The world of pro football lost another legend as Hall of Fame Defensive Back, Willie Wood passed away at the age of 83 after a long battle with dementia.

Wood was a Quarterback at USC, and he broke the color barrier as the first African-American Quarterback in the Pac 12.  Sadly, this was the 50s, and this was not a time when the NFL would look at a black man at this position.  He went undrafted in 1960, and he was signed by the Green Bay Packers after he wrote a letter to their Head Coach, Vince Lombardi.  

Wood made the team as a Safety, and he would play all 12 of his seasons in the NFL for Green Bay.  With the Packers, he would win five NFL Championships, including the first two Super Bowls.  Individually, he would go to eight Pro Bowls, was a five-time First Team All-Pro, and he recorded 48 Interceptions over his career.  Wood was named to the 1960s All-Decade Team and he was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the friends, family and fans of Willie Wood.

Willie Wood spent his entire career with the Green Bay Packers, and just to get there was a feat in itself.  Despite playing at high-profile USC, Wood went undrafted, likely due to being an African-American Quarterback at a time when they were not sought after in the NFL.  Wood wrote a letter to Packers’ Head Coach, Vince Lombardi to get a tryout, which worked out well for both parties, as Wood made the team.

With the Packers already having Bart Starr as their QB, Wood moved to Safety, which he also played in college.  Wood became a starter as a sophomore and led the NFL in Interceptions with 12 the following year.  Becoming one of the top Defensive Backs in the 1960s, Wood helped the Packers win five titles, and individually was twice a First Team All-Pro and a five-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Wood netted 48 Interceptions over his career and was also a competent returner, even leading the league in Yards per Punt Return (13.3) in 1964, and finished in the top ten in Punt Return Yards six times.

Wood entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989, 12 years after he entered the Packers Hall of Fame.