NFL Hall of Famer Herb Adderley Dies

Herb Adderley, a six time NFL Champion in his 12 year career with the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, died on October 30th, 2020. He was 81. No details on his death were released.

A Philadelphia native, Adderley was a running back at Michigan State, but after being drafted in the 1st round of the 1961 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers, he was converted to cornerback by coach Vince Lombardi. It turned out to be a brilliant move. Adderley went on to be a five time pro bowler for the Packers in nine seasons in Green Bay. He had 39 interceptions, returning seven for touchdowns, including three in 1965. Adderley also returned kicks for Green Bay; he returned two for touchdowns including one for 103 yards. He was on the Packers’ NFL championship teams in 1961, 62, 65, 66, and 67, and the first two Super Bowl winning teams following the 1966 and 1967 seasons. He returned an interception for a touchdown in Super Bowl II.

Lombardi stepped down as head coach of the Packers after Super Bowl II and defensive coordinator Phil Bengtson was elevated to head coach. Bengtson and Adderley didn’t get along, and Adderley requested a trade. He was dealt to the Dallas Cowboys in 1970, and played there three years. He played in Super Bowl V (a Dallas loss) and again in Super Bowl VI (a win over the Miami Dolphins).

Adderley retired after the 1972 season. He was voted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1980. Adderley is the third Hall of Famer from the Lombardi Era Packers to die in 2020, joining safety Willie Wood and defensive end Willie Davis.

Here’s a link to a video about Herb Adderley.