THE GRATEFUL BLUE PLAYER DIRECTORY
Emlen Tunnell
A pioneer and a playmaker.
- Position
- DB
- Giants years
- 1948–1958
- Recognition
- Hall of Fame · 1967
Why the name matters.
Tunnell was the first Black player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A defensive back and returner, he helped the Giants win the 1956 NFL championship.
His Hall of Fame profile traces a career that also included Green Bay. His story belongs alongside the franchise’s on-field history and the wider history of integration in professional football.
Go deeper.
Hall of Fame biography, statistics & honors ↗Explore the 1956 championship season ↗Watch the championship film collection ↗
Did you watch him play?
The stats are here. Your seat in the stands, the voice beside you, and the way it felt belong in the memory bank.
Tell us your memory ↗