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Top 30 NFL Players of the 1900s

By Jarrett Bailey

PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 13: Quarterback Joe Montana #16 of the San Francisco 49ers passes during pregame warm up before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on September 13, 1987 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the 49ers 30-17. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - SEPTEMBER 13: Quarterback Joe Montana #16 of the San Francisco 49ers passes during pregame warm up before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on September 13, 1987 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the 49ers 30-17. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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The 1953 Los Angeles Rams African-American players defensive back/offensive end Dick ” Night Train ” Lane, ” fullback Deacon ” Dan Towler, fullback Paul ” Tank ” Younger, halfback Woodley Lewis, and guard Hank Thompson. (Photo by Vic Stein/Getty Images)
The 1953 Los Angeles Rams African-American players defensive back/offensive end Dick ” Night Train ” Lane, ” fullback Deacon ” Dan Towler, fullback Paul ” Tank ” Younger, halfback Woodley Lewis, and guard Hank Thompson. (Photo by Vic Stein/Getty Images) /

23. Dick “Night Train’ Lane

The best nickname in the history of professional sports, and one of the best defensive backs to ever play the game. Night Train Lane sounds like someone straight out of the golden era of WWE.

The way he played also mirrored that of a professional wrestler. Night Train’s tackling technique of choice was to simply clothesline the living daylights out of ball carriers. His poetic punishment was balanced by his gazelle-like grace in coverage.

Lane intercepted 14 passes in his rookie season in 1952– a record that still stands to this day. What makes this even more impressive is that he did so when the NFL season was just 12 games long. Two seasons later, he had 10 interceptions in 12 games. Lane finished his career with 68 interceptions, which currently ranks fourth all-time.

Night Train was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. He is part of the NFL’s 1950s All-Decade team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. When it comes to being both a ball hawk and a hard-hitting defender, few have ever found that balance as well as the Night Train.

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