Hall of Fame

Willie Davis

  • Class
  • Induction
    1994
  • Sport(s)
    Football
  • Grambling State
Early Life & College
  • Willie Davis was born on July 24, 1934, in Lisbon, Louisiana.
  • He attended high school at Booker T. Washington High School in Texarkana, Arkansas, where he played football, basketball and baseball.
  • He went on to play college football at Grambling State University (then Grambling College) under legendary coach Eddie Robinson.
  • At Grambling, Davis served as team captain, was named to All-America honors among black colleges and graduated in 1956 with a B.S. in Math & Industrial Arts.
  • Pro Football Career
  • Davis was selected in the 15th (or 17th) round of the 1956 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns.
  • After military service delaying his start, he began his NFL career with the Browns in 1958-59.
  • In 1960 he joined the Green Bay Packers, where he became a foundational player for their 1960s dynasty under coach Vince Lombardi.
  • Highlights:
    • Five-time First-Team All-Pro (1962, 1964-67) and one Second-Team All-Pro (1963)
    • Played in five consecutive Pro Bowls (1963-67)
    • Won five NFL championships (1961, 1962, 1965-67) including the first two Super Bowls (I & II).
    • Although sacks weren’t official yet, he is often credited with over 100 career sacks and had 22 fumble recoveries.
Legacy & Off-Field Achievements
  • Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.
  • He pursued education earnestly, earning an MBA from the University of Chicago and later became a successful businessman—owning radio stations, serving on corporate boards (e.g., Dow Chemical, Sara Lee) and acquiring media interests
  • Recognized as a trailblazer: he was one of the earlier Black executives in broadcasting/business after his NFL career.
Impact at Grambling
  • At Grambling, Davis is remembered as one of the program’s great athletes who transitioned from an HBCU to professional greatness. The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) lists him among its “Football Legends”.
  • His success helped raise the profile of Grambling’s football program and of HBCU athletes in the professional ranks.