- Herb Adderley
Infobox NFLretired
|position=Cornerback
number=26
birthdate=birth date and age|1939|6|8Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
deathdate=
debutyear=1961
finalyear=1972
draftyear=1961
draftround=1
draftpick=12
AFLdraftyear=1961
AFLdraftround=2
AFLdraftpick=
college=Michigan State
teams=
*Green Bay Packers (1961-1969)
*Dallas Cowboys (1970-1972)
stat1label=Interceptions
stat1value=48
stat2label=INT yards
stat2value=1,046
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=7
nfl=ADD332232
highlights=
* 5xPro Bowl selection (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967)
* 8xAll-Pro selection (1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969)
*NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
*Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
HOF=9
HOFYear=1980Herbert A. Adderley (born
June 8 ,1939 inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania ) is a formerAmerican football cornerback who played for theGreen Bay Packers and theDallas Cowboys of theNFL .He played college football at
Michigan State University and was an All-Big Ten offensive star.While at Michigan State University, Adderly became a charter member of the Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
NFL career
Adderley was drafted by the Packers in the first round of the
1961 NFL Draft 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 starsPaul 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 coachVince 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 started 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 andSuper 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 inSuper Bowl V and a championship win inSuper Bowl VI .Along with two former Packer teammates -
Fuzzy Thurston andForrest 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 teammateJerry 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.
Post-NFL
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.Herb Adderley is currently facing a vast amount of medical issues stemming from his years on the field. Despite his illustrious career, he receives only $126.85 per month in pension from the NFL and is subsequently unable to pay off the surgery he needs. [http://www.jerrykramer.com/ggaf-fact-sheet.html]
In February, 2007, Herb and former defensive back
Bernie Parrish filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFLPA alleging non-payment of licensing fees. ("2 Former N.F.L. Players Sue Over Sharing of Fees", New York Times, February 15, 2007)External links
*"Pro Football Hall of Fame:" [http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=9 Member profile]
*"Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame:" [http://www.packers.com/team/players/adderley_herb/ Member profile]
* [http://www.pafootballnews.com/AllCenturyTeams.htm The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Team] [http://www.msu.edu/~ques/charter.html]
* [http://www.footballcardgallery.com/player/Herb+Adderley/ Gallery of Herb Adderley football cards]
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