Chuck Bednarik, Class of 1967

Bednarik didn’t really get into football until he returned from World War II (after a 30-mission tour as a B-24 waist gunner with the Army Air Corps that saw him win the Air Medal).

Bednarik showed up unheralded at the University of Pennsylvania, where he went on to win All-America honors as a center his last two seasons.

Chuck Bednarik was selected first overall in the 1949 NFL Draft as the Eagles' bonus draft choice.

As an offensive center, big Chuck was a bulldozing blocker, both on rushing and passing plays.

In 1950, Bednarik received All-NFL recognition as a center.

His athletic abilities and inspirational play was particularly evident in 1960 when injuries forced the Eagles to ask their 12-year veteran to again play both sides of the line. The 35-year-old was sensational.

On defense, he was a true scientist in his field and the kind of tackler who could literally stop even the finest enemy runners "on a dime."

No National Football League player in the 1950s was immune to bone-jarring contact with the Philadelphia Eagles' Chuck Bednarik because the 233-pounder played on both the offensive and defensive units long after the two-way player had largely faded from the scene.