before the 1948 season, new york signed defensive back emlen tunnell, who became the first african american player in team history, and who would later become the first african american inducted into the hall of fame. they struggled from 1947 to 1949, never finishing above .500, but came back with a solid 10–2 record in 1950. however, they lost to the cleveland browns, whom they had beaten twice in the regular season, 8–3 in the 1950 divisional playoff game. in 1949, halfback gene "choo-choo" roberts scored a league high 17 touchdowns, and in 1950 he set a team record that would stand for over 50 years, when he rushed for 218 yards on november 12.