{{short description|Official list of the best NFL players in 1951}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{sidebar | width = 25em | title = 1951 All-Pro Team | headingstyle = border-top:#aaa 1px solid | content1style = | content1 = All-Pro | content2 = 1951 NFL season | heading3 = Selectors | content4 = Associated Press<br>United Press<br>''New York Daily News'' | content5style = border-top:1px #aaa solid | content5 = 1949 1950 ← → 1952 1953 }} The '''1951 All-Pro Team''' consisted of American football players in the National Football League (NFL) chosen as best at their position for the 1951 NFL season. Several rival journalistic organizations named All-Pro teams in 1951, there was no official league honor by that designation.
==Background==
The 1951 NFL All-Pro Team is something of a misnomer. This was not an official league-sponsored honor, nor was the team a single entity. In fact, several different rival journalistic institutions — all independent of the NFL — each named their own All-Pro Teams following the conclusion of play in the 1951 NFL season.
The first of the three most important 1951 All-Pro teams was announced on December 19 by the United Press (UP).<ref name=Wright>Earl Wright, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wichita-beacon-cleveland-browns-win/141710871/ "Cleveland Browns Win Nine Berths on All-NFL Team,"] ''Wichita Eagle,'' Dec. 19, 1951, p. 10.</ref> With the NFL's permanent adoption of the free substitution rule on January 23, 1950,<ref>Roger Treat, ''The Official National Football League Football Encyclopedia.'' New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1952; p. 22.</ref> it was clear by this date to virtually all observers that "the days of the 30- and 60-minute player" were "apparently doomed."<ref name=Eck>Frank Eck, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chillicothe-gazette-four-cleveland-brown/141708709/ "Four Cleveland Browns on AP All-Pro Football Team,"] ''Chillicothe [OH] Gazette,'' Jan. 8, 1952, p. 10.</ref> Consequently full offensive and defensive units were named by the UP for the first time — a 22-man roster.<ref>For evidence that UP did not name two platoons previously, see, for example: [https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-maria-times-united-press-nfl-all-p/141715180/ "United Press All-Pro Team,"] ''Santa Maria [CA] Times,'' Dec. 12, 1950, p. 2.</ref>
Offensively, the UP followed the conventional lineup of the day, selecting two ends, two offensive tackles, two guards, a center, a quarterback, two halfbacks, and a fullback.
On the defensive side the UP selected two defensive ends, two defensive tackles, two middle guards, two linebackers, two defensive halfbacks, and one safety.<ref name=Wright />
First- and second-team squads were named for each of these positions.<ref name=Wright /> No specialist players such as kickers, punters, or kick returners were named.
The rival Associated Press (AP), making its selections via a poll of "AP sportswriters in each city where the pros played," announced its elections early in January 1952.<ref name=Eck>Frank Eck, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chillicothe-gazette-four-cleveland-brown/141708709/ "Four Cleveland Browns on AP All-Pro Football Team,"] ''Chillicothe [OH] Gazette,'' Jan. 8, 1952, p. 10.</ref> The 1951 season similarly marked the first time that both offensive and defensive teams were named by the AP.<ref name=Eck /> No "second team" was named, rather a more expansive "honorable mention" list was published.<ref name=Eck />
The third, and least prestigious, of the major All-Pro teams was chosen by the staff of the ''New York Daily News.''<ref name=PFR>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1951/allpro.htm "1951 NFL All-Pros,"] Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com/</ref>
==Selections== The All-Pro selections were dominated by players from the Cleveland Browns (nine first-team honorees including Otto Graham and Lou Groza), New York Giants (seven honorees including Emlen Tunnell), Los Angeles Rams (six first-team honorees including Elroy Hirsch), and Detroit Lions (four first-team honorees including Doak Walker).
<small>Consensus first-team All-Pros (13) marked with bold type.</small>
{| border=0 |- valign="top" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" ! colspan=4 | Offensive selections |- !Position !Player !Team !Selector(s) |- |Quarterback |'''Otto Graham''' |Cleveland Browns |AP-1, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Quarterback |Bob Waterfield |Los Angeles Rams |UP-2, NYDN-2 |- |Halfback |'''Doak Walker''' |Detroit Lions |AP, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Halfback |'''Dub Jones''' |Cleveland Browns |AP, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Halfback |Joe Geri |Pittsburgh Steelers |UP-2, NYDN-1 |- |Fullback |Dan Towler |Los Angeles Rams |UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Fullback |Eddie Price |New York Giants |AP, UP-2 |- |Fullback |John "Kayo" Dottley |Chicago Bears |UP-2 |- |End |'''Elroy Hirsch''' |Los Angeles Rams |AP, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |End |Dante Lavelli |Cleveland Browns |UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |End |Leon Hart |Detroit Lions |AP, UP-1 [def. end] |- |Tackle |'''George Connor''' |Chicago Bears |AP, UP-1 [def. tackle], NYDN-1 |- |Tackle |Tex Coulter |New York Giants |UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Tackle |Lou Groza |Cleveland Browns |UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Tackle |Leo Nomellini |San Francisco 49ers |AP |- |Guard |'''Lou Creekmur''' |Detroit Lions |AP, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Guard |'''Dick Barwegen''' |Chicago Bears |AP, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Center |Frank Gatski |Cleveland Browns |UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Center |Vic Lindskog |Philadelphia Eagles |AP |- |} | style="padding-left:40px;" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;" ! colspan=4 | Defensive selections |- !Position !Player !Team !Selector(s) |- |Defensive end |'''Len Ford''' |Cleveland Browns |AP, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Defensive end |Larry Brink |Los Angeles Rams |AP |- |Defensive tackle |'''Arnie Weinmeister''' |New York Giants |AP, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Defensive tackle |Al Derogatis |New York Giants |AP |- |Defensive guard |'''Bill Willis''' |Cleveland Browns |AP, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Defensive guard |Les Bingaman |Detroit Lions |AP |- |Defensive guard |Jon Baker |New York Giants |UP-1 |- |Defensive guard |Stan West |Los Angeles Rams |UP-2 |- |Linebacker |'''Chuck Bednarik''' |Philadelphia Eagles |AP, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Linebacker |Tony Adamle |Cleveland Browns |UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Linebacker |Paul "Tank" Younger |Los Angeles Rams |AP |- |Defensive halfback |'''Otto Schnellbacher''' |New York Giants |AP, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Defensive halfback |Warren Lahr |Cleveland Browns |UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |Defensive halfback |Jerry Shipkey |Pittsburgh Steelers |AP |- |Safety |'''Emlen Tunnell''' |New York Giants |AP, UP-1, NYDN-1 |- |} |}
===AP Honorable Mentions===
'''''Offense''''' * '''Ends''' - Francis Polsfoot (Cardinals); Bob Mann (Packers); Dante Lavelli (Browns); Bob Walston (Eagles). * '''Tackles''' - Bill Fischer (Cardinals); Paul Lipscomb (Redskins); Lou Groza (Browns). * '''Guards''' - Abe Gibron (Browns); Bruno Banducci (49ers); Casimir Witucki (Redskins). * '''Center''' - Frank Gatski (Browns). * '''Backs''' - Bob Waterfield (Rams); Bob Hoernschemeyer (Lions); Dan Towler (Rams); Rob Goode (Redskins); Joe Geri (Steelers); Joe Perry (49ers); John Dottley (Bears); Bob Celeri (Yanks).
'''''Defense''''' * '''Defensive Ends''' - Ed Sprinkle (Bears); Ray Poole Giants. * '''Defensive Tackles''' - John Kissell (Browns); Mike McCormack (Yanks). * '''Middle Guards''' - Visco Grgich (49ers); Alex Agase (Browns). * '''Linebackers''' - Tony Adamle (Browns); Tommy Thompson (Browns). * '''Defensive Halfbacks''' - Howard Hartley (Steelers); Don Doll (Lions); Harry Gilmer (Redskins); Jack Christiansen (Lions). * '''Safety''' - Buddy Young (Yanks).
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{NFL All-Pro Teams}}
Category:All-Pro Teams Category:1951 NFL season