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Trailblazing NFL Green Bay Packers Legend Dies at 95

Billy Howton still holds multiple team records that were set more than 60 years ago.

One of the defining NFL players of the 1950s and a Green Bay Packers legend died on August 4. A funeral home in Texas announced on Friday that Billy Howton, who caught passes for the Packers from 1952 to 1958 and was believed to be the oldest living NFL player, passed away earlier this week at 95. The Texas native followed up a sterling college career at Rice to having an NFL career that featured four Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro selections. He set team records for the most receiving yards by a rookie (1,231 in 1952) and the most receiving yards in a game (257 in 1956), both of which still stand today. He also caught the first touchdown pass thrown at Lambeau Field, back when the facility known as “The Frozen Tundra” was still called New City Stadium. After his run with the Packers, Howton played one season for the Cleveland Browns and one for his home state’s team the Dallas Cowboys (in just their second season of existence). After retiring, Howton became a key force in establishing the NFL Players’ Association, the league’s union, and securing player pensions. Howton served as NFLPA president from 1958 to 1962.