1920 All-Pro Team

The list was the sole creation of Bruce Copeland, sports editor of the Rock Island Argus, one of the most pro football-centric newspapers of the day.

It has been noted that since this was the list of a single sportswriter, there appears to be a discernible bias towards the "home team," the Rock Island Independents, in Copeland's choices.

[1] Copeland himself stated that his selections were based upon personal observations and "past acquaintance with most of the players with the Akron Indians, Canton Bulldogs, and Cleveland Tigers, which did not play this year in Rock Island.

[2] Rock Island end Oak Smith is lauded, for example, as one who could "not be boxed" and who "broke through opposing lines almost at will, spilling the runner, interference, or blocking punts.

"[2] On the other hand, the two top receiving ends in the league in Copeland's estimation, Dave Reese and Dutch Thiele of Dayton, are dismissed as "woefully weak" on defense, "as was demonstrated by repeated gains in their direction" during their 1920 appearance in Rock Island.

First publication of Bruce Copeland's 1920 "All-Star Professional Teams" list.
Guy Chamberlin of the Decatur Staleys was deemed the top end in the APFA by Copeland. Chamberlin, a future member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame , won championships in 6 of his 9 professional years.
Diminutive halfback Fritz Pollard (L), "the colored Akron flash", was "supreme in the open field with the possible exception of [Paddy] Driscoll," Copeland wrote.