Willie Davis, RIP

Willie Davis, a Hall of Fame defensive end for the Green Bay Packers and a star on all five of Coach Vince Lombardi's championship teams in the 1960s, died today in a hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 85.

Willie Davis was one of the heroes of my childhood. He played before the league kept statistics on stats, but he is believed to have had between 100 and 140, which is pretty damn respectable. He had five total in Super Bowls I and II. This is Davis (87), on the left, in Super Bowl I helping in a takedown of Chiefs' quarter back Len Dawson

Davis played 10 years for the Packers (two for the Browns before that). His career, in and out of football, was illustrious:

• He was the first African-American team captain in Packers history, as a co-captain in 1965 and the sole defensive captain in 1966.
• He started at left defensive end for all five of Lombardi's NFL championship teams.
• He was names as one of only three defensive ends on the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team.
• He made the Pro Bowl five times, and was a five-time Associated Press All-Pro, as well.
• He played 138 games for the Packers over 10 seasons, ever mission a game. 
• He was inducted as a member of the Packers Hall of Fame in 1975. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
• Davis was a member of the Packers' board of directors from 1994 to 2005.
• He was one of four candidates considered as the replacement for Pete Rozelle as NFL commissioner when Rozelle retired in 1989. Might have spared us from Roger Goodell if the NFL had been smarter and picked him.

Willie Davis was a great football player and by all accounts a very good man.  I used to have his football player card. Wish I still did. Rest in peace, Willie.