Today, we have a photo of Packer defensive backfield greats Herb Adderley (#26) and Willie Wood following what could be a championship game at Lambeau Field. They are being interviewed by former CBS announcer Ray Scott, who used to do all of the Green Bay games in that era.
Adderley was drafted by the Packers in the first round in 1961 as the 12th draft pick, and was projected to be a halfback or flanker, but soon saw that his playing opportunities would be limited on offense behind veteran Packer stars Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor. He was first moved to cornerback to replace an injured teammate. In 1962 the move became permanent and Adderley went on to become an all-NFL selection five times in the 1960s. Packers coach Vince Lombardi remarked, "I was too stubborn to switch him to defense until I had to. Now when I think of what Adderley means to our defense, it scares me to think of how I almost mishandled him."
Adderley seemed to be a natural at his new position, recording 39 interceptions in his nine seasons with the Packers. He holds the Green Bay records for interceptions returned for touchdowns in a career (seven, record tied with Darren Sharper), and interceptions returned for touchdowns in one season (three, in 1965).
Adderley starred for the Packers from 1961-69, then played three seasons (1970-72) with the Dallas Cowboys. While with the Packers, he won rings in Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II. Adderley was a major factor in the Packers' Super Bowl II win over the Oakland Raiders, intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter and returning it 60 yards for a touchdown to put the game away. After joining the Cowboys, Adderley became a vital cog in Dallas' "Doomsday Defense," assisting the Cowboys to a Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl V and a championship win in Super Bowl VI.
Along with two former Packer teammates — Fuzzy Thurston and Forrest Gregg — Adderley is one of only three players in pro football history to play on six World Championship teams. However, in Distant Replay, a memoir by former Packer teammate Jerry Kramer, Adderley is quoted as saying, “I'm the only man with a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl ring who doesn't wear it. I'm a Green Bay Packer.”
In his 12 NFL seasons, Adderley recorded 48 interceptions, which he returned for 1,046 yards and seven touchdowns, an average of 21.8 yards per return. He also recovered 14 fumbles (returning them for 65 yards) and returned 120 kickoffs for 3,080 yards and two scores. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980. In 1999, Adderley was ranked number 45 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
Out of the University of Southern California, Willie Wood was not drafted by any National Football League team. He had to tryout before the Packers signed him as a free agent in 1960. He was recast as a free safety, and was a starter in his 1961 season. He started until his retirement in 1971. Wood won All-NFL honors nine times in a nine-year stretch from 1962 through the 1971 season, participated in the Pro Bowl eight times, and played in six NFL championship games, winning all except the first one in 1960.
Willie was the starting free safety for the Packers in Super Bowl I against the Kansas City Chiefs and Super Bowl II against the Oakland Raiders. In Super Bowl I, he recorded a key interception that helped the Packers put the game away in the second half. In Super Bowl II, he returned five punts for 35 yards, including a 31-yard return that would stand as the record for longest punt return in a Super Bowl until Darrell Green's 34-yard return in Super Bowl XVIII. He won the NFL interception title in 1962 and the league punt return championship.
Wood finished his 12 NFL seasons with 48 interceptions, which he returned for 699 yards and two touchdowns. He also gained 1,391 yards and scored 2 touchdowns on 187 punt returns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989.
In 1973 (just two years removed from his days as a player), Willie was named the head coach of the Philadelphi Bell of the WFL. This made him the first African-American head coach in professional football of the modern era. Willie was also a head coach in the Canadian Football League.
