Adderley, Herbert A.
Football
b. June 8, 1939, Philadelphia, PA
As a rookie running back in the Green Bay Packers training camp in 1962, Adderley wasn't playing as well as expected. The coaching staff eventually found out that he wanted to play defense instead of offense.
The 6-foot, 200-pound Adderley had been an offensive star at Michigan State, the team's leading rusher in 1959, its leading receiver in 1959 and 1960. He was the Packers' first pick in the 1961 National Football League draft of college players.
Moved to defensive back, Adderley quickly became one of the best ever. He led the NFL in yards on interception returns in 1965 and 1969 and in touchdowns on interception returns in 1962 and 1965.
With the Packers from 1961 through 1969, he played on five NFL championship teams, in 1961 and 1962 and from 1965 through 1967. The team won the first two Super Bowls, and Adderley's 60-yard touchdown run on an interception return against Oakland in Super Bowl II was the first in Super Bowl history.
Traded to Dallas in 1970, Adderley played on two National Football Conference champions and another Super Bowl winner before retiring after the 1972 season. All told, he started in four of the first six Super Bowls and was on the winning team three times.
In his 12 seasons, Adderley returned 48 interceptions for 1,046 yards, a 21.8 average, and had 7 touchdowns. He also returned 120 kickoffs for 3,080 yards, a 25.7 average.