Emlen Tunnell

The most successful Black football star of his era, and, in 1967, the first Black inductee to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Emlen Tunnell is, sadly, almost forgotten now. A WWII hero who served with distinction in the Coast Guard, Tunnell followed his service with a groundbreaking career in the NFL. He held league records for interceptions, interception return yards, punt returns, and punt return yardage. In 1948, he broke the color barrier to become the first Black player on the New York Giants. He was later a player, coach, and scout for Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers.

David Lyons’s poignant biography, Emlen Tunnell, chronicles this amazing athlete, nicknamed “the Gremlin” for his returns and aerial attacks that wreaked havoc reminiscent of the damage caused by phantom gremlins of WWII. Tunnell was also a game changer, revolutionizing his defensive position as a safety, making it as exciting as a running back.

While Tunnell encountered racism and discrimination on and off the gridiron, the gregarious athlete had a charm and charisma that was disarming. He often mentored teammates and introduced them to Black culture. After his stint in the NFL and until his death, Tunnell was an NFL scout and the first Black assistant coach for the Giants.

Emlen Tunnell thoroughly recounts the extraordinary life and career of this great athlete and does justice to his remarkable legacy.