The 10 best cornerbacks in the history of the Green Bay Packers

It's hard to win in the NFL without stopping the pass. Finding quality pass rushers and cornerbacks is paramount to building a successful defense. It's no surprise, then, that some of the greatest edge rushers and cornerbacks in NFL history have worn the green and gold, considering the Green Bay Packers' league-best 13 championships.

Elite cornerback play has contributed significantly to many of the Packers' deep playoff runs over the years, and the position is even more important in today's passing league.

Much like their success at wide receiver, the Packers have always seemed to find quality cornerbacks, either through the draft or in free agency.

Criteria for selection

Statistics play a part in ranking the best cornerbacks, but they are far from the be-all and end-all. A cornerback with one interception could have a better season than a player with 10. Why? Often, a lack of stats for a corner shows the opposing quarterback is avoiding them. Interceptions are great and vital, but the best cornerbacks don't get targeted often. That said, creating turnovers is important.

Longevity is another factor to consider. It's hard to stay on top for long at the cornerback position, especially in today's league that favors offense. Players who reach a high level year in, year out deserve recognition in our rankings.

Individual accolades and moments also play a significant role. How many All-Pros and Pro Bowls did they make? Did a player step up with a game-changing play in the postseason or a must-win game? The all-time greats save their best for the most important moments.

The top 10 cornerbacks in Green Bay Packers history

10. Sam Shields (2010-2016)

Undrafted and underappreciated nationally but loved in Green Bay, Sam Shields was a game-changer in the Packers' secondary. Despite not hearing his name called during the 2010 NFL Draft, Shields soon became a key contributor in Green Bay, making six starts as a rookie. He made a pair of interceptions in the Packers' win over the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game. Without Shields, Green Bay may have fallen short of the Super Bowl.

Shields would make another 60 pass defenses and 16 interceptions over the next five seasons, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2014. He also holds the franchise record for most career interceptions in the playoffs with five.

The former undrafted free agent used his 4.3 speed to close down defenders and make plays on the ball. Including the postseason, Shields finished his Packers career with 78 pass defenses and 23 interceptions in seven years.

9. Jaire Alexander (2018-present)

In 2018, the Packers desperately needed help at cornerback. Enter first-round pick Jaire Alexander, who showed star potential from day one. Despite Green Bay's struggles that season, Alexander defended 11 passes and made the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Just two years later, he established himself as one of the league's best cornerbacks by earning second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.

The sign of a great player is stepping up on the biggest stage. Whether it's shutting down Justin Jefferson in an NFC North decider or intercepting Tom Brady twice in the NFC Championship Game, Jaire usually rises to the challenge.

Injuries have held the former first-round pick back in recent years, but Alexander is a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler, and his story is far from over.

8. Jesse Whittenton (1958-1964)

Jesse Whittenton played a part in two of Vince Lombardi's championship teams. He made several game-changing plays, forcing 30 turnovers in 88 games for the Packers—he intercepted 20 passes and recovered 10 fumbles.

Whittenton moved to Green Bay after spending the first two seasons of his NFL career with the Los Angeles Rams. He would spend the final seven years of his career with the Packers, initially as a safety before finding a permanent starting position at cornerback. Whittenton was a first-team All-Pro in 1961 and second-team All-Pro a year later, and he made two Pro Bowl teams. During the two All-Pro seasons, he made a combined 11 interceptions.

Whittenton was a key starter for Lombardi. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1976.

7. Ken Ellis (1970-1975)

The Packers only made the playoffs once in the 1970s, but Ken Ellis helped them get there. Green Bay won the NFC Central in 1972, the season Ellis made four interceptions and earned a vote for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. That year, he also returned 14 punts for 215 yards and one touchdown.

Ellis spent six seasons in Green Bay, making 20 interceptions in 83 career games, good for the seventh-most among cornerbacks in team history.

During his time with the Packers, Ellis made two Pro Bowls, a first-team and second-team All-Pro, and earned his spot in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

6. Al Harris (2003-2010)

"We want the ball and we're going to score," said Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck after winning the coin toss in overtime of a 2003 wild-card game at Lambeau Field.

Moments later, Al Harris intercepted Brett Favre's former backup and took it to the house, sending the Packers into the divisional round.

It's the play Packers fans remember most from Harris' career, but he provided so much more than that during his seven-year run with the team. Despite his famous pick-six, he only made 14 interceptions for the Packers, an average of two per season. He was at his best when playing press-man coverage and shutting down opposing wide receivers. Along with his 14 picks, Harris broke up 56 passes.

Harris was a second-team All-Pro in 2007 and made two Pro Bowls with the Packers. In 2021, he was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame alongside teammate Charles Woodson.

5. Bob Jeter (1963-1970)

Alongside the legendary Herb Adderley, Bob Jeter formed one of the greatest but most underrated cornerback duos in NFL history. Adderley is a Pro Football Hall of Famer, but Jeter was also a star in Vince Lombardi's team. A first-team All-Pro, second-team All-Pro, two-time Pro Bowler, three-time NFL champion, and two-time Super Bowl champion, Jeter built one of the most impressive resumes of any cornerback in Packers history.

Interestingly, Jeter began his NFL career as a wide receiver, but with just two receptions to his name in his first two seasons, Lombardi gave him an opportunity at cornerback. By 1966, he had become a starter, making five interceptions with two pick-sixes in the season of Super Bowl I. Jeter made another eight interceptions the following year, with the Packers again winning the Super Bowl.

Jeter's 23 interceptions for the Packers rank fifth among cornerbacks in franchise history. He made game-changing plays in a dominant Green Bay defense, helping the team win consecutive NFL championships from 1965 to 1967.

In 1985, he was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

4. Willie Buchanon (1972-1978)

If not for injuries, Willie Buchanon may have become the Packers' greatest cornerback ever.

Buchanon wasted little time in becoming a star in the NFL, intercepting four passes in year one en route to NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Unfortunately, significant leg injuries in 1973 and 1975 halted his progress, but he still made his first Pro Bowl in between.

An outstanding defender against the run and pass, Buchanon finished his Packers career with 21 interceptions, which still ranks sixth among cornerbacks in franchise history. He also shares the Packers' record for most interceptions in a single game—he picked off four passes against the San Diego Chargers in 1978, returning one for a touchdown. The only other Packers player to make four interceptions in a game was legendary safety Bobby Dillon in 1953.

Buchanon made two Pro Bowls and was named a first-team All-Pro once during his seven-year stay in Green Bay. He was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1993. Buchanon spent the final four seasons of his career with the Chargers.

3. Tramon Williams (2006-2014, 2018-2019)

With his longevity, legendary moments, and consistent top-level cornerback play, Tramon Williams did it all during his time with the Packers.

Williams may have thought his NFL journey was over after the Houston Texans released him before his first season. He had gone undrafted and failed to make their 53-man roster. However, Houston's loss was Green Bay's gain, and Williams would go on to start 122 games in the green and gold.

We can't relive Williams' career without beginning with the magical Super Bowl XLV run. He put together a playoff run for the ages, making three interceptions and four pass defenses to help the Packers bring the Lombardi Trophy home. He came up with the game-winner in the wild-card round at Philadelphia and two more the following week versus Atlanta, including a 70-yard pick-six that helped swing a close contest into a stunning blowout win.

Williams made 27 regular-season interceptions, the fourth-most in franchise history, and his four postseason picks tie for second.

He left Green Bay after eight seasons but made a triumphant return in 2018, starting 23 games across two seasons at cornerback and safety. Williams may have only made one Pro Bowl, but he provided legendary moments that will live forever in Green Bay.

2. Charles Woodson (2006-2011)

Charles Woodson already had an incredible resume after spending the first eight seasons of his career with the Oakland Raiders. In Green Bay, he became a legend.

Woodson is one of the Packers' all-time greats, regardless of position. He spent seven years in Green Bay, earning four Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. But that's just the beginning. Woodson won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2009, led the league in interceptions twice, and set a new franchise record for career pick-sixes with nine. He returned an interception for a touchdown in six consecutive seasons, an NFL record.

Most importantly, Woodson played a crucial role in the Packers' 2010 defense that ranked second in scoring and fifth in total yards.

A leader, a game-changer, and a versatile defensive back who could line up across the secondary, Woodson did it all. Without him, there's a good chance the Packers wouldn't have won a fourth Lombardi Trophy in 2010.

In 2021, Woodson became a first-ballot Hall of Famer. He is also a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

1. Herb Adderley (1962-1969)

Herb Adderley isn't just the greatest Packers cornerback of all time, he is one of the best in NFL history. A five-time NFL champion, three-time Super Bowl champion, seven-time All-Pro, and five-time Pro Bowler, Adderley achieved it all.

Adderley's 38 interceptions rank first among all cornerbacks in Packers history, while his seven pick-sixes rank second behind Charles Woodson. He had another interception touchdown in the playoffs, a 60-yard pick-six in Super Bowl II. Adderley saved one of his best moments for the biggest stage.

We can't just measure a cornerback's performance by the plays they make on the ball, but also by what they prevent. According to Packers historian Cliff Christl, Adderley didn't allow a single touchdown in 14 games in 1965.

The greatest cornerbacks can shut down receivers and make force turnovers when given an opportunity. Adderley could do it all.

Adderley began his NFL career as a running back, the position he played in college, but he had limited opportunities with all-time greats Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung ahead of him on the depth chart. Eventually, Vince Lombardi gave him a chance on defense, and Adderley responded by becoming one of the greatest cornerbacks in NFL history. He played an important role in a dominant, championship-winning Packers team and earned his spot in the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team.

Adderley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1981.

The 10 best cornerbacks in Packers in history by interceptions