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Begun in 2002, the Hall of Very
Good seeks to honor outstanding players and coaches who are not in the Hall of
Fame and are not likely to ever make it. The PFRA does not promote any of the
electees for the Hall of Fame nor does it view the Hall of Very Good as a
springboard for the Hall of Fame. We simply recognize that there are many
players and coaches who had great careers who deserve to be recognized.
Class of 2009
Bruno Banducci
Position: Guard
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles 1944-1945, San Francisco 49ers 1946-1954
Bio: Solid all-around blocker who earned first team all-pro honors twice in AAFC
and three times in NFL. Also twice named to combined all-AAFC/NFL. Never played
on champion but his teams won two-thirds of their games and finished second
eight times. Seven times his team finished first in rushing yards and four times
a teammate won rushing title.
Harold
Carmichael
Position: Wide Receiver
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles 1971-1983, Dallas Cowboys 1984
Bio: Ranked fifth in career receptions, seventh in receiving yards and seventh
in touchdown catches when he retired. Also held record with 127 straight games
with a catch. Led NFL in receptions and yards in 1973 when he was first team
all-pro. Third in yards in 1978 and fifth in catches in 1974. Unanimous all-NFC
in 1978 and 1979.
Blanton
Collier
Position: Assistant Coach 1946-53 and 1962, and Head Coach 1963-70
Teams: Cleveland Browns
Bio: Had big impact as all-around assistant as Browns finished first in all
eight seasons of his first tenure in Cleveland. Succeeded Paul Brown in 1963
after four playoff-less seasons and guided team to five first-place finishes and
1964 NFL championship. Browns won 69% of their games and never had a losing
season in his eight years as head coach.
Boyd Dowler
Position: Wider Receiver
Teams: Green Bay Packers 1959-1969, Washington Redskins 1971
Bio: Leading receiver on Green Bay’s dynasty of the 1960’s who twice was named
all-conference. Finished in the top 10 in receptions three times despite playing
for a very run-oriented team. Ranked 10th in catches and 12th
in receiving yards all-time when he retired. Had huge postseason in 1967 when
Packers won Ice Bowl and Super Bowl II.
Claude
Humphrey
Position: Defensive End
Teams: Atlanta Falcons 1968-1978, Philadelphia Eagles 1979-1981
Bio: Tall, powerful end who crushed pass pockets and destroyed running plays
with great effectiveness. Garnered some first or second team all-pro honors
eight times including three seasons where he was a consensus first-teamer.
Joined Philadelphia after several serious injuries and helped Eagles to playoffs
in each of his last three years.
Ken Kavanaugh
Position: End
Teams: Chicago Bears 1940-1941 and 1945-1950
Bio: Averaged 18.7 yards per catch or better every year he played and led NFL in
1941 at 28.5. Career average of 22.4 is one of best ever. Fifty of his 162
career catches were touchdowns and twice led league in TD receptions. Played in
three title games (all Bear victories) and scored TD in all three. Missed three
prime seasons to military service.
Verne
Lewellen,
Position: Halfback
Teams: Green Bay Packers 1924-1927, New York Yankees 1927, Green Bay Packers
1928-1932
Bio: One of best backs of the 1920’s who twice led NFL in TD’s and rushing TD’s.
Second team all-pro in 1925 and consensus first-teamer in 1926-29. Few
statistics are available from that time but was an outstanding punter in era
when advantage in that part of the game frequently meant victory. Packers won
three titles in his years in Green Bay.
Walt Sweeney
Position: Guard
Teams: San Diego Chargers 1963-1973, Washington Redskins 1974-1975
Bio: Key component of San Diego’s high-octane offense of the 1960’s. Chargers
ranked at top in numerous offensive categories in first part of his career and
played in three straight title games, winning once. Named as second team
all-league selection three times and first team four times including 1967-69
when he was consensus all-AFL.
Class of 2008
Dick Barwegen
Position: Guard
Teams: New York Yankees 1947, Baltimore Colts 1948-1949, Chicago Bears
1950-1952, Baltimore Colts 1953-1954
Bio: Outstanding guard for four teams in two leagues. Powerful run blocker whose
teams were first in rushing yards twice and average gain once. Unanimous
all-league choice four straight years. Excellent defender in his early years as
two-way player.
Randy
Gradishar
Position: Linebacker
Teams: Denver Broncos 1974-1983
Bio: Leader of Denver's Orange Crush defense that won the AFC in 1977. NFL
Defensive Player of Year in '78. Never missed a game in 10 seasons. Broncos led
NFL in numerous defensive categories in his prime years. 4 TD's and 20 INT's in
career.
Bob
Hoernschemeyer
Position: Halfback
Teams: Chicago Rockets 1946-1947, Brooklyn Dodgers 1947-1948, Chicago Hornets
1949, Detroit Lions 1950-1955
Bio: Among top rushers in each of his first 8 seasons. Led Detroit in rushing
four straight years while Lions were winning two NFL titles. Counting AAFC
total, was 4th all-time in rushing when he retired.
Cecil Isbell
Position: Tailback
Teams: Green Bay Packers 1938-1942
Bio: Spectacular passer who led Packers to two Championship Games and one title.
Set records for passing yards in 1941 and for completions, TD passes, and yards
in '42. Also set marks with 5 TD throws in game and 22 straight games with TD
pass.
Buddy Parker
Position: Head Coach
Teams: Chicago Cardinals 1949, Detroit Lions 1951-1956, Pittsburgh Steelers
1957-1964
Bio: Coached Detroit to three title games and two titles, compiling 50-24-2
record. Turned Pittsburgh into contender and ranks 3rd behind Noll
and Cowher in wins among Steeler coaches. Also played 9 NFL years including on
1935 Lion title winners.
Spec Sanders
Position: Tailback
Teams: New York Yankees 1946-1948, New York Yanks 1950
Bio: Hard running tailback who established pro records with 1,432 rushing yards
and 19 TD's in 1947 when he was AAFC MVP. Led Yankees to two AAFC title games.
Set NFL record with 13 interceptions when he switched to defense full time in
1950.
Jim Ray Smith
Position: Guard
Teams: Cleveland Browns 1956-1962, Dallas Cowboys 1963-1964
Bio: One of fastest guards ever who earned all-pro honors in five of the six
full seasons he played. Browns led NFL in rushing yards and yards per carry
twice each in his years with team. Had memorable game in '59 when he dominated
Gene Lipscomb.
Billy Wilson
Position: Wide Receiver
Teams: San Francisco 49ers 1951-1960
Bio: Thrice led NFL in receptions and was in top 7 seven straight years. 4th or
better in receiving yards 5 times and also led league in TD catches once. Ranked
2nd all-time to Hutson in receptions and TD catches and 3rd
in receiving yards when he retired.
Class of 2007
Frankie Albert
Position: Quarterback
Teams: San Francisco 49ers 1946-1952
Roger Brown
Position: Defensive Tackle
Teams: Detroit Lions 1960-1966, Los Angeles Rams 1967-1969
Timmy Brown
Position: Running Back
Teams: Green Bay Packers 1959, Philadelphia Eagles 1960-1967, Baltimore Colts
1968
Marshall
Goldberg
Position: Back
Teams: Chicago Cardinals 1939-1943, 1946-1948
Jim Lee
Howell
Position: End, Head Coach
Teams: New York Giants 1937-1942, 1946-1947, 1954-1960
Glenn
Presnell
Position: Back
Teams: Portsmouth Spartans 1931-1933, Detroit Lions 1934-1936
Dick
Schafrath
Position: Tackle
Teams: Cleveland Browns 1959-1971
Jake Scott
Position: Defensive Back
Teams: Miami Dolphins 1970-1975, Washington Redskins 1976-1978
Ed Sprinkle
Position: Defensive End
Teams: Chicago Bears 1944-1955
Tank Younger
Position: Halfback, Fullback
Teams: Los Angeles Rams 1949-1957, Pittsburgh Steelers 1958
Class of 2006
Charley Conerly
Position: Quarterback
Teams: New York Giants 1948-1961
John Hadl
Position: Quarterback
Teams: San Diego Chargers 1962-1972, Los Angeles Rams 1973-1974, Green Bay
Packers 1974-1975, Houston Oilers 1976-1977
Chuck Howley
Position: Linebacker
Teams: Chicago Bears 1958-1959, Dallas Cowboys 1961-1973
Alex Karras
Position: Defensive Tackle
Teams: Detroit Lions 1958-1962, 1964-1970
Eugene
Lipscomb
Position: Defensive Tackle
Teams: Los Angeles Rams 1953-1955, Baltimore Colts 1956-1960, Pittsburgh
Steelers 1961-1962
Kyle Rote
Position: End, Halfback
Teams: New York Giants 1951-1961
Dick Stanfel
Position: Guard
Teams: Detroit Lions 1952-1955, Washington Redskins 1956-1958
Otis Taylor
Position: Wide Receiver
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs 1965-1975
Fuzzy
Thurston
Position: Guard
Teams: Baltimore Colts 1958, Green Bay Packers 1959-1967
Deacon Dan
Towler
Position: Fullback
Teams: Los Angeles Rams 1950-1955
Class of 2005
Maxie Baughan
Position: Linebacker
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles 1960-1965, Los Angeles Rams 1966-1970, Washington
Redskins 1974
Jim Benton
Position: End
Teams: Cleveland Rams 1938-1942, Chicago Bears 1943, Cleveland Rams 1944-1947
Lavie Dilweg
Position: End
Teams: Milwaukee Badgers 1926, Green Bay Packers 1927-1934
Pat Harder
Position: Fullback
Teams: Chicago Cardinals 1946-1950, Detroit Lions 1951-1953
Floyd Little*
Position: Running Back
Teams: Denver Broncos 1967-1975
Tommy Nobis
Position: Linebacker
Teams: Atlanta Falcons 1966-1976
Pete Retzlaff
Position: Halfback, End
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles 1956-1966
Tobin Rote
Position: Quarterback
Teams: Green Bay Packers 1950-1956, Detroit Lions 1957-1959, San Diego Chargers
1963-1964, Denver Broncos 1966
Lou Rymkus
Position: Tackle
Teams: Washington Redskins 1943, Cleveland Browns 1946-1951
Del Shofner
Position: End
Teams: Los Angeles Rams 1957-1960, New York Giants 1961-1967
Class of 2004
Gene Brito
Position: Defensive End
Teams: Washington Redskins 1951-1958, Los Angeles Rams 1959-1960
John Brodie
Position: Quarterback
Teams: San Francisco 49ers 1957-1973
Jack Butler
Position: Defensive Back
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers 1951-1959
Chris
Hanburger
Position: Linebacker
Teams: Washington Redskins 1965-1978
Bob Hayes*
Position: Split End, Wide Receiver
Teams: Dallas Cowboys 1965-1974, San Francisco 49ers 1975
Billy Howton
Position: End
Teams: Green Bay Packers 1952-1958, Cleveland Browns 1959, Dallas Cowboys
1960-1963
Jim Marshall
Position: Defensive End
Teams: Cleveland Browns 1960, Minnesota Vikings 1961-1979
Al Nesser
Position: Guard
Teams: Akron Pros 1920-1925, Cleveland Bulldogs 1925, Akron Indians 1926, New
York Giants 1926-1928, Cleveland Indians 1931
Dave Robinson
Position: Linebacker
Teams: Green Bay Packers 1963-1972, Washington Redskins 1973-1974
Duke Slater
Position: Tackle
Teams: Milwaukee Badgers 1922, Rock Island Independents 1922-1925, Chicago
Cardinals 1926-1931
Class of 2003
Gino Cappelletti
Position: End, Kicker
Teams: Boston Patriots 1960-1970
Carl Eller*
Position: Defensive End
Teams: Minnesota Vikings 1964-1978, Seattle Seahawks 1979
Pat Fischer
Position: Defensive Back
Teams: St. Louis Cardinals 1961-1967, Washington Redskins 1968-1977
Benny
Friedman*
Position: Tailback
Teams: Cleveland Bulldogs 1927, Detroit Wolverines 1928, New York Giants
1929-1931, Brooklyn Dodgers 1932-1934
Gene
Hickerson*
Position: Guard
Teams: Cleveland Browns 1958-1960, 1962-1973
Jerry Kramer
Position: Guard
Teams: Green Bay Packers 1958-1968
Johnny
Robinson
Position: Defensive Back
Teams: Dallas Texans 1960-1962, Kansas City Chiefs 1963-1971
Mac Speedie
Position: End
Teams: Cleveland Browns 1946-1952
Mick
Tingelhoff
Position: Center
Teams: Minnesota Vikings 1962-1978
Al Wistert
Position: Tackle
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles 1943-1951
*Voted into the
Professional Football Hall of Fame after induction into the Hall of Very Good.
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