Green Bay Packers: 50 greatest players in franchise history

Greatest players in Green Bay Packers history: 44. Ken Ellis

Ken Ellis might have been a journeyman defensive back in the NFL in the 1970s out of Southern, but he was certainly a great player for the Packers early in his career. Green Bay took him in the fourth round in the 1970 NFL Draft. Ellis would spend his first six NFL seasons with the team that drafted him in Green Bay.

As a rookie, Ellis would start in 13 of 14 regular season games for the Packers in 1970. While he returned kicks for the Packers during his first three years in the league, it was his prowess in the defensive backfield that helped him make this all-time list. As a third-year pro in 1972, Ellis would be named to the All-Pro first team. He had four interceptions for 104 yards and a touchdown during that playoff campaign for the Packers.

Ellis would back up his breakout season with another All-Pro selection in 1973, this time as a second team member. 1973 would mark his first trip to the Pro Bowl. Ellis made his second and final Pro Bowl the following season with the Packers in 1974. He played his last season with the Packers in 1975 before joining five teams over his last three years in the league.

Ellis spent 1976 split between the Miami Dolphins and the then Houston Oilers. In 1977, Ellis played for the Cleveland Browns. After spending 1978 out of the league, Ellis played his final NFL season as a member of both the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams. In 1998, Ellis made it into the Packers Hall of Fame. He had 20 interceptions for 294 yards and three touchdowns during his six seasons with Green Bay.