There are few teams that boast a more storied history than the Green Bay Packers. And on Wednesday, they lost one of their own, as Hall of Fame defensive end Willie Davis passed away at the age of 85.
Hall of Fame President & CEO David Baker offered up a statement on Davis' passing:
“It is with great sadness the entire Pro Football Hall of Fame family mourns the passing of Willie Davis. Willie’s extraordinary athleticism was an undeniable factor in Green Bay’s winning tradition of the 1960s under Coach Lombardi. He helped the Packers through an unprecedented championship run and to two Super Bowl victories. Willie was a man of true character on and off the field. The Hall of Fame will forever keep his legacy alive to serve as inspiration to future generations.”
Davis came into the league as a 15th-round pick in the 1956 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns following a stellar college career at Grambling State. However, his career did not officially begin until the 1958 NFL season after serving in the U.S. Army. Just when he had started to find his footing as an offensive tackle in Cleveland, he was traded to Green Bay in 1960.
It was there that Davis would make the transition to defensive end under head coach Vince Lombardi. The change of scenery certainly paid huge dividends for him as his rare combination of size, speed, and tenacity made him one of the most formidable edge rushers of his generation.
Davis would go on to become a six-time All-NFL selection and two-time Super Bowl champion before being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
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