The NFL's 60-Minute Men - by Chris Willis (Paperback)

About the Book

"In 2019 the NFL celebrated its 100th season. During that historic year the league selected an All-Time Team of 100 former star players. Among them were seven from before football's free substitution rule (1920-1945), two-way players who were skilled at both offense and defense. They were: Sammy Baugh (Quarterback), Dutch Clark (Running Back), Dan Fortmann (Guard), Mel Hein (Center), Cal Hubbard (Tackle), Don Hutson (Wide Receiver) and Bill Hewitt (Defensive End). There were more than just seven great players from those years, when men in leather helmets played multiple positions on dirt fields for modest salaries. This book ranks the NFL's top two-way players, with detailed biographies and analysis by their contemporaries."--

Book Synopsis

In 2019 the NFL celebrated its 100th season. During that historic year the league selected an All-Time Team of 100 former star players. Among them were seven from before football's free substitution rule (1920-1945), two-way players who were skilled at both offense and defense. They were: Sammy Baugh (Quarterback), Dutch Clark (Running Back), Dan Fortmann (Guard), Mel Hein (Center), Cal Hubbard (Tackle), Don Hutson (Wide Receiver) and Bill Hewitt (Defensive End).

There were more than just seven great players from those years, when men in leather helmets played multiple positions on dirt fields for modest salaries. This book ranks the NFL's top two-way players, with detailed biographies and analysis by their contemporaries.

Review Quotes

"[Willis is] a pro football encyclopedia ... To describe [this work] as comprehensive would be an understatement. ... impeccable research ... Best of all, the book is entertaining, with most of the chapters having photos to accompany the text. It's an educational experience where you're guided through an era too often forgotten, but it doesn't read like a textbook. ... recommended ... if you care about NFL history, you should read [Willis's] latest work"-Talk of Fame TWO

"A painstaking effort of research and evaluation that has few-if any-peers... Very enjoyable."-Sports History Network

"The research was comprehensive, complete and in depth... Valuable... Excellent... The book was written in a comprehensive and easy to read style that made it enjoyable and informative to read. I highly recommend this book for your football library. I feel you will be using this book in your research especially if you are a football memorabilia collector as it is a excellent resource for that historical time frame of the early game of these legendary players." -Gridiron Greats

"This latest book by the football historian Willis celebrates the best players during 1920-45, the era where the athletes played the entire game, both offense and defense. ...readable and educational. This book should be an useful addition to sports collections. ... recommended"-Choice

"Willis does an excellent job putting together his list of the best players in The NFL's 60-Minute Men. It is thoroughly researched and he lays out his case for each player. This is a good book for those interested in learning more about the players from the first few decades of the NFL."-Ken Crippen, founder, lead instructor, and podcaster at the Football Learning Academy

"Willis' exemplary work in writing this book gives us cause to remember and honor the exploits of the players mentioned from a bygone time in history, which is something that he has done in all his previous books about pro football's past."-Pro Football Writers of America

About the Author

Chris Willis has been the head archivist at NFL Films since 1996. He is the author of multiple books on professional football and was awarded the Professional Football Researchers Association's Ralph Award for lifetime achievement in pro football research and historiography in 2012. In 2016 he won an Emmy for his work on HBO's Hard Knocks. He lives in Audubon, New Jersey.