George Taliaferro

Daniel Jones might sling it farther these days as the Colts' starter, but George Taliaferro's 1953 Baltimore season—479 rushing yards, 346 receiving, two passing TDs—dwarfs Jones' mobility game. Taliaferro, the trailblazing Black QB who played seven positions, owns a legacy of grit in leather-helmet football that no modern stat sheet erases.

Nope, George Taliaferro's not in Canton, despite three straight Pro Bowls from '51-'53 and being the first Black player drafted in '49. His 1,633 passing yards and 10 TDs came in a do-everything role across seven positions, but the Hall's overlooked this Hoosier hero who lit up IU's only undefeated team.

Taliaferro's wildcat versatility—2,266 rushing yards, 1,300 receiving, plus QB stints—would thrive under today's pass-happy rules, maybe as a gadget QB or return man like Cordarrelle Patterson on steroids. But his 92-of-284 passing (10 TDs, 29 picks) screams single-wing era; he'd need reps to handle blitzes and zones.

Peyton Manning's 55.59 passer rating towers over Taliaferro's puny 5.89, turning Colt lore into a clinic of no-huddle perfection while George hustled seven positions for scraps in the '50s mud. Both QBs for Baltimore/Indy, but Manning scripted eras; Taliaferro just survived 'em with Pro Bowl flair.