Herb Adderley
Encyclopedia
Herbert Allen Adderley (born June 8, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) is a former American football
cornerback
who played for the Green Bay Packers
and the Dallas Cowboys
of the National Football League
.
He played college football at Michigan State University
and was an All-Big Ten
offensive star. He is the only player to appear in four of the first six Super Bowls.
beginning in 1953. He played football, basketball, and baseball, and won All-City Honors in all three.
. Adderley led the team in rushing yards in 1959 and pass receptions in both 1959 and 1960. Adderley was the co-captain of the team in his senior year. In 1960, he made the All-Big Ten Conference team and played in the East-West Shrine Game
, the Coaches' All-American, and the College All-Star games. Adderley was picked for the All-Michigan State University team in 1970.
by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 1961 NFL Draft
with the 12th overall pick. He began his professional career as a halfback
, but was later switched to defense because the Packers already had eventual Hall of Fame
runners in Paul Hornung
and Jim Taylor. Adderley was first moved to cornerback to replace an injured teammate. In 1962, the move became permanent and Adderley went on to become an all-NFL selection five times in the 1960s. Packers coach Vince Lombardi
remarked, "I was too stubborn to switch him to defense until I had to. Now when I think of what Adderley means to our defense, it scares me to think of how I almost mishandled him."
Adderley seemed to be a natural at his new position, recording 39 interceptions in his nine seasons with the Packers. He holds the Green Bay records for interceptions returned for touchdowns in a career (seven, record tied with Darren Sharper
), and interceptions returned for touchdowns in one season (three, in 1965).
Adderley started for the Packers from 1961–69, then played three seasons (1970–72) with the Dallas Cowboys. While with the Packers, he won rings in Super Bowl I
and Super Bowl II
. Adderley was a major factor in the Packers' Super Bowl II win over the Oakland Raiders, intercepting a pass by Raiders quarterback Daryle Lamonica
in the fourth quarter and returning it 60 yards for a touchdown to put the game away. This was the first Super Bowl touchdown on an intercepted pass. After joining the Cowboys, Adderley became a vital cog in Dallas' "Doomsday Defense
," assisting the Cowboys to a Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl V
and a championship win in Super Bowl VI
.
Adderley was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in the summer of 1973 but instead of reporting to the team, he retired on August 7.
Along with two former Packer teammates - Fuzzy Thurston and Forrest Gregg
- Adderley is one of only three players in pro football history to play on six World Championship teams. However, in a revised edition of Instant Replay, a memoir by former Packer teammate Jerry Kramer
, Adderley is quoted as saying, "I'm the only man with a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl ring who doesn't wear it. I'm a Green Bay Packer."
In his 12 NFL seasons, Adderley recorded 48 interceptions, which he returned for 1,046 yards and seven touchdowns, an average of 21.8 yards per return. He also recovered 14 fumbles (returning them for 65 yards) and returned 120 kickoffs for 3,080 yards and two scores.
and the Philadelphia Eagles
. He also coached as an assistant at Temple and with the Philadelphia Bell
of the World Football League
.
On August 2, 1980 Adderley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
. He was also chosen for the AFL-NFL 1960-1984 All-Star teams.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
) is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
who played for the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
He played college football at Michigan State University
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
and was an All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
offensive star. He is the only player to appear in four of the first six Super Bowls.
Early life
Adderley was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 8, 1939 to parents Charles and Rene (White). Adderley grew up there as well. He attended Northeast High SchoolNortheast High School (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Northeast High School is a high school located at 1601 Cottman Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States....
beginning in 1953. He played football, basketball, and baseball, and won All-City Honors in all three.
College career
After high school, Adderley chose to attend Michigan State University under head coach Hugh "Duffy" DaughertyDuffy Daugherty
Hugh Duffy Daugherty was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Michigan State University from 1954 to 1972, where he compiled a career record of 109–69–5. Duffy's 1965 and 1966 teams won national championships...
. Adderley led the team in rushing yards in 1959 and pass receptions in both 1959 and 1960. Adderley was the co-captain of the team in his senior year. In 1960, he made the All-Big Ten Conference team and played in the East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
, the Coaches' All-American, and the College All-Star games. Adderley was picked for the All-Michigan State University team in 1970.
Professional career
Adderley was draftedNFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 1961 NFL Draft
1961 NFL Draft
The 1961 National Football League Draft took place on December 27–28, 1960. The league would later hold an expansion draft for the Minnesota Vikings expansion franchise, and the Vikings were also awarded the first selection position in this draft. This draft was also the first regular draft for...
with the 12th overall pick. He began his professional career as a halfback
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
, but was later switched to defense because the Packers already had eventual Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
runners in Paul Hornung
Paul Hornung
Paul Vernon Hornung is a retired Hall of Fame professional football player who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1957-66...
and Jim Taylor. Adderley was first moved to cornerback to replace an injured teammate. In 1962, the move became permanent and Adderley went on to become an all-NFL selection five times in the 1960s. Packers coach Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
remarked, "I was too stubborn to switch him to defense until I had to. Now when I think of what Adderley means to our defense, it scares me to think of how I almost mishandled him."
Adderley seemed to be a natural at his new position, recording 39 interceptions in his nine seasons with the Packers. He holds the Green Bay records for interceptions returned for touchdowns in a career (seven, record tied with Darren Sharper
Darren Sharper
Darren Mallory Sharper is an American football safety who currently is a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at William & Mary....
), and interceptions returned for touchdowns in one season (three, in 1965).
Adderley started for the Packers from 1961–69, then played three seasons (1970–72) with the Dallas Cowboys. While with the Packers, he won rings in Super Bowl I
Super Bowl I
The First AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later known as Super Bowl I and referred to in some contemporary reports as the Supergame, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.The National Football League ...
and Super Bowl II
Super Bowl II
The second AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida....
. Adderley was a major factor in the Packers' Super Bowl II win over the Oakland Raiders, intercepting a pass by Raiders quarterback Daryle Lamonica
Daryle Lamonica
Daryle Pat Lamonica is a former American collegiate and professional football quarterback who played in the American Football League, and later in the NFL....
in the fourth quarter and returning it 60 yards for a touchdown to put the game away. This was the first Super Bowl touchdown on an intercepted pass. After joining the Cowboys, Adderley became a vital cog in Dallas' "Doomsday Defense
Doomsday Defense
The Doomsday Defense was the nickname given to the famous defense of the Dallas Cowboys American football team during the dynasty years of the late 1960s - 1970s...
," assisting the Cowboys to a Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V was an American football game played on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1970 regular season...
and a championship win in Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 regular season...
.
Adderley was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in the summer of 1973 but instead of reporting to the team, he retired on August 7.
Along with two former Packer teammates - Fuzzy Thurston and Forrest Gregg
Forrest Gregg
Alvis Forrest Gregg is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. During a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career, he was a part of six championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in...
- Adderley is one of only three players in pro football history to play on six World Championship teams. However, in a revised edition of Instant Replay, a memoir by former Packer teammate Jerry Kramer
Jerry Kramer
Gerald Louis "Jerry" Kramer is a former professional football player, author and sports commentator, best remembered for his 11-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers as an offensive lineman...
, Adderley is quoted as saying, "I'm the only man with a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl ring who doesn't wear it. I'm a Green Bay Packer."
In his 12 NFL seasons, Adderley recorded 48 interceptions, which he returned for 1,046 yards and seven touchdowns, an average of 21.8 yards per return. He also recovered 14 fumbles (returning them for 65 yards) and returned 120 kickoffs for 3,080 yards and two scores.
Post-NFL
After Adderley retired, he went back to Philadelphia to broadcast football games for Temple UniversityTemple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
and the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He also coached as an assistant at Temple and with the Philadelphia Bell
Philadelphia Bell
The Philadelphia Bell was a franchise in the World Football League, which operated in 1974 and a portion of a season in 1975. The Bell played their home games at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. The team logo was a representation of the Liberty Bell....
of the World Football League
World Football League
The World Football League was a short-lived gridiron football league that played in 1974 and part of 1975. Although the league's proclaimed ambition was to bring American football onto a worldwide stage, the farthest the WFL reached was placing a team – the Hawaiians – in Honolulu, Hawaii. The...
.
On August 2, 1980 Adderley was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
. He was also chosen for the AFL-NFL 1960-1984 All-Star teams.
External links
- Pro Football Hall of Fame: Member profile
- Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame: Member profile
- The Pennsylvania Football News All-Century Teamhttp://www.msu.edu/~ques/charter.html
- Herb Adderley football cards