,674.
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To put Baltimore’s achievement into historical context, you have to go back to the 1978 New England Patriots for the last time a team had this many rushing yards after 14 games. The Chuck Fairbanks-led Patriots had 2,839 after 14 games and finished with 3,165.
That Patriots team is one of only two teams to finish a season with more than 3,000 rushing yards. The 1973 Buffalo Bills were the other and like the 2003 Baltimore team, they got there on the back off a historic season by a running back. Hall of Fame runner O.J. Simpson rushed for 2,003 yards in a 14 game season for the Bills.
It is possible that if results go Baltimore’s way in Week 16, the team may be able to clinch the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, making the final somewhat meaningless. You would suspect that it would make the Ravens reaching their per game rushing average in the next two contests difficult, especially if starters are rested. But if they are able to maintain their pace, then the 2019 Ravens would finish with 3,234 rushing yards. This would be good enough to set an all-time NFL record . . . in a passing league.
