Welcome back to Lombardi Ave's series highlighting the greatest Green Bay Packers players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.
Well, coming off one of those types of entries at No. 86 where we hated to have to pick a winner, as there were two players who unquestionably deserve to be part of the big list, we find ourselves in the exact same position here at No. 87.
But if you've been following along, you know by now that I don't allow ties, so let's go ahead and get into it by first lookign at every player who's worn No. 87 for the Green & Gold over the years.
- Marty Amsler, DE
- Nate Borden, DE
- Robert Brooks, WR
- Bobby Collins, TE
- Willie Davis, DE
- Romeo Doubs, WR
- Ryan Krause, TE
- Bill Larson, TE
- Bob Mann, E
- David Martin, TE
- Jordy Nelson, WR
- Corn Redick, WR
- Alden Roche, DE
- Walter Stanley, WR
- Jace Sternberger, TE
- J. Michael Sturdivant, WR
- John Thompson, TE
- Walter Tullis, WR
- Clarence Weathers, WR
So, again, as much we hate to have to do this, the runner-up spot here goes to Jordy Nelson, who spent a decade in Titletown from 2008 to 2017 (he did miss the entire 2015 campaign) and was one of Aaron Rodgers' top targets.
A second-round pick of the Packers out of Kansas State, Nelson had four 1,000-yard seasons for the Packers, with his best year coming in 2014, when he tallied a career-high 98 receptions for a career-best 1,519 yards with 13 touchdowns en route to earning the lone Pro Bowl selection of his career and a Second-Team All-Pro nod.
And after missing that 2015 season after suffering a torn right ACL during the preseason, he bounced back to win Comeback Player of the Year in 2016 after amassing 97 receptions for 1,257 yards and a career-high and league-leading 14 touchdowns.
In his nine seasons with Green Bay, Nelson recorded 550 catches, which currently stand for the fourth-most in franchise history, for 7,848 yards, good for the sixth-most in team history, with his 69 receiving touchdowns ranking third.
Normally, that would be more than enough to get the job done, but when the other player we had to consider is one of the best defensive players of all time and is enshrined in Canton, we obviously have to go in that direction. And that player, of course, is legendary defensive end Willie Davis.
Willie Davis earned five First-Team All-Pro selections and won five titles with the Green Bay Packers
A two-way player during his collegiate career at Grambling, Davis was taken by the Cleveland Browns in the 15th round of the 1956 NFL Draft with the 181st overall selection, although he didn't begin his professional career until 1958, as he was serving in the U.S. Army.
After just two seasons in Cleveland, the Louisiana native was traded to the Packers in 1960, which was Vince Lombardi's second year with the team. After starting just eight games in his two years with the Browns, Davis started all 12 games for Green Bay in his first year with the team and went on to start every single game for the rest of his career.
And not only did he become one of the greatest defensive players in franchise history, but he was also one of the most reliable, as he didn't miss one single game in his 10 years in Titletown.
And in those 10 years, Davis, who was the first Black captain in Packers history, by the way, was an absolute menace to opposing offenses, particularly as a pass rusher, as he defensive tackle Henry Jordan terrorized quarterbacks year after year.
Over the course of a decade, in helping Green Bay to five NFL Championships and victories in the first two Super Bowls, Davis earned five trips to the Pro Bowl and five First-Team All-Pro selections. While sacks didn't become an official NFL stat until 1982, our pals at Pro Football Reference have totals dating back to 1960, and if you trust their count, which we do, the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder amassed 99.5, which remain the most in Green Bay history.
Davis, who retired following the 1969 season, was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1975 and then into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
Other Green Bay Packers jersey honorees
- No. 0: There's literally only one choice here
- No. 1: Micah Parsons isn't the pick just yet
- No. 2: The Packers' all-time leading scorer
- No. 3: The second player in franchise history to have his jersey retired
- No. 4: There's no introduction needed here
- No. 5: This player should have been the last to wear the number but wasn't
- No. 6: A genuine ironman
- No. 7: This player was straight magic (until he wasn't)
- No. 8: This player has the second-most points in Packers history
- No. 9: The winner here has an extremely famous relative
- No. 10: A star on the rise
- No. 11: Packers' first title-winning QB
- No. 12: Obviously isn't up for debate
- No. 13: Had 'no weakness'
- No. 14: The first to have his jersey retired by the Packers
- No. 15: Owns a special piece of NFL history
- No. 16: Shares his name with an MLB legend
- No. 17: Had to beat out several Hall of Famers
- No. 18: Was one of the NFL's first dual-threat quarterbacks
- No. 19: Had his career cut short by the Bears
- No. 20: Has held a record for nearly 100 years
- No. 21: Has the most defensive TDs in NFL history
- No. 22: Also served in the U.S. Congress
- No. 23: Holds several NFL kick-return records
- No. 24: Owns a unique piece of Super Bowl history
- No. 25: Might not be who you think
- No. 26: Holds a historic place in NFL history
- No. 27: Started hot but fizzled fast
- No. 28: A good defender on some bad teams
- No. 29: Still holds an unofficial team record
- No. 30: It's not the one who's the Packers' all-time leading rusher
- No. 31: Had his jersey retired by another team
- No. 32: Is a member of another team's Ring of Honor
- No. 33: Did so much more than people may realize
- No. 34: An underrated dual-threat back
- No. 35: Gave the Packers a unique win over the Bears
- No. 36: Invented the Lambeau Leap
- No. 37: Suited up for the Packers at the wrong time
- No. 38: Left the Packers as the NFL's all-time passing leader
- No. 39: Was taken in three different MLB drafts
- No. 40: The only man in both the Baseball and Pro Football Hall of Fame
- No. 41: Made a big impact in a little time
- No. 42: Was the charter member of an elite club
- No. 43: Inadvertently created a new play
- No. 44: Made the Hall of Fame despite only having one eye
- No. 45: Left the NFL with the most TDs in history
- No. 46: Was underappreciated in the Lombardi era
- No. 47: Later played on the PGA Tour
- No. 48: Just missed out on the Lombardi era
- No. 49: Was one of the best O-linemen of his era
- No. 50: The Packers' all-time leading tackler
- No. 51: Is a member of three Halls of Fame
- No. 52: Is a member of a royal NFL family
- No. 53: Didn't miss a single game for a decade
- No. 54: Was 'The Rock' way before Dwayne Johnson
- No. 55: Had a solid career after going undrafted
- No. 56: Was a steady presence during the 2000s
- No. 57: Put on a gutsy Super Bowl performance
- No. 58: Kicked off the Packers' greatest draft class
- No. 59: Received a special Hall of Fame honor
- No. 60: Was involved in two famous trades
- No. 61: Was a reliable specialist for a decade
- No. 62: Put on the ultimate show of toughness
- No. 63: Was the first in NFL history to win six titles
- No. 64: Had an absurd amount of surgeries
- No. 65: Proved to be a seventh-round steal
- No. 66: Wildly wanted to play for the Bears
- No. 67: Once got a shoutout from John Madden
- No. 68: Nearly gave up football
- No. 69: Achieved a feat not seen in 50-plus years
- No. 70: Was a reliable blocker for Aaron Rodgers
- No. 71: Was Vince Lombardi's first defensive captain
- No. 72: Knows he didn't get the credit he deserved
- No. 73: Made a little NFL draft history
- No. 74: Made Vince Lombardi look like a genius
- No. 75: Was Vince Lombardi's most decorated star
- No. 76: Was the reason for an NFL rule change
- No. 77: Did the dirty work so others could shine
- No. 78: Made a Pro Bowl shortly after being shot
- No. 79: Spent 44 years in Titletown
- No. 80: Holds a special spot in the Hall of Fame
- No. 81: Owns a special place in Super Bowl history
- No. 82: Holds a unique place in the Lombardi era
- No. 83: Indirectly helped the team land a legend
- No. 84: Was forced to retire in his prime
- No. 85: Scored the first TD in Super Bowl history
- No. 86: Came up huge in the famed 'Ice Bowl'
This list will be updated daily until all 100 entries are complete, so be sure to check back in with Lombardi Ave for updates.
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