Willie Davis Champion Defensive End

July 24, 1934, in Lisbon, Louisiana, Willie Davis forged a Hall of Fame career as a dominant defensive end in the National Football League.  

College Career:

Willie Davis attended Grambling State University, where he played football under the legendary coach Eddie Robinson. He excelled as a defensive end and was a two-time All-America selection for black colleges. Davis also served as the defensive team captain for two years. He graduated from Grambling State in 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in math and industrial arts.  

Road to the Pro Game:

Davis was drafted in the 15th round of the 1956 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. However, his NFL career was delayed as he served two years in the U.S. Army. He finally joined the Browns in 1958 and played for two seasons, even seeing time at offensive tackle. In 1960, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers, a move that proved pivotal. Under coach Vince Lombardi, Davis found his permanent position at defensive end and blossomed into a star. He played ten seasons with the Packers (1960-1969), never missing a single game.

Football Legacy:

Willie Davis was a cornerstone of the Green Bay Packers' dominant teams of the 1960s, which won five NFL championships and the first two Super Bowls. Known for his speed, agility, and relentless pass-rushing ability, he anchored the Packers' defensive line. Coach Lombardi considered Davis to possess the ideal attributes for a successful lineman. Davis was also named the first African-American captain in Packers history by Lombardi, highlighting his leadership qualities. While sacks were not an official statistic during his era, research suggests Davis recorded over 100 sacks during his Packers career. His consistent excellence and leadership earned him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.  

Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats:

✦ 2x Super Bowl Champion (I, II)  

✦ 5x NFL Champion (1961, 1962, 1965-1967)  

✦ 5x First-team All-Pro (1962, 1964-1967)  

✦ Second-team All-Pro (1963)  

✦ 5x Pro Bowl (1963-1967)  

✦ NFL 1960s All-Decade Team

✦ Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

✦ Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee (1981)  

✦ Career Stats: 162 games played, 22 fumbles recovered.

Info courtesy of Newspapers.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com