A high school phenom in Gary, Ind., Taliaferro took his talents down south to Bloomington, Ind., and Indiana University, where he was a standout running back, quarterback, defensive back and kicker for the Hoosiers.

In 1945, the three-time All-American Taliaferro led Indiana to its first Big Ten championship. But he was just as big of a figure off the field, as he was also well-known for his efforts to desegregate the school's Bloomington campus.

If that's not enough, Taliaferro missed the 1946 season to serve in the Army.

After his junior season at IU, Taliaferro made history when the Chicago Bears selected the talented athlete in the 13th round of the 1949 NFL Draft, making him the first African-American drafted by an NFL team.