Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 1971 celebrates 55-year anniversary
On July 31, 1971, seven exceptional individuals (six players and one coach) were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Class of 1971, celebrating its 55th anniversary this year, includes JIM BROWN, FRANK "BRUISER" KINARD, VINCE LOMBARDI, ANDY ROBUSTELLI, Y.A. TITTLE and NORM VAN BROCKLIN.
Brown was one of football’s greatest players and revolutionized the sport. He is widely known for being a running back, but he also caught his share of passes and even threw for three touchdowns. He ran for more than 12,000 yards during his nine-year career and scored 126 career touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in every year of his career, won MVP honors four times (1957, 1958, 1963 and 1965) and was named Rookie of the Year in 1957. Brown is the only player in NFL history to earn the Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the same season.
Hewitt is remembered as being one of the best two-way players in the history of football. He primarily played wide receiver on the offensive side of the ball, accumulating 23 receiving touchdowns during his career. Defensively, Hewitt was known as a fierce tackler, diagnosing plays before they happened. His nine-year career was highlighted by back-to-back NFL championship victories with the Chicago Bears in 1932 and 1933.
Kinard got his nickname for being a crushing lineman, both offensively and defensively. Weighing less than 200 pounds at the start of his career, his speed and aggressive nature set him apart from other linemen. In his first year, he was one of just two rookies that made the All-NFL team. Kinard almost always played the full 60 minutes and missed just one game in his career.
Lombardi is heralded as one of the best football coaches of all time. He took the Green Bay Packers from one of the worst teams in the NFL to a prominent franchise. In nine seasons with the Packers, he led them to five NFL championships, victories in the first two Super Bowls and six divisional titles. He earned NFL Coach of the Year honors in 1959 and 1961 and mentored many future Hall of Famers on his way to Canton.
Robustelli played an outstanding 14-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and New York Giants. In his rookie year, he contributed to the Rams’ 1951 championship-winning team. After five successful years with the Rams, he was traded to the Giants, where he immediately made an impact. He led New York to an NFL championship victory in 1956. Robustelli earned seven Pro Bowl and seven All-NFL selections on his way to becoming one of the best pass rushers the game has seen.
Tittle put together an impressive career behind center, retiring as the NFL’s all-time record holder for completions, passing yards and touchdown passes at the time. He exploded onto the scene, throwing for 2,522 yards and 16 touchdowns during his rookie season. Over the course of his career, he compiled nine seasons with more than 2,000 yards passing and 13 seasons with at least one rushing touchdown. In 1963, Tittle threw for 3,145 yards and 14 touchdowns on his way to being named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. He played 17 years in the NFL, totaling more than 200 games.
Van Brocklin compiled remarkable passing statistics and accolades throughout his Hall of Fame career. During his 12-year tenure in the NFL, he was selected to the Pro Bowl nine times and threw for more than 23,000 passing yards. After nine seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he finished his career. Van Brocklin helped lead Philadelphia to an NFL championship victory in 1960, his final season in the league.
