Highlighted Year: Herb Adderley, 1962

Cornerback, Green Bay Packers

Age: 23

2^nd season in pro football & with Packers

College: Michigan State

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 205

Prelude:

Adderley was an All-Big 10 back in college and was chosen by the Packers in the first round of the 1961 NFL draft (12^th overall; he was picked by the New York Titans in the second round of the corresponding AFL draft). Projected to be a halfback on offense, his career started slowly as he suffered an injury during the preseason and was used only for kickoff returns, although he performed well in that role and averaged 26.6 yards on 18 returns. A late-season injury to CB Hank Gremminger provided a shot for Adderley on defense, and he made the most of it. Heading into 1962, he was the regular left cornerback.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 7 [3, tied with five others]

Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Minnesota 9/16

Int. return yards – 132 [5, tied with Willie Wood]

Most int. return yards, game – 50 (on 1 int.) vs. Chicago 9/30

Int. TDs – 1 [1, tied with eleven others]

Fumble recoveries – 4

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 15 [19]

Yards – 418 [17]

Most yards, game – 103 (on 1 ret.) vs. Baltimore 11/18

Average per return – 27.9 [3]

TDs – 1 [1, tied with four others]

Longest return – 103 yards

Scoring

TDs – 2

Points – 12

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at NY Giants)

Interceptions – 0

Kickoff returns – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, UPI

2^nd team All-NFL: NEA

Packers went 13-1 to finish first in the NFL Western Conference while leading the league in interceptions (31), fewest passing yards allowed (1746), and fewest points allowed (148). Won NFL Championship over New York Giants (16-7).

Aftermath:

Adderley had another outstanding season in 1963, again gaining consensus All-NFL honors as well as being selected to the Pro Bowl for the first of five straight years. Fast enough to play loose in coverage, he was also an instinctive ball hawk who could tackle. In all, he appeared in five NFL Championship games with the Packers and the first two Super Bowls. His 60-yard interception return for a TD in Super Bowl II helped nail down Green Bay’s win over the Raiders.  Adderley moved on to the Dallas Cowboys in 1970 and, in three years with the team, it reached the Super Bowl twice and won once, making him part of six championship teams over the course of his 12-year career. Overall, Adderley intercepted 48 passes (39 with the Packers), seven of which he returned for touchdowns. He also averaged 25.7 yards on 120 kickoff returns, two of which were TDs. Adderley was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection four times, received at least second-team honors after three other seasons, and was chosen to the Pro Bowl five times. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1980.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970