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Auburn’s All-Time Top 10 NFL Players

By Chris Roush

Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 24, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) celebrates during the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship football game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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1. Frank Gatski, center, Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions

NFL
Gatski played for the 1945 Auburn Tigers after his original college — Marshall University — decided not to field a team that year in the aftermath of World War II. He then tried out for the Cleveland Browns in the old AAFC and stayed with them when they joined the NFL in 1950. Gatski played for the Browns for 11 seasons and the Detroit Lions for one, and he was on eight championship teams with the Browns. Gatski was named All NFL for four seasons and played in the 1956 Pro Bowl. He blocked for quarterback Otto Graham on one of the greatest teams in NFL history and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1985. No other pro football player beside Gatski played on eight championship teams. /

Gatski was known as “Gunner” because of his intense playing style — he never missed a game or practice in 12 years of pro football, and the Browns kept only one center on the roster as a result. He was a member of the last Lions team to win the NFL championship. After he retired, he was a scout for the Boston Patriots in the American Football League. He was elected to the Hall of Fame the same year as O.J. Simpson, Joe Namath and Roger Staubach.

Next: 5 Key Players for Auburn Football in 2017

Just missing out on making this list are running back Ronnie Brown, who made one Pro Bowl with the Miami Dolphins; Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson, who made one Pro Bowl; and Steve Wallace, who made one Pro Bowl blocking for Joe Montana on the San Francisco 49ers. Bo Jackson was named to a Pro Bowl with the Oakland Raiders, but was injured and did not play.

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