Philadelphia Eagles: 30 greatest players in franchise history

If Al Wistert set the tone for great offensive line play with the Eagles, right tackle Bob Brown took that notion of excellence and ran wild with it in his hall of fame career. “The Boomer” was an absolute powerhouse playing guard for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Big Eight. His unanimous All-American nod in 1963 had him as a no-doubt College Football Hall of Fame player.

While distinctions were never questioned, it took seemingly forever for Brown to earn his rightful place in Canton. Though he retired after the 1973 NFL season with the Oakland Raiders, Brown would finally reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. So what took so long for Brown to even get to Canton? Could it have been that he played a non-glamorous position for three teams that never won championships when he was a part of them?

Potentially, but how does one keep a six-time Pro Bowler and a five-time first-team All-Pro out of Canton? Well, it did happen. For nine straight seasons, Brown either made the first or second All-Pro team from 1964 to 1972. This level of dominance had Brown make the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1960s. He also made the Eagles Hall of Fame.

Brown’s best years were with the Eagles. He did make two Pro Bowls and two All-Pro first teams while a member of the Los Angeles Rams. His sixth and final Pro Bowl came as a member of the Oakland Raiders in 1971. When he did finally earn Canton enshrinement, his hall of fame class was one for the ages. He went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame alongside Carl Eller, John Elway and Barry Sanders. Too bad it took 33 after he lasted played in the NFL to inevitably get there.