We lost one of our best a few days ago: number 87 Willie Davis, one of the greatest defensive ends ever to play the game. Davis had starred for Eddie Robinson at Grambling University and was one of the first of many NFL stars to emerge from that small black college in Louisiana. He was a fifteenth round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns where another legendary coach, Paul Brown, switched him back and forth from offense to defense. Reportedly, Willie’s marks on Paul’s playbook tests were so high that he thought Davis was better suited to offense. Finally, Brown traded Willie to a third iconic coach, Vince Lombardi, for journeyman end A.D. Williams in 1960.
Lombardi valued speed and pursuit more than size and power on defense, so he put Davis at left defensive end where Willie’s great strength, quickness, and agility made him a five-time All Pro and five-time Pro Bowler in the 1960s. at 6’3” 240-pounds, he was essentially the same size as the linebackers who played behind him, but was perfect for the Packers’ attacking defense. He was a fierce pass rusher and had a knack for making the big play; Webster and Turney’s retrospective sack compilations place him with over 100, unofficially still the best in team history.
He was durable, never missing a game in 12 years with the Browns and Packers, and had the effervescent personality of a natural leader–he was known to his teammates as “Dr. Feelgood.” He was elected to the Packer Hall of Fame in 1975 and to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981. In retirement he used all of those qualities to become an even bigger success in the business world. He often would say that whenever he went into a sales meeting that the words and lessons of Lombardi went with him. In 1994, Davis became the second black member of the Packer Board of Directors in 1994.
(Adapted from Packers by the Numbers)
From this collection of custom cards, #1, #2, #5 and #14 are colorized.
packers past perfect 