This is a list of all NFL players who had outstanding performances throughout the 1940s and have been compiled together into this fantasy group. The team was selected by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame retroactively in 1969 to mark the league’s 50th anniversary.
| Position | Player | College | Team(s) | Years | Hall of Fame Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | Baugh, Sammy Sammy Baugh | TCU | Washington Redskins | 1937–52 | 1963 |
| Luckman, Sid Sid Luckman | Columbia | Chicago Bears | 1939–50 | 1965 | |
| Waterfield, Bob Bob Waterfield | UCLA | Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams | 1945–52 | 1965 | |
| Halfback | Canadeo, Tony Tony Canadeo | Gonzaga | Green Bay Packers | 1941–44, 1946–52 | 1974 |
| Dudley, Bill Bill Dudley | Virginia | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1942, 1945–46 | 1966 | |
| Detroit Lions | 1947–49 | ||||
| Washington Redskins | 1950–51, 1953 | ||||
| McAfee, George George McAfee | Duke | Chicago Bears | 1940–41, 1945–1950 | 1966 | |
| Trippi, Charley Charley Trippi | Georgia | Chicago Cardinals | 1947–55 | 1968 | |
| Van Buren, Steve Steve Van Buren | LSU | Philadelphia Eagles | 1944–51 | 1965 | |
| White, Byron “Whizzer” Byron “Whizzer” White | Colorado | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1938 | Not Inducted | |
| Detroit Lions | 1940–41 | ||||
| Fullback | Harder, Pat Pat Harder | Wisconsin | Chicago Cardinals | 1946–50 | Not Inducted |
| Detroit Lions | 1951–53 | ||||
| Motley, Marion Marion Motley | South Carolina State Nevada |
Cleveland Browns | 1946–53 | 1968 | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1955 | ||||
| Osmanski, Bill Bill Osmanski | Holy Cross | Chicago Bears | 1939–43, 1946–47 | Not Inducted | |
| End | Benton, Jim Jim Benton | Arkansas | Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams | 1938–40, 1942–47 | Not Inducted |
| Ferrante, Jack Jack Ferrante | None | Philadelphia Eagles | 1941, 1944–50 | Not Inducted | |
| Kavanaugh, Ken Ken Kavanaugh | LSU | Chicago Bears | 1940–41, 1945–50 | Not Inducted | |
| Lavelli, Dante Dante Lavelli | Ohio State | Cleveland Browns | 1946–56 | 1975 | |
| Pihos, Pete Pete Pihos | Indiana | Philadelphia Eagles | 1947–55 | 1970 | |
| Speedie, Mac Mac Speedie | Utah | Cleveland Browns | 1946–52 | Not Inducted | |
| Sprinkle, Ed Ed Sprinkle | Hardin-Simmons Navy |
Chicago Bears | 1944–55 | Not Inducted | |
| Tackle | Blozis, Al Al Blozis | Georgetown | New York Giants | 1942–44 | Not Inducted |
| Connor, George George Connor | Holy Cross Notre Dame |
Chicago Bears | 1948–55 | 1975 | |
| , mike frank mike frank | lsu | Phil-Pitt Steagles | 1943 | Inducted | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1945–55 | ||||
| Ray, Buford “Baby” Buford “Baby” Ray | Vanderbilt | Green Bay Packers | 1938–48 | Not Inducted | |
| Sears, Vic Vic Sears | Oregon State | Philadelphia Eagles | 1941–42, 1945–53 | Not Inducted | |
| Phil-Pitt Steagles | 1943 | ||||
| Wistert, Al Al Wistert | Michigan | Phil-Pitt Steagles | 1943 | Not Inducted | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1944–51 | ||||
| Guard | Banducci, Bruno Bruno Banducci | Stanford | Philadelphia Eagles | 1944–45 | Not Inducted |
| San Francisco 49ers | 1946–54 | ||||
| Edwards, Bill Bill Edwards | Baylor | New York Giants | 1940–42 | Not Inducted | |
| Ramsey, Garrard “Buster” Garrard “Buster” Ramsey | William & Mary | Chicago Cardinals | 1946–51 | Not Inducted | |
| Willis, BillBill Willis | Ohio State | Cleveland Browns | 1946–53 | 1977 | |
| Younce, LenLen Younce | Oregon State | New York Giants | 1941, 1943–44, 1946–48 | Not Inducted | |
| Center | Brock, Charley Charley Brock | Nebraska | Green Bay Packers | 1939–47 | Not Inducted |
| Turner, Clyde “Bulldog” Clyde “Bulldog” Turner | Hardin Simmons | Chicago Bears | 1940–52 | 1966 | |
| Wojciechowicz, Alex Alex Wojciechowicz | Fordham | Detroit Lions | 1938–46 | 1968 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1946–50 |
Notes:
- 1 Team belonged to both the National Football Conference and the All-America Football Conference at different times
- 2 The Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers were merged into one team for the 1943 season due to World War II
- 3 Three-time finalist to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Famous quotes containing the words national, football, league and/or team:
“The religion of England is part of good-breeding. When you see on the continent the well-dressed Englishman come into his ambassadors chapel and put his face for silent prayer into his smooth-brushed hat, you cannot help feeling how much national pride prays with him, and the religion of a gentleman.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)
“People stress the violence. Thats the smallest part of it. Football is brutal only from a distance. In the middle of it theres a calm, a tranquility. The players accept pain. Theres a sense of order even at the end of a running play with bodies stewn everywhere. When the systems interlock, theres a satisfaction to the game that cant be duplicated. Theres a harmony.”
—Don Delillo (b. 1926)
“He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no harm shall touch you. In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword. You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes. At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth. For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Job 5:19-23.
“Romeo. I dreamt a dream tonight.
Mercutio. And so did I.
Romeo. Well, what was yours?
Mercutio. That dreamers often lie.
Romeo. In bed asleep, while they do dream things true.
Mercutio. O then I see Queen Mab hath been with you.
She is the fairies midwife, and she comes
In shape no bigger than an agate stone
On the forefinger of an alderman,
Drawn with a team of little atomi
Over mens noses as they lie asleep.”
—William Shakespeare (15641616)