3 NFL Legends You Might Not Remember

The NFL has had its fair share of legends through its 97 years of existence. Since the inception of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963, there have been 310 members inducted into its ranks. While many of these names will jump out at you, there are plenty that you might barely remember or have never heard of. Peruse this list of NFL legends and see how many you can recall.

Tim Foley

Tim Foley began his football career playing for Purdue University, where he became an All-American defensive back for his work on the field. After his senior year, the Miami Dolphins drafted him in the third round of the 1970 NFL Entry Draft. He was the 55^th overall pick and played in all of Miami’s games that year. The next year, he became the starter at left cornerback, a move which would eventually see him to the Pro Bowl in 1979. He won two Super Bowls with the Dolphins, cementing him as a permanent part of the team’s history.

Foley retired after the 1980 season and decided to turn his pursuits to small business instead. Since 1981, he has been an independent business owner for Amway, the 30^th largest private company in the U.S. He’s been extremely successful in this career path, working his way up to the Founders Crown Ambassador level.

Clarke Hinkle

As a member of the 1964 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, many people might not remember the prowess of Clarke Hinkle on the field. During his 10 seasons in the league as a fullback, he saw a number of achievements, including being a three-time NFL All-Star, a two-time NFL champion and a seven-time member of the first-team All-Pro. Throughout his career, he totaled up 3,860 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns, a skill that earned him the title of rushing touchdown co-leader in 1937.

When World War II began, Hinkle took the noble route and decided to join the service, effectively ending his career. Unfortunately, Hinkle died in 1988 at the age of 79.

Charley Taylor

Being remembered as a wide receiver is tough in the NFL, as there’s a lot of competition. However, you would be remiss to skip over Charley Taylor. Taylor played 13 seasons in the NFL exclusively with the Washington Redskins. He earned a nomination in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984, most likely because of his eight Pro Bowl selections and first-team All-Pro designation in 1967. In fact, he lead the NFL in receptions in both 1966 and 1967, with 1,119 receiving yards and 990 receiving yards respectively.

While Taylor never won any Super Bowls, he did make it to Super Bowl VII at the end of the 1972 season. After retiring at the end of the 1977 season, he worked as a scout for the Redskins and eventually became the receivers coach. Today, he still acts as a consultant for the team.

These are just a few of the forgotten stars of America’s favorite sport. While names like Tom Brady, Jim Brown and Joe Montana dominate the memories of fans and consistently rank near the top of best player polls, that doesn’t mean that they’re the only players that should be remembered for their skills.