Frankie Albert was the 10th overall pick in 1942 by the Chicago Bears, but remember, the year in question was 1942. The Stanford graduate would serve in the Navy for World War II, and upon his return, he would opt to play for his home state for the Los Angeles Bulldogs of the Pacific Coast League, before joining the San Francisco 49ers of the upstart All-American Football Conference.
Drafted in the 3rd Round from Jackson State in 1973, Gray would join a not so good New England Patriots team. Gray won a starting job as a rookie and became a fixture at Left Tackle, where he showed steady improvement annually, much like the Pats themselves. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1976 and again in 1978, where he was also a First Team All-Pro.
Try to say Bob Hoernschemeyer’s name three times fast?
Yes, we know that the first line isn’t relevant here, but what is pertinent is that Hoernschemeyer was an End in the late 40s and early 50's terms in every sense of the word. Beginning his professional career with the Chicago Rockets of the AAFC, Hoernschemeyer would do well in rushing and passing, finishing in the top ten in both categories in the first (and only) four years of the AAFC’s existence. That’s good, but what hurts Hoernschemeyer is that he played for the Chicago Rockets/Hornets and Brooklyn Dodgers, neither of which made it to the NFL when that league took over what was left of the AAFC, and yes, that matters in terms of legacy, especially when you consider that two of the teams that you played for in your prime have not existed in 70 Years!