Aug. 15, 2026

The Long Blue Line: “Offense on Defense”—football legend Emlen Tunnell was a Coast Guard hero

When Vince Lombardi became head coach of the Green Bay Packers in the 1950s, his first big move was to sign Coast Guard hero Emlen Tunnell. It was a smart move - Tunnell later earned the nickname “Mr. Defense,” and became the first African American inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.But before his storied football career, Tunnell stepped