Ex Green Bay Packer Great Willie Davis Passes Away

Willie Davis, a defensive end who played on five NFL championship teams, including the first two Super Bowls for Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers, died April 15th, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. Davis had been suffering from kidney failure and had been hospitalized prior to his death. He was 85.

Davis played college football at Grambling State and began his NFL career in 1958 with the Cleveland Browns. In 1960, Lombardi, who was both coach and general manager of the Packers, traded receiver A.D. Williams to the Browns in exchange for Davis. Williams caught 15 passes for 190 yards in his three year career with three different teams, while Davis went on to have a Hall of Fame career.

Davis played 10 years with Green Bay, and in addition to those five championships, he was a five time pro bowler who still holds the Packers’ record for career fumble recoveries with 22. Sacks were not an official statistic back in the ‘60s, but conservative estimates are that he had at least 100. Lombardi, who was way ahead of the curve in equal opportunity for all, picked Davis as the first African American captain of the Packers in 1965. Davis was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

Davis earned an MBA from University of Chicago and became a successful businessman when his playing career was over. He also served on the Boards of Directors of several companies both in Wisconsin as well as other states (including the Packers’ Board). He also was one of four finalists for Pro Football commissioner in 1989 to succeed Pete Rozelle (the job went to Paul Tagliabue). Ohio State offensive lineman Wyatt Davis, Willie’s grandson, carries on the family football legacy.

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