John Brockington on a collision course with Dick Butkus. Photo courtesy of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
One of the Packers all-time best running backs signed his rookie contract – John Brockington.
Packers fans – no, football fans – will remember this guy. He carried the ball north-south, his knees and powerful legs pounding the earth and any defensive player attempting to tackle him.
One of the best draft choices by former Packers head coach Dan Devine, Brockington brought a renewed running game to Green Bay and would go on to several years of success.
This day in Packers history is brought to you by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
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May 9, 1971 - Packers coach Dan Devine announces that Ohio State running back John Brockington, Green Bay’s first-round draft choice, has signed with the team. “He’s what I call my kind of football player,” Devine tells the Milwaukee Sentinel. “He is a no-nonsense guy. He is not a prima donna.” Brockington doesn’t disappoint as the 225-pound rookie rushes for 1,105 yards in leading the Packers to 2,229 rushing yards, the most by the team since 1964.Topics: Dan Devine, Green Bay Packers, Green Bay Packers Hall Of Fame, John Brockington, Milwaukee Journal, Ohio State University
I am an award-winning journalist and photographer and have been editor of two weekly newspapers in northern Wisconsin for the past 23 years.
My love of the Green Bay Packers moved me to write columns for select websites in the mid- to late-1990s under the pen name of Apackphan. The opportunity to continue with lombardiave.com under that same pen name has been rewarding. Getting back into blogging has allowed me to renew the love of a team I have followed since I was a young boy.
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