Age: 23
2nd
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 (12th 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:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, UPI
2nd
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.
--
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
