Paul "Tank" Younger
Paul Younger (Tank) is the first player from a Black college (Grambling) to play in the NFL. Born in Grambling, La., Younger grew up in Los Angeles, then returned to Louisiana for college. He was a star at Grambling in Louisiana where he played offensive tackle and running back. Younger scored 60 touchdowns in his four seasons at Grambling, but was never drafted by the league. At the recommendation of his coach Eddie Robinson, Tank made the trek to California to try out for the Rams. He made the team as a free agent in 1949.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 225-pound Younger played both ways as a running back and linebacker for the Rams. In his rookie season, he was the only Black player on the Rams roster. He had 52 carries for 191 yards and seven receptions for 119 yards in 1949. Younger was mainly used on defense in 1951 and 1952. In 1950, the Rams took the Cleveland Browns into the last minute of the NFL title game before the Browns won on a field goal. The following season, in 1951, he helped in propelled the Rams won their championship in Los Angeles with a 24-17 victory over the Browns at the Coliseum.
In 1953, he had 84 carries for 350 yards and eight touchdowns and 20 catches for 259 yards and one touchdown. In 1954, he had 91 carries for 610 yards and eight touchdowns. But Younger saw his most carries in 1955 with 138 for 644 yards and five touchdowns. On the football field, Younger was famous for plowing over would-be tacklers. Younger was a member of the Rams’ renowned “Bull Elephant Backfield” along with “Deacon” Dan Towler and Dick Hoerner. They were three 225-pound-plus runners who were as large as most opposing defensive linemen.
He had 31 career TDs in his eight years with Los Angeles, appearing in four NFL Championship games during that era (1949, 1950, 1951 and 1955). Younger went to the Pittsburgh Steelers for his final 1958 season where he had 88 carries for 344 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 16 catches for 188 yards. Younger was a five-time Pro Bowler. He retired as a Steeler and eventually became a scout for the Rams. “Tank” also became the league’s first Black assistant general manager with the San Diego Chargers from 1975-1987.
He then rejoined the Rams’ front office in several administrative positions before retiring in 1995. In his ten-year professional career with the Rams (nine seasons) and the Pittsburgh Steelers (one season), Younger was named to the Pro Bowl four times (1951, 1952, 1953, and 1955). He rushed for 3640 yards on 770 carries, caught 100 passes for 1167 yards, scored 35 touchdowns (34 rushing, 1 receiving), and intercepted three passes on defense. He never made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but in 2000, Younger was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.