Emlen Tunnell
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| No. 45 | |||||||||
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| Position: | Defensive back | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Date of birth: | March 29, 1925 | ||||||||
| Place of birth: | Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | ||||||||
| Date of death: | July 22, 1975 (aged 50) | ||||||||
| Place of death: | Pleasantville, New York | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Iowa | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1948 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Interceptions: | 79 |
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| INT yards: | 1,282 |
| Touchdowns: | 4 |
| Player stats at NFL.com | |
Emlen Lewis Tunnell (March 29, 1925 – July 22, 1975) was an American football player. He was the first African American to play for the New York Giants, and was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1967, the first African-American to be inducted. He played in the National Football League for the Giants and Green Bay Packers. Tunnell played college football at the University of Iowa.
In 1999, Tunnell was ranked number 70 on The Sporting News' list of 100 Greatest Football Players.
Tunnell died of a heart attack on July 22, 1975.
Tunnell first played for the University of Toledo where he suffered a neck injury that was so severe the US Army and US Navy both rejected his attempts to enlist during World War II. He was eventually accepted by the US Coast Guard, and spent two years of service there before returning to play football for the University of Iowa He started at quarterback, halfback and on defense during his two years as a Hawkeye. He led the team in passing in the 1946 season and receiving during the 1947 season. He quit the team before the 1948 season in order to join the New York Giants.
Tunnell was undrafted after college, and he began his pro career by hitchhiking across the country from Iowa to New York City to meet Jack Mara, son of Giants founder Tim Mara, and ask to try out for the team. In his Hall of Fame induction speech, Tunnell thanked the West Indian banana-truck driver who dropped him off near this Polo Grounds "appointment".
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