Gil Brandt: Giants’ Emlen Tunnell Best Safety Ever

Gil Brandt, long-time Dallas Cowboys VP of player personnel and now an NFL.com columnist, has named Emlen Tunnell of the New York Giants as the best safety of all time.

Tunnell played for the Giants from 1948-58, and finished his career by spending three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He was named to nine Pro Bowls and was first-team All-Pro four times. Tunnell has 79 career interceptions, 74 of those as a Giant. He was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.

Way back in 2008, when BBV readers named their All-Time Giants team, Tunnell was named as one of the safeties. Hopefully, some of you old-timers out there who may have seen Tunnell play will chime in.

Brandt, incidentally, began working in the NFL in 1955. He has been listing his view of the best players at each position, and the Giants have been well-represented.

Brandt recently named Lawrence Taylor the best linebacker of all time, and had Carl Banks and Harry Carson both on his list of the top 45.

Don Chandler, who kicked for the Giants from 1956-64, was named the 15th-best placekicker of all time by Brandt. Michael Strahan came in No. 10 on Brandt’s list of best defensive ends. Arnie Weinmeister, who played for the Giants from 1950-53, was No. 3 on Brandt’s list of defensive tackles.

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