Hall of Famers: Motley, Willis, Tunnell and Ford

If there is one thing that has been in abundance throughout the 20th and 21st centuries it’s Coca-Cola advertising. What is less common, at least in the mid-20th century, is Coke advertising prominently featuring black athletes.

Here we have three members of the 1952 NFL champion Cleveland Browns — Marion Motley, Bill Willis, and Len Ford — as well as Emlen Tunnell of the New York Giants. All four, incidentally, are also in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here are the blurbs for each player:

Marion Motley (1920-1999) Powerful fullback of the Cleveland Browns. Leading ground gainer of The National Football League and constant threat to opponents.

Bill Willis (1921-2007) Panther-like guard of the Cleveland Browns. One of the fastest men in pro football. Top ranking disc jockey and still in great demand as a public speaker.

Emlen Tunnell (1924-1975) Spectacular safety man of the New York Giants. Key figure in their famed “Umbrella Defense” and prime punt returner. One of the big finds in all football history.

Leonard Ford (1926-1972) The giant wingman of the Cleveland Browns. Winner of All-Conference and All-American honors and of the game’s great ends.

Source: Sports Paper Info Blog (Oct. 2015) post by Chris Holmes; 1953 advert