#74: Marion Motley | The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players (2010) | NFL Films
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ก.ค. 2016
- Cleveland Brown's fullback Marion Motley comes in as the 74th best player in NFL history on NFL Film's "The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players" list (2010).
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His brothers, my great uncle (Bill) and my grandpa (Clarence) were just as tough! I miss my great uncle Marion. He was the pride of the Motley family!!!
In 2019, your great uncle Marion is still one of the 6 best running backs to ever play this game. I'm certainly not going to second guess the great Paul Brown's coaching but if Marion didn't pull double duty at linebacker (where his body really took more of the punishment) there's no telling what his career rushing stats might look like. This short little bio really doesn't do him justice. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry I think for his career but in championship games, it was usually an astounding 7.5 or 8.0 yards per carry. The man was a freak of nature. Better than Jim Brown. God bless your great uncle Marion!
You have much to be proud of.
Your uncle was my father's favorite player
Bruce Wayne
I once mailed Marion a short letter and a card for him to sign.
He signed and returned the card and even took the time to send me back a handwritten letter.
He was a great player but he was also a kind and generous man.
your great uncle was my grandmothers favorite player. she loved her browns as i do. that's something for a white woman in Cleveland in the 1940s. god bless to you and your family. go browns!!
Marion Motley gets so under appreciated and forgotten. He was a fantastic player and a trailblazer
#GOAT
What’s crazy I’m related to him muh name is Marrion Motley
"Taking off like a G.I on a 3day pass" lol tight! Motley was indeed a Beast
That was classic
what does it meab
mean
meat
@@cobii5174 G.I.= general enlistment, or men who were drafted for WW2. 3 day pass...kinda self explanatory.
That's high praise from a guy like Mike Brown. Say what you will about him as an owner, but he's been in the game so long that he's seen everybody from Motley to Brown to Payton to Peterson with his own eyes and he puts Motley up there with them.
I love that he compared him to Earl Campbell as a back from more 'recent times'. I'm like 'this dude has seen some football in his day'.
He looks closer to 6’3, 245, and very thick. Great power, feet, catching ability and probably the best passing blocking back ever. He could play in any era. No cap.
Basically, Motley was the answer for "what if we dropped Jerome Bettis into 1950 football and let him play?"
EASILY he is THE most under appreciated player in NFL History. He was the Jackie Robinson of the National Football League. Countless awards, trophies, and honors are long overdue to this man and his courageous contributions to society and and his own culture.
Id argue Sammy Baugh but Motley is too
Agreed.
"the great players of any era- can play in any other era..." true across the entire sports spectrum.
My dad always told me until his death in 1999 that the 49 Browns where the greatest pro team of all time and Graham and Motley was the engine. And that's coming from a Baltimore Colt fan. Got to love that white football too.
He was a great football player and i love what he said at 3:30 to 3:55 minutes.
Lord have mercy I knew he was my cousin..... I just never knew he was that good. I need to do better in my family history ❤️🙏🏽🙏🏽
That guy had the most powerful build on an NFL player I ever saw. I am inclined to pick him as the top RB ever. He looks like he could run thru brick walls.
A iconic forerunner of Jim Brown...
One of my favorite fullbacks of all time.
CHUCK BEDNARIK said that Marion Motley was the toughest runner to bring down he ever had to face.
Otto Graham said in the years he played Motley never missed a block
Bob Polaneczky How could he, he was built like a truck. Who was going to run over him? I could see him be a HB, FB (because of his blocking and size), and possibly TE.
Motley looks like a lineman out there running and catching passes.
He was bigger than most of the centers of that era.
Otto with Marion.... this is some serious back...
Why isn't he talked about like Jim Brown is. He seems just as dominant
There are several reasons.
1. Motley's best years came in the All-America Football Conference. There was a fierce rivalry between the AAFC and the NFL, long before the AFL came along. As a consequence, some of Motley's accomplishments are viewed in a less than favorable light. Whether this is justified or not is not for me to say; I am no expert on the AAFC. However, the fact that such bias existed and lingers is hard to dispute.
2. He played before pro football was a big televised sport. Motley retired after the 1955 season (he left the Browns after 53, making an unsuccessful comeback with the Steelers in 55). Brown came into the NFL at a great time, when the nation was just becoming aware and interested. He was on the cover of Sports Illustrated and was much more visible.
3. Brown's overall body of work is much greater than Motley's. Brown scored 126 touchdowns to Motley's 38; had 2359 carries to 828; yards were 12312 to 828. By greater, I mean bigger and more, not necessarily better. Motley has a better per carry average than Brown. If you look at his five healthy years before his knee injury, Motley scored once every 20.15 touches; Brown every 20.81 touches. Still, 126 scores looks better to people than an average of touches for scores. The fact of the matter is the Browns didn't give Motley the kind of work Brown did. In those first five years he averaged 9.8 carries for 59.9 yards (6.1 yards per carry). It's hard to compare a guy who got ten carries a game (in his best years) to one who got 20.
4. Some of Brown's individual accomplishments are staggering. In nine years he led the NFL in rushing eight times. That will never happen again. He averaged almost exactly 20 carriers per game for nine seasons and missed no games.
5. Motley shared the spotlight with his quarterback, Otto Graham. Graham is a contender for being the greatest quarterback of all time (in my view he loses out to Unitas, but that's beside the point). Brown was Cleveland. Frank Ryan didn't exactly steal the limelight the way Graham did. On an even broader note, Motley is defined by being a part of the dominant Cleveland teams that enjoyed so much success. Go look at Jim Brown's video for this list. It casually mentions an NFL Championship (1964). Brown was always on a contending team, don't misunderstand. However, he defined that contender. The Browns had so much success with Motley that it was impossible for him to stand out from his teammates the way Brown did from his. Look at the Packers under Lombardi; five NFL titles. Who was the best of them? Nitschke? Starr? Davis? Gregg? Taylor? Or the Steelers in the 70s? Bradshaw or Greene? Lambert or Ham?
These, I think, are the main reasons people remember Brown more than Motley. I do not hold all of them to be legitimate reasons, but they seem to be the main causes of the phenomenon you observe.
I think Motley is one of the great players of pro football, regardless of era. I believe he would play in this era, given today's nutrition, weights, science, and other aids. A team would use two backs to get him on the field. He should certainly be higher on this list. If you haven't already, you might pick up the 1970 edition of Paul Zimmerman's "A Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football." It's a lovely read and has a short chapter on Motley at or near the end.
Unusually eloquent and instructive, thanks- Motley's all round ability, and not just his running stats, certainly seems to merit a higher rating here.
My dad always said Motley was the best he'd ever seen.
I just looked at his stats and it's probably because he only ran the ball about 8 times per game.
Motley was an all around player, great blocker (fans could care less about blockers and linebacker). Plus his stats werent "great" (since wins were more important back then).
This man and his offensive line were the first Motley Crue 🏉🤘🏼
😂🤣😂🏈B.W.
"Taking off like a GI on a three day pass"
Jack T
Lol
Great back, he could play today! Earl Campbell type. Still holds the best yard per carry ! R I P Mr Motley
Great man too. Sent me his autograph when I was a kid.
#74??? bullshit...Motley was one of a handful of the best RB's ever...
Motley and Otto Graham should be ranked higher.
Jim Otto #00
Marion Motley #76
Motley had 1800 career yards is what they’re hiding
The first black players in the NFL were Fritz Pollard and Bobby Marshall in 1920. Pollard was also the first black head coach in the NFL as well. There were a total of 9 black players in the NFL in the 1920's.
True. The NFL color ban was "only" in effect from 1933-1946. . .
Don’t forget Kenny Washington
@@mortensen1961 1933-45 to be technical
Well, my brother and I watched him play when we were younger. He was one of our favorites.
It's interesting to me that the name Marion Motley doesn't come up more often. Maybe because baseball was so huge in 1940's compared to pro football and it didn't generate the attention Jackie Robinson's breaking of the color line did. They were winning championships and he was clearly a dominant force. Feel like he ought to be talked about more both as a player and part of history generally.
Absolutely incredible athlete. Dude just runs and guys bounce off him like bugs on a semi windshield
without Motley, Friz Pollard and Deacon Dan Towler, there are no Black football players and essentially no NFL. Imagine football with LT (Taylor or Tomlinson), Walter Payton, Reggie White, Lynn Swann, Mean Joe, Jerry Rice, etc. Of course you can't.
without*
The only time I've listened to Mike Brown & didn't want to clobber him. He had good taste in heroes! If Motley played 10 years later, he would be as remembered as Jim Brown
what a BEAST
Seriously??
74??? HE WAS AMAZING!
HE IS LIKE BO JACKSON
But A Whole Lot Better
He Deserves To be in the 10's - 15's
Love these players of the NFL Golden Years! Marion Motley was an unique talent that could've for any team in any Era! A head of his time! A Great Fullback, Tight End, Linebacker the NFL version of the Erector Set! Because Marion could made to fit any scheme or position he was needed at! A Bronko Nagurski of the Cleveland Browns!
Trailblazer. Great video man!
the Jerome Bettis of his era -- very violent runner -- SO classic
Jerome Bettie ran two yards then fell down his whole career
No. Wayy before Jerome Bettis. Let's get the facts straight.
I’d say Franco Harris is a better comparison.
Only former Nevada Wolf Pack player ever to be inducted to the NFL Hall of Fame.
How cool it would have been to see him play at UNR. Unfortunately way before my time.
He was like Beast Mode in the 40's and 50's.
Wow a thing of beauty to watch this.
The size and speed of this man….and great ball control.
One of the top 3 of all time behind Jim Brown & OJ Simpson.
If Marion played today he would destroy other players and run tight over them
A big guy like that with Vision and Evasiveness. #Scary 🏈💯
74 is awesome but base on what i see on this vid id put him at least 30
He played for canton mckinley bulldogs
A storied program
He was great
Damn Right!
That last run. Man
King Kong wouldn't have been able to take him down on that one. Holy smokes!
Marion Motley should be remembered by the NFL on the same level Jackie Robinson is by MLB
Him and DT Bill Willis...another great black player on the Browns of that era. DE Len Ford was great too
@@jeremythompson9122 Paul Robeson played pro ball in 1921
Hats off to this gentleman...a great player
WOW...JUST WOW.....
Motley, Brown, Kelly and later Mack and Byner. Nice pedigree.
Even in slo mo you can see his light feet agility and dude is huge .. that had to be a scary sight running at you 😂
Too easily forgotten, Earl Campbell's predecessor. Two other great forgotten backs from the 1950s: Joe Perry and John Henry Johnson.
And Hugh McElhenny.
On that last run, he ran through five guys. WIthout a helmet at the end. What a great all around player.
The original Beastmode
No, Jim Thorpe
Like he said, the great ones can play in any era, just by watching that flim you can tell he was definitely a beast, and it wasn't any fun trying to tackle that man.
the Man
"Taking off like a G.I. on a three-day pass." lol great simile/commentary
Cipping was legal and close lining was legal, and horse collar tackles were all legal. In order to be great in this era you had to be one tough son of a gun!
those guys would have gotten their due like a Jackie robinson but baseball was the national pastime sport at the time . it would be 12 years later when the nfl takes the country by storm with the sudden death game and by the 60's with the packers where football took over and still remains the country's past time. he was a trailblazer and one of the best power backs of all time . he would have set a lot of records but brown made sure he had graham passing the ball (lead the league 5 times in yards and 3 times in tds ) .
Underrated
I just read his bio. Apparently after football he really wanted to coach but the nfl wasn’t ready for a black coach and was rejected time and time again. Even by the browns.
Sad that he was rejected and it's a damn shame!
Marion Motley greatest NFL player of all time. Film does not lie.
65 TossPowerTrap this was my great uncle. Thank you for the compliment. We loved him and miss him.
God bless your great uncle!
Fantastic player
First ever BEASTMODE!!
No, Jim Thorpe
Bronko Nagurski
right up there with Jim Brown
From canton ohio
As is hall of fame
He was every bit as good as jim brown.
Hes in my top 10 backs all time.
When you have a running back as big as a lineman that is scary.
"Like a G.I. on a three day pass." Lol
Motley. Brown. Kelly. And if he had been healthy, Ernie Davis. The Browns had it "goin' on" with the running back position.
Edward Young Probably not by accident. If you have a vision for not only the kind of scheme you want to run, and have an idea the kind of player that can execute it, the kind of players you get to execute it is no fluke. Motley, Brown, and Kelly had similar builds. Someone who is of a slighter build is not going to be able to take the HB Draw on a consistent basis, and for obvious reasons.
Marion winning championships with Automatic Otto.
God bless you
All Athlete Marion Motley! 100%
i love earl campbell and his runs were the most manly runs i seen . and he is near brown , but the Mot ... the using the leg as a stiff arm on DB's .. is better then the skyhook , but his move no one can to do it but him . last guy to use a dropped a arm to protect his knees on a tackle .1sT guy i seen on film was red grange
Look at those helmets!!
he was a beast, similar to the bus bettis
Motley was another HBCU PRODUCT from South Carolina St.
Nevada
Imagine Motley in today's NFL with the luxury of advancements in dietary/nutrition and weight training.
BEAST MODE Sr
No, Jim Thorpe
@@sargondp69 nope motley
@@bollie4431 nope Thorpe
🏈🏈🏈
South Carolina State University bulldog great Mr. Marion Motley
Nevada
the only thing they missed was the delay Handoff, Paul saw Motley blocking in the backfield, then he had an ideal to give him the football as the rush went by.
He set the standert for modern day fullbacks. Big bruising fast and tough.
This guy was Earl Campbell way before Earl.....Dont tell me the 50s and 60s guys could not play today that is total BS!!!!!
The late great sportswriter Paul Zimmerman. “Dr. Z” said Motley was the best player he ever saw.
I remember he wrote that in one of his books. I had never heard of Motley at the time but Dr Z. knew a few things.
The Original "Bus".
Marion montley all time great Paul Brown son look like Don rickles
Big Motley, forgot about tackling that bro up high no doubt!!!🤠
he was around when the browns had a logo lol
Paul Brown was the logo lol
It has always bothered me a little that Marion Motley gets forgotten, even though he broke the barrier before Robinson did.
My dad always said Motley was the best RB.
like a man among boys
Mike Brown is a good man… Signed the Kelly family 🙏
I thought only Jim brown had the highest rushing average ever for a running back with 5.0 a carry
Why did he alternate between #s 36 and 76? Or Otto Graham between 14 and 60? A Browns thing?
The Browns started in a rival league: the All-America Football Conference which had a different numbering system than the NFL. After the AAFC folded, the Browns and the 49ers joined the NFL in 1950 and in 1952 their players were required to adopt the NFL's numbering system. Thus, the number changes you see in these clips: Graham from #60 to #14 and Motley from #76 to #36.
i love this guy . look how he drops his arm to protect the leg and knee when d is inc . the arm takes the hit not the leg . leg moving as if very little is done = YAC , try to find RB that do this to day . men don't walk or run today . so running skills are very bad in the NFL of today .seen film were he plant his foot in a DB chest ,was like a stiff arm . run over the guy like he was air . to me was best i seen. never saw fims on jim thorpe. i count what runs look like and the rings , he has 5 rings . going both ways , he is the best iron man RB on film IMO .
Those days were the Wild West of the nfl
Running back wearing 76. QB wearing 60. I think I saw a receiver with a 60 something on.
The AAFC had its own numbering system. 20s for center, 30s for guards, 40s for tackles, 50s for ends, 60s for QBs, 70s and 80s for backs. They kept those numbers the first year or two after the NFL merger, then switched to the NFL system. Graham went from 60 to 14, Motley from 76 to 36, Groza from 46 to 76, etc.
This was back in football when nobody was scared to get hit
Until they came across Motley. .
cough Brady cough cough
238 pounds in the 1940s would be like 298 today.
👍👍👍👍👍
Number 76 is a strange number for fullback.
Look ma, no face mask! lol!