Marion Motley
Inducted:
1968
Player Stats
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
232 lb (105 kg)
Born:
June 5, 1920
Leesburg, Georgia, U.S.
Died:
June 27, 1999
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Position:
Fullback
Linebacker
College:
South Carolina State (1939–1940)
Nevada (1941–1942)
Marion Motley was one of the most powerful and groundbreaking players in football history, remembered for both his dominance on the field and his courage off it. As a fullback and linebacker for the Cleveland Browns (1946–1953) and Pittsburgh Steelers (1955), Motley combined rare size, speed, and vision, revolutionizing the way the running game was played. At 6'1" and 238 pounds, he could run over defenders or outrun them entirely — a rare combination in his era.
Motley was also one of the first African American players to break the modern NFL color barrier, joining the Browns in 1946 alongside Bill Willis, two years before Jackie Robinson’s MLB debut. A vital piece of Cleveland’s dynasty under coach Paul Brown, he helped the team win five championships (four in the AAFC, one in the NFL).
Marion Motley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968, honored as a pioneer, champion, and one of the most dominant players of his time.
Motley's Awards and Honors
- NFL champion (1950)
- 4× AAFC champion (1946–1949)
- 2× First-team All-Pro (1948, 1950)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (1946, 1947)
- Pro Bowl (1950)
- NFL 1940s All-Decade Team
- NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
- Cleveland Browns Ring of Honor
NFL Records
- NFL rushing yards leader (1950)
- One of the first African American players in modern pro football
- First Black player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Averaged 5.7 yards per carry — among the highest in NFL history for a running back
NFL Teams
Cleveland Browns (1946–1953)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1955)