Willie Davis (defensive end)

Infobox NFLretired


name=Willie Davis
|width=
caption=
position=Defensive end
number=87
birthdate=birth date and age|1934|7|24
Lisbon, Louisiana
deathdate=
debutyear=1958
finalyear=1969
draftyear=1956
draftround=17
draftpick=
college=Grambling State
teams=
* Cleveland Browns (1958-1959)
* Green Bay Packers (1960-1969)
stat1label=Sacks
stat1value=--
stat2label=INT
stat2value=2
stat3label=Games
stat3value=162
nfl=DAV809926
highlights=
* 5x Pro Bowl selection (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967)
* 6x All-Pro selection (1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967)
* NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
HOF=52

William Delford Davis was born July 24 1934 in Lisbon, Louisiana. Willie, grew up in rural Louisiana and graduated from Grambling State University, The Cleveland Browns drafted Davis in the 15th round in the 1956 NFL Draft, and he was originally an offensive tackle, but didn't play up to his standards, but in 1959 Green Bay Packers GM/Head Coach Vince Lombardi saw talent in Davis. Lombardi recognized immediately that Davis' cat-like speed and agility would be utilized as a defensive lineman. Thus began one of the greatest careers ever at that position.

For 10 seasons, Davis anchored the Packers' defensive line, playing 138 consecutive regular-season games, part of 162 consecutive regular-season games for his NFL career. Davis was member to all 5 of Lombardi's NFL title-winning teams and played in Super Bowls I and II.

Davis played in an era when neither tackles nor sacks were official statistics. However, John Turney, a member of the Professional Football Researchers Association, and a painstaking, highly respected researcher/statistician, reports that his extensive research indicates Davis had in excess of 100 sacks during his 10-year Green Bay career (1960-69), "possibly more than 120," including a minimum of 40 over the 1963-65 seasons alone. [ [http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2004/07/20/1/printable/ packers.com] ] Davis himself is quoted as saying, "I would think I would have to be the team's all-time leader in sacks. I played 10 years and I averaged in the 'teens' in sacks for those 10 years. I had 25 one season. (Paul) Hornung just reminded me of that the other day." [ [http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2004/07/20/1/printable/ Packers.com » News » Stories » July 20, 2004: Letters To Lee Remmel ] ] Davis earned Associated Press All-Pro honors 5 times (1962, 64-67). Meanwhile he was voted to the Pro Bowl five times (1963-67).

Davis recovered 21 fumbles over his Packers career, which, more than three decades removed from his retirement, remains a team record. The Packers honored his retirement with a "Willie Davis Day" on December 21, 1969. Davis remains on Green Bay Packers Board of Directors.

Davis wore number 87 during his career with the Packers.

In the early 1970s, Davis worked as a color commentator on NFL telecasts for NBC.

Davis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981. In 1999, he was ranked number 69 on "The Sporting News"' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

In 1986, Davis was named the Walter Camp Man of the Year. In 1987, Davis was given the Career Achievement Award from the NFL Alumni.

Davis is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He received his MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business in 1968.

Davis is one of the most powerful business people in the world, as a member or former member of the boards of Alliance Bank, Dow Chemical (1988-2006), Johnson Controls (1991-2006), K-Mart, L.A. Gear, Manpower (2001-), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (1999-), MGM Mirage, Rally's Inc., Sara Lee (1983-), Schlitz Brewing, and WICOR Inc. He has been president of All-Pro Broadcasting, operators of Milwaukee radio stations WLDB-FM, WLUM-FM, and WMCS-AM since 1976.

References

External links

*"Pro Football Hall of Fame:" [http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=52 Member biography]
* [http://www.footballcardgallery.com/player/Willie+Davis/ Gallery of Willie Davis football cards]