Fansided

Best quarterback/wide receiver duos in NFL history

By Staff

INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 16: Peyton Manning No. 18 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates the touchdown of Marvin Harrison No. 88 for a 30-20 lead over the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 16, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 16: Peyton Manning No. 18 of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates the touchdown of Marvin Harrison No. 88 for a 30-20 lead over the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 16, 2008 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Hall of Fame wide receiver Elroy ‘Crazylegs’ Hirsch of the Los Angeles Rams makes runs upfield in a 1950 game played at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vic Stein/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Hall of Fame wide receiver Elroy ‘Crazylegs’ Hirsch of the Los Angeles Rams makes runs upfield in a 1950 game played at Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vic Stein/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

8. Norm Van Brocklin and Elroy ‘Crazy Legs’ Hirsch

Well, if anything this duo probably beats out every other combo for the longest names on this list.

Nom Van Brocklin and Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch put together nine solid seasons together for the Los Angeles Rams. Van Brocklin was a fourth-round pick in the 1949 NFL Draft while Hirsch was the fifth-overall pick by the Chicago Rockets in the 1945 NFL Draft. Hirsch spent two years in Chicago before joining Van Brocklin in L.A.

It wasn’t until his second year with Van Brocklin that Hirsch really found his stride as a wide receiver. He set a career high in receptions (42), touchdowns (7) and receiving yards (687) during that 1950 season. Van Brocklin tossed for 2,061 yards and 18 touchdowns.

But in 1951, it was Hirsch’s time to shine. He put up an insane 17 touchdowns — obviously led the NFL — and 1,495 receiving yards on 65 receptions. Those kind of numbers would be off the charts in today’s league, and he did it when the NFL was just learning how to crawl. The Rams beat the Cleveland Browns that season to capture Van Brocklin’ s and Hirsch’s only title together.

By the time their run together came to an end in 1957, Hirsch had hauled in 32 of Van Brocklin’s 173 career passing touchdowns. Hirsch retired after that season, and Van Brocklin moved on to the Philadelphia Eagles where he would win another championship in 1960 before hanging it up.

Thought that 1951 season stands out as one of the best seasons in NFL history. Hirsch put up better stats in that season than in his entire three-year span with Chicago.

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