Legendary Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys WR Billy Howton dead at 95

by: Grant Grubbs 36 minutes ago grant_grubbs_

Legendary Green Bay Packers wide receiver Billy Howton has died, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter . He was 95 years old. Howton was a founder and the first president of the NFL Players Association.

“We are saddened by the passing of Billy Howton,” the NFLPA said in a post on X. “He was a key figure in the NFLPA’s formation & a pioneer for player rights. Because of Billy’s advocacy as our first president, today’s players have a pension, disability benefits & a voice of their own in the business of football.”

Howton is believed to have been the oldest living NFL player. He played 12 seasons in the NFL, spending time with the Packers (1952-58), Cleveland Browns (1959) and Dallas Cowboys (1960-63).

Howton didn’t waste anytime stamping his impact on the league. In his rookie season, he recorded 1,231 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, the most receiving touchdowns by a rookie in NFL history until Randy Moss passed the mark in 1998.

During his seven years in Green Bay, Howton led the Packers in receiving yards for six consecutive seasons (1952–57), led the league in receiving yards twice (1952 and 1956) and touchdown receptions once (1956). For his efforts, he was named a First-Team All-Pro twice and a four-time Pro Bowler.

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