Emlen Tunnell: A Largely Unknown NFL Great

by Mike Pesca, NPR

Emlen Tunnell was the first black player voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also the first defensive specialist elected to the Hall of Fame, the first African American to be a scout and the first African American on a coaching staff. He played his last game 50 years ago on Saturday. And though he still ranks second all-time in interceptions, he is a casualty of the unfamiliarity football often has with its past.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, December 30, 2011