10 best Texas football football NFL careers

One of the true standouts among former Longhorns in the early days of the NFL was interior offensive lineman Ox Emerson. The Douglass, TX, native started at left guard for head coach Clyde Littlefield and the Longhorns in 1929 and 1930. He earned All-Southwest Conference honors for his efforts helping to lead Texas to a SWC title during the 1930 season.

Emerson's NFL career began during the 1931 season as a member of the Portsmouth Spartans, who would eventually become the Detroit Lions. He was a stud from Day 1 in the NFL for the Spartans/Lions.

Emerson started nine of the dozen games he played in his rookie campaign with the Spartans in the NFL during the 1931 season. The Spartans were among the NFL's best teams in 1931, finishing with a record of 11-3 under head coach Potsy Clark.

While the Spartans took a bit of a step back regarding success in the win column in 1932, Emerson got much better. He was selected as an All-Pro for his performance leading the Spartans offensive line during the 1932 season over a dozen games played.

That was the first of five straight All-Pro seasons for Emerson. The last season he received All-Pro honors was the best for the Lions offensive line. The Lions rushed for a single season NFL record (at the time) of over 2,800 rushing yards during the 1936 campaign.

there was also an NFL Championship during that run of five straight All-Pro selections for Emerson, with the Lions in 1935.

Emerson had two more quality seasons in the NFL with the Lions and then the Brooklyn Dodgers in the late 1930s before calling it quits in the pros. He was selected to the All-NFL 1930s Hall-of-Fame team.

Emerson is tied with Tucker for the most All-Pro selections of any former Longhorn in the NFL (five).