Green Bay Packers legendary outside linebacker Dave Robinson will be the 22nd Packer player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Robinson will be the third and final member from hall of fame head coach Vince Lombardi's defensive left-side (starring Robinson, defensive end Willie Davis, and cornerback Herb Adderley) to be inducted into the Canton. Robinson is the 11th Lombardi-coached player to be inducted into Canton's Hall of Fame.
Born Richard David Robinson on May 3, 1941, Robinson was a prep football and basketball star at Mooretown High School (New Jersey). Robinson helped lead the football team to an undefeated record and a state championship in 1957, and the basketball team to back-to-back undefeated seasons and state championships in 1958 and 1959.
After high school, Robinson accepted a scholarship to play football at Penn State University. For the Nittany Lions, Robinson played offensive and defensive end. In 1962, Robinson was named College Player of the Year, College Lineman of the Year, and Gator Bowl MVP en route to All-American honors.
After college, Robinson was selected by the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League Draft, the San Diego Chargers in the third-round of the AFL Draft, and the Green Bay Packers in the first-round of the NFL Draft. Reportedly, Robinson was set to agree to a contract to play for the Chargers, but San Diego couldn't afford to sign the Penn State star.
Once Robinson agreed to a contract with the Packers, Lombardi moved Robinson from defensive end to outside linebacker. The 6'3, 245-pound Robinson was the Packers starting linebacker from 1964-1972, and Lee Roy Caffey, Ray Nitschke, and Robinson formed one of the greatest linebacker units in NFL history.
Robinson, a ferocious and fast outside linebacker, was known for being able to elevate the level of play in championship games.
In the 1966 NFL Championship versus the Dallas Cowboys, the Cowboys had possession of the football on Green Bay's own two-yard line, down by seven points. On fourth down and two, Robinson successfully pressured Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith and forced an interception by Packers safety Tom Brown.
The Packers won the game, 34-27, but Lombardi was reportedly angry with Robinson's "selfish" decision. Lombardi was a coach who stressed discipline, expected consistently excellent execution by his players. At the time, Lombardi was furious, but in later time, Lombardi reportedly praised Robinson's freelancing effort, as he said Robinson's blitz was the "game-winning play" of the 1966 NFL Championship game.
During the 1966 season, Robinson intercepted five passes—tied for the team lead with cornerback Bob Jeter. Robinson helped lead the Packers to victory in the first-ever Super Bowl after winning a second consecutive NFL title.
Before tearing his Achilles tendon in 1970, Robinson was selected to three Pro Bowls, named to three All-Pro teams, won three NFL titles, and was part of the first two Super Bowl Championship teams. After the Packers won their third and second consecutive NFL and Super Bowl titles, respectively, Robinson was named the 1967 Pro Bowl MVP.
Robinson played two more seasons in Green Bay before the Packers traded him to the Washington Redskins. In 1973, his first season in Washington, Robinson intercepted four passes and scored the only defensive touchdown of his NFL career. Shortly before the 1975 NFL season, Robinson retired from professional football.
In 155 career games and 12 NFL seasons, Robinson intercepted 27 passes and recovered 12 fumbles (tackles did not become an official statistic until 1975). Robinson was also named to the NFL's 1960's All-Decade Team.
As of Saturday, Robinson will be a member of three Hall of Fames—Green Bay Packers (1982), College Football (1997), and Pro Football (2013). Robinson was voted into the Hall of Fame this past February, along with Larry Allen, Curley Culp, Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcells, Cris Carter, and Warren Sapp.
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Tags: Bill Parcells, Cris Carter, Curley Culp, Dave Robinson, Football, Green Bay, Green Bay Packers, Jonathan Ogden, Larry Allen, Lee Roy Caffey, NFL, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Ray Nitschke, Vince Lombardi, Warren SappRelated Videos
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