1951 All-Pro Team

Last updated

The 1951 All-Pro Team consisted of American football players in the National Football League (NFL) chosen as best at their position for the 1951 NFL season. Several rival journalistic organizations named All-Pro teams in 1951, there was no official league honor by that designation.

Contents

Background

The 1951 NFL All-Pro Team is something of a misnomer. This was not an official league-sponsored honor, nor was the team a single entity. In fact, several different rival journalistic institutions — all independent of the NFL — each named their own All-Pro Teams following the conclusion of play in the 1951 NFL season.

The first of the three most important 1951 All-Pro teams was announced on December 19 by the United Press (UP). [1] With the NFL's permanent adoption of the free substitution rule on January 23, 1950, [2] it was clear by this date to virtually all observers that "the days of the 30- and 60-minute player" were "apparently doomed." [3] Consequently full offensive and defensive units were named by the UP for the first time — a 22-man roster. [4]

Offensively, the UP followed the conventional lineup of the day, selecting two ends, two offensive tackles, two guards, a center, a quarterback, two halfbacks, and a fullback.

On the defensive side the UP selected two defensive ends, two defensive tackles, two middle guards, two linebackers, two defensive halfbacks, and one safety. [1]

First- and second-team squads were named for each of these positions. [1] No specialist players such as kickers, punters, or kick returners were named.

The rival Associated Press (AP), making its selections via a poll of "AP sportswriters in each city where the pros played," announced its elections early in January 1952. [3] The 1951 season similarly marked the first time that both offensive and defensive teams were named by the AP. [3] No "second team" was named, rather a more expansive "honorable mention" list was published. [3]

The third, and least prestigious, of the major All-Pro teams was chosen by the staff of the New York Daily News. [5]

Selections

The All-Pro selections were dominated by players from the Cleveland Browns (nine first-team honorees including Otto Graham and Lou Groza), New York Giants (seven honorees including Emlen Tunnell), Los Angeles Rams (six first-team honorees including Elroy Hirsch), and Detroit Lions (four first-team honorees including Doak Walker).

Consensus first-team All-Pros (13) marked with bold type.

Offensive selections
PositionPlayerTeamSelector(s)
Quarterback Otto Graham Cleveland BrownsAP-1, UP-1, NYDN-1
Quarterback Bob Waterfield Los Angeles RamsUP-2, NYDN-2
Halfback Doak Walker Detroit LionsAP, UP-1, NYDN-1
Halfback Dub Jones Cleveland BrownsAP, UP-1, NYDN-1
Halfback Joe Geri Pittsburgh SteelersUP-2, NYDN-1
Fullback Dan Towler Los Angeles RamsUP-1, NYDN-1
Fullback Eddie Price New York GiantsAP, UP-2
Fullback John "Kayo" Dottley Chicago BearsUP-2
End Elroy Hirsch Los Angeles RamsAP, UP-1, NYDN-1
End Dante Lavelli Cleveland BrownsUP-1, NYDN-1
End Leon Hart Detroit LionsAP, UP-1 [def. end]
Tackle George Connor Chicago BearsAP, UP-1 [def. tackle], NYDN-1
Tackle Tex Coulter New York GiantsUP-1, NYDN-1
Tackle Lou Groza Cleveland BrownsUP-1, NYDN-1
Tackle Leo Nomellini San Francisco 49ersAP
Guard Lou Creekmur Detroit LionsAP, UP-1, NYDN-1
Guard Dick Barwegen Chicago BearsAP, UP-1, NYDN-1
Center Frank Gatski Cleveland BrownsUP-1, NYDN-1
Center Vic Lindskog Philadelphia EaglesAP
Defensive selections
PositionPlayerTeamSelector(s)
Defensive end Len Ford Cleveland BrownsAP, UP-1, NYDN-1
Defensive end Larry Brink Los Angeles RamsAP
Defensive tackle Arnie Weinmeister New York GiantsAP, UP-1, NYDN-1
Defensive tackle Al Derogatis New York GiantsAP
Defensive guard Bill Willis Cleveland BrownsAP, UP-1, NYDN-1
Defensive guard Les Bingaman Detroit LionsAP
Defensive guard Jon Baker New York GiantsUP-1
Defensive guard Stan West Los Angeles RamsUP-2
Linebacker Chuck Bednarik Philadelphia EaglesAP, UP-1, NYDN-1
Linebacker Tony Adamle Cleveland BrownsUP-1, NYDN-1
Linebacker Paul "Tank" Younger Los Angeles RamsAP
Defensive halfback Otto Schnellbacher New York GiantsAP, UP-1, NYDN-1
Defensive halfback Warren Lahr Cleveland BrownsUP-1, NYDN-1
Defensive halfback Jerry Shipkey Pittsburgh SteelersAP
Safety Emlen Tunnell New York GiantsAP, UP-1, NYDN-1

AP Honorable Mentions

Offense

Defense

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lou Groza</span> American football player (1924–2000)

Louis Roy Groza, nicknamed "the Toe", was an American professional football offensive tackle and placekicker while playing his entire career for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and National Football League (NFL). Groza was professional football's career kicking and points leader when he retired after the 1967 season. He played in 21 seasons for the Browns, helping the team to win eight league championships in that span. Groza's accuracy and strength as a kicker influenced the development of place-kicking as a specialty; he could kick field goals from beyond 50 yards (46 m) at a time when attempts from that distance were a rarity. He set numerous records for distance and number of field goals kicked during his career.

The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League (NFL). To increase revenue, the league, for the first time since 1966, reinstated bye weeks, so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 10 teams to 12 teams by adding another wild card from each conference, thus adding two more contests to the postseason schedule; this format was modified with realignment in 2002 before the playoffs expanded to 14 teams in 2020.

The 1950 NFL season was the 31st regular season of the National Football League. The merger with the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) expanded the league to 13 teams. Meanwhile, television brought a new era to the game. The Los Angeles Rams became the first NFL team to have all of its games – both home and away – televised. The Washington Redskins became the second team to put their games on TV. Other teams arranged to have selected games televised.

The 1951 NFL season was the 32nd regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, Baltimore Colts owner Abraham Watner faced financial difficulties, and thus gave his team and its player contracts back to the league for $50,000. However, many Baltimore fans started to protest the loss of their team. Supporting groups such as its fan club and its marching band remained in operation and worked for the team's revival, which eventually led to a new, more lucrative Baltimore team in 1953 that ultimately carried on the erratic lineage of the last remaining Ohio League member Dayton Triangles.

The 1952 NFL season was the 33rd regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, the legacy of the Dayton Triangles, the final remaining Ohio League member and the franchise then known as the New York Yanks owner Ted Collins sold his team back to the NFL. A few days later, a new team was then awarded to an ownership group in Dallas, Texas, after it purchased the assets of the Yanks.

The 1951 National Football League Draft was held January 18–19, 1951, at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago.

The 1953 National Football League Draft was held on January 22, 1953, at Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. Selections made by the folded Dallas Texans were assigned to the Baltimore Colts, since the Dallas team had moved to Baltimore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1950 NFL Championship Game</span>

The 1950 NFL Championship Game was the 18th National Football League (NFL) title game, played on Sunday, December 24 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

The 1950 National Football League playoffs took place after the 1950 regular season ended with a tie for first place in both the American and National conferences. The ties forced one-game playoffs to determine who would play in the NFL championship game. It was the only time in the NFL's championship game era that two such tiebreaker playoff games were needed in the same year. The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants tied for first place in the American Conference, while the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams tied for first place in the National Conference. The Browns proceeded to beat the Giants 8–3, and the Rams beat the Bears 24–14 in their playoff game. Cleveland then beat the Rams in the championship game the following week. The home teams won all three games in this postseason.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Martin (American football)</span> American football player (1924–2002)

James Richard "Jungle Jim" Martin was an American football guard, linebacker and placekicker who played fourteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL) in the 1950s and 1960s, mainly for the Detroit Lions. He was selected to the Pro Bowl, the NFL's all-star game, after the 1961 season, and went on to be an assistant coach after his playing career. He was an All-American at the University of Notre Dame and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

The 1949 Cleveland Browns season was the team's fourth and final season in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). The Browns finished the regular season with a 9–1–2 win–loss–tie record and beat the San Francisco 49ers to win their fourth straight league championship. In the season's sixth game on October 9, the 49ers stopped the Browns' professional football record unbeaten streak at 29 games. It began two years earlier on October 19, 1947, and included two league championship games and two ties.

The 1950 Cleveland Browns season was the team's first in the National Football League (NFL) after playing the previous four years in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), which folded after the 1949 season. The Browns finished the regular season with a 10–2 win–loss record and beat the Los Angeles Rams to win the NFL championship. It was Cleveland's fifth consecutive championship victory, the previous four having come in the AAFC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1951 Los Angeles Rams season</span> NFL team season

The 1951 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 14th year in the National Football League and the sixth season in Los Angeles. In 1951, the Rams had an up-and-down season, never winning more than three games in a row, but were able to win eight games and clinch the National Conference after defeating the Green Bay Packers during Week 12 of the season. Los Angeles also led the National Football League in attendance for the second time while in Southern California; the first of 10 consecutive seasons leading the league in attendance. The Rams' largest crowd during the 1951 campaign was 67,186 against the Cleveland Browns during Week 2.

The 1953 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 24th season in the National Football League. The Lions won their second consecutive and third overall National Football League (NFL) championship. In their fourth year under head coach Buddy Parker, the Lions compiled a 10–2 record during the regular season, outscored opponents 271 to 205, finished in first place in the NFL's Western Division, and defeated the Cleveland Browns 17–16 in the NFL Championship Game at Briggs Stadium in Detroit.

The 1952 Detroit Lions season was the franchise's 23rd season in the National Football League. The Lions won their second National Football League (NFL) championship, having won their first championship 17 years earlier in 1935. The team's co-captains were halfback Robert Hoernschemeyer and defensive tackle John Prchlik, and defensive end Jim Doran was selected as the team's most valuable player. In their third year under head coach Buddy Parker, the 1952 Lions compiled a 9–3 record during the regular season, finished in a tie with the Los Angeles Rams for first place in the NFL's National Conference, defeated the Rams in a tiebreaker game, and defeated the Cleveland Browns, 17–7, in the 1952 NFL Championship Game at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland.

The Associated Press (AP), Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), New York Daily News (NYDN), The Sporting News (SN), and United Press (UP) were among selectors of All-Pro teams comprising players adjudged to be the best at each position in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1957 NFL season. The AP, NEA, NYDN, and UPI selected a first and second team.

The 1956 All-Pro Team consisted of the best players at each position among players in the National Football League as chosen by various selectors.

The 1955 All-Pro Team consisted of the best players at each position among players in the National Football League as chosen by various selectors.

The 1954 All-Pro Team consisted of the best players at each position among players in the National Football League as chosen by various selectors.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Earl Wright, "Cleveland Browns Win Nine Berths on All-NFL Team," Wichita Eagle, Dec. 19, 1951, p. 10.
  2. ↑ Roger Treat, The Official National Football League Football Encyclopedia. New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1952; p. 22.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Frank Eck, "Four Cleveland Browns on AP All-Pro Football Team," Chillicothe [OH] Gazette, Jan. 8, 1952, p. 10.
  4. ↑ For evidence that UP did not name two platoons previously, see, for example: "United Press All-Pro Team," Santa Maria [CA] Times, Dec. 12, 1950, p. 2.
  5. ↑ "1951 NFL All-Pros," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com/
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.