The respected website, Football Nation, referred to Dan Towler as the “greatest running back you don’t know”, and they may be on to something, as despite winning an NFL Championship with the Los Angeles Rams in 1951 when he was their star rusher, he was overshadowed by more prominent names throughout his brief career in professional football.

Towler came to the Rams with no fanfare or even the remotest of expectations as a 25^th Round Pick from Washington & Jefferson, so for him to also make the team had to be considered a win.  Towler saw limited action as a rookie, but in his second season, he was a large part of their offense, rushing for 854 Yards and going to the first of four straight Pro Bowls.  With Towler’s help, the Rams won the NFL Championship that year (1951), and in 1952, he would lead the league in Rushing Yards (894) and Rushing Touchdowns (10), earning First Team All-Pro honors.  The Fullback would again rush for over 800 Yards in 1953, and he led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns for the second time in 1954.  His play declined rapidly due to injury, and he retired after 1955, but there was no doubt he was an elite player for a few seasons in the early 50s.

Ruben Brown played the majority of his career with the Buffalo Bills, where the 1^st Round Pick would be named to the All-Rookie team and followed that up with eight more seasons in Buffalo, all of which would see the Left Guard named to the Pro Bowl. 

Brown would play four more years in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, where he would earn his ninth Pro Bowl in 2006.  Brown would overall play 181 Games, starting in all of them while also being named a Second Team All-Pro four times.   

Having never been a Semi-Finalist, Ruben Brown could be the most disrespected nine-time Pro Bowl recipient ever.  How is this player so anonymous in Hall of Fame conversations?

Drafted 3^rd Overall in the 1985 NFL Draft, the former Texas A&M Aggie settled into a solid role as a defensive end for the Houston Oilers.  He did well and made his first Pro Bowl in 1988, but a switch from the 3-4 to 4-3 Defense forced Childress to move to Defensive Tackle, and it fit him perfectly.

Blessed with a long wingspan and incredible strength, from 1990 to 1993, he would be selected for the Pro Bowl, and he landed a First Team All-Pro Selection in 1992.  During that era, Childress was regarded as an elite Defensive Tackle, and the iron man stuffed opposing rushers at will.  He was very popular in the Houston area for his work ethic and philanthropy, and though that franchise is gone, he is still a legend in the state of Texas.

Usually, when you speak of a five-year career in any sport, you can't be talking about a great player.  Few people have had a five-year run like Cecil Isbell.

Isbell was the 7^th Overall Draft Pick by Green Bay in 1938, and as a rookie, he joined Arnie Herber in the Packers’ backfield.  Isbell was rushing more in the first two years, and back in those days, Tailbacks were often passing and rushing with similar frequency.  He later helped the Packers win the 1939 NFL Championship.

Isbell took on more of a passing role, and in 1941 and 1942, he led the NFL in Passing Yards and Passing Touchdowns, with 1942 marking the first time a passer threw for 2,000 Yards.  He would set the then-broken record with 23 straight games with a Touchdown Pass.  Isbell was also one of the first players who could throw deep, and he was exceptionally fast for his era.  It is also important to recognize his defensive ability, as he also recorded nine Interceptions.

He retired after 1942, not due to injury but because he began a coaching career.