Celebrating 100 Seasons: Emlen Tunnell’s Impact on the New York Giants

We're talking about the New York Giants in their 100th season and one of the greatest players that ever played for them.

And that's a little clue today.

He's a defensive player.

We have this and more coming up in just a moment.

This is the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch, a podcast that covers the anniversaries of american football events throughout history.

Your host, Darren Hayes, is podcasting from America's North Shore to bring you the memories of the gridiron one day at a time.

Hello, my football friends.

This is Darren Hayes of pigskindispatch.com dot.

Welcome once again to the pigpen your port on a positive football history and welcome to our New York Giants 100 celebration, 100 seasons of the New York Giants.

And boy, have we had a lot of fun talking about this great historic franchise and some of the great players and legends of the game that are played.

We're going to talk about a hall of famer today, one of the greatest defensive backs that ever play the game.

He wore big blue in New York City.

His name was Emlyn Tennell, and he left his mark on the sport of football.

As one of the first african american players to break the color barrier in the National Football League, Tennell excelled on the field and paved the way for countless black athletes to follow in his footsteps.

We're not sure of that.

There's been some little bit of discrepancy on that.

But Tonnell's athletic prowess was no discrepancy.

It's a fact.

It was evidence from a young age.

He was a great athlete as a youth.

Tunnel was dedicated to the Coast Guard member and a hero.

In 46, Emily led the team in total offense and was second in rushing yards.

The following season, he trumped out with a fantastic game in which the speedster registered an Iowa single game, single game record with 155 receiving yards and three touchdowns on six receptions, returning to Garrett Hill neighborhood where his family lived just outside of Philadelphia with leaving school to to earn money to now hitched a ride on a banana truck from his PA home to the Polo grounds to try out for Jack Mara and the New York Giants of football.

To now's rookie season with the Giants was a resounding success.

In just three starts in ten appearances, he intercepted seven passes and returned one touchdown, one of those for a touchdown in ten games.

Now throughout his career, Tennell excelled on the field.

In addition to his defensive prowess, Tenell made significant contributions as a punt and kickoff returner.

His remarkable achievements that year included leading the NFL with a career high 489 point return yards and scoring on four non offensive touchdowns.

Now, one of those touchdowns came on a 100 yard kickoff return, showcasing his speed and agility.

His impressive average of 37.8 yards per kick return and three punt returns for touchdowns remain a Giants franchise record.

Hash 40 five's exceptional performance earned him further recognition.

He was again selected as a first team All Pro by the Associated Press and Upiyadh.

His defensive prowess was on display as he led the NFL with six fumble recovers.

Additionally, Tennell showcases versatility by leading the league and punt returns with 411 yards and averaging 13.7 yards per return.

It was remarkable that he gained more yardage in his kick and interception returns than any one Giants running back did in rushing that season.

His accomplishments and accolades testified to his uncanny ability to excel on the field.

He played 158 consecutive games, which is also was an NFL record when he retired.

On those kick returns, Tennell's achievements were honored in numerous occasions.

He was the first black American to be inducted into the Pro Football hall of Fame and the first strictly defensive player to to be inducted into the hall.

The All Pro team.

That same year, the Pro Football hall of Fame named him to the all time All Pro team, further cementing his legendary status.

University of Iowa.

Impact on a team.

When the US Coast Guard commissioned the.

Now that was just some tremendous things.

For a tremendous player, a great defensive.

Back, the great returner, m one to.

Now hall of Fame and one of.

The greatest players in New York Giants and NFL history.

Hope you enjoyed this little bit of football history.

Some of the greatest players, events, coaches and items that concern with the Giants.

And we have more coming at you.

For the rest of this season.

If you haven't listened to them yet.

Make sure you check out this little.

Ditty that we have coming up that we had last week.

Then you'll enjoy that, too.

So next time everybody, have a great gridiron day.

That's all the football history we have today, folks.

Join us back tomorrow for more of your football history, we invite you to check out our website, pigskindispatch.com, not only to see the daily football history, but to experience positive football with our many.

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Game, as well as our own football comic strip cleat marks comics.

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And Gene Monroe, as well as Jason Neff for letting us use their music during our podcast.

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