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Epoch Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Epoch Times
Packers Star Billy Howton, Believed to Have Been the Oldest Living NFL Player, Dies at 95
HOUSTON—Billy Howton, a former Green Bay Packers star regarded as one of the most productive wide receivers of the pre-Super Bowl era who was a founder and the first president of the NFL Players Association, has died. He was 95. Howton died in Houston on Monday, according to an obituary. Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home confirmed his death on Friday.
New York Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Ex-Packer Billy Howton, believed to have been NFL's oldest living player, dead at 95
HOUSTON — Billy Howton, a former Green Bay Packers star regarded as one of the most productive wide receivers of the pre-Super Bowl era who was a founder and the first president of the NFL Players Association, has died. He was 95. Howton died in Houston on Monday, according to an obituary. Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home confirmed his death on Friday. Howton was born in Littlefield, Texas, in 1930. He was believed to have been the oldest living NFL player. '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.' 3 Billy Howton is pictured in 1958 after a conference on the feasibility of a player pension plan. AP Howton scored the Packers' first receiving touchdown at Lambeau Field in 1957. He was a second-round selection by the Packers in 1952 and became the first NFL rookie with a 1,000-yard receiving season after recording 1,231 yards that year. He led the league in receiving yards twice, was named to four Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro. He holds Green Bay's single-game franchise record with 257 receiving yards in a 1956 game against the Los Angeles Rams, and when he retired in 1963, he was the NFL's all-time leading receiver in receptions (503) and receiving yards (8,459). He was inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame in 1974. 'For my money, Howton is the toughest pass receiver to cover in the National League,' Hall of Fame safety Emlen Tunnell said before the 1958 season, which was Howton's last with the Packers. 3 Billy Howton is pictured in 1956. The Enthusiast Network via Getty Images 3 Billy Howton is pictured in 1961. AP After seven years in Green Bay, Howton was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1959 and then to Dallas as a member of the Cowboys' inaugural team in 1960. He spent the rest of his career there, playing for coach Tom Landry with quarterbacks Eddie LeBaron and Don Meredith. Howton was a consistent presence in the NFLPA during its early years and attended every player rep meeting between 1956 and 1961. He represented the Packers at the first NFLPA meeting in 1956 and brought with him a list of four grievances that famously included a need for clean towels, shirts and jock straps for second practices — when NFL teams held two practices a day. He was elected as the organization's first president in 1958 and threatened to bring an antitrust suit against the NFL if it didn't establish a pension plan for retired players. The league's pension plan was subsequently created in 1959. Howton was an All-American in college at Rice and is a member of the Rice Hall of Fame. He is survived by his three children, Karin, Kimberly and William.
NBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- NBC News
Packers star Billy Howton, believed to have been the oldest living NFL player, dies at 95
Billy Howton, a former Green Bay Packers star regarded as one of the most productive wide receivers of the pre-Super Bowl era who was a founder and the first president of the NFL Players Association, has died. He was 95. Howton died in Houston on Monday, according to an obituary. Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home confirmed his death on Friday. Howton was born in Littlefield, Texas, in 1930. He was believed to have been the oldest living NFL player. Howton scored the Packers' first receiving touchdown at Lambeau Field in 1957. He was a second-round selection by the Packers in 1952 and became the first NFL rookie with a 1,000-yard receiving season after recording 1,231 yards that year. He led the league in receiving yards twice, was named to four Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro. He holds Green Bay's single-game franchise record with 257 receiving yards in a 1956 game against the Los Angeles Rams, and when he retired in 1963, he was the NFL's all-time leading receiver in receptions (503) and receiving yards (8,459). He was inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame in 1974. 'For my money, Howton is the toughest pass receiver to cover in the National League,' Hall of Fame safety Emlen Tunnell said before the 1958 season, which was Howton's last with the Packers. After seven years in Green Bay, Howton was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1959 and then to Dallas as a member of the Cowboys' inaugural team in 1960. He spent the rest of his career there, playing for coach Tom Landry with quarterbacks Eddie LeBaron and Don Meredith.
Fox Sports
4 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Billy Howton, Believed To Have Been Oldest Ex-NFL Player, Dies At 95
Green Bay Packers Billy Howton, Believed To Have Been Oldest Ex-NFL Player, Dies At 95 Updated Aug. 8, 2025 1:38 p.m. ET share facebook x reddit link Billy Howton, a former Green Bay Packers star regarded as one of the most productive wide receivers of the pre-Super Bowl era who was a founder and the first president of the NFL Players Association, has died. He was 95. Howton died in Houston on Monday, according to an obituary. Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home confirmed his death on Friday. Howton was born in Littlefield, Texas, in 1930. He was believed to have been the oldest living NFL player. Howton scored the Packers' first receiving touchdown at Lambeau Field in 1957. He was a second-round selection by the Packers in 1952 and became the first NFL rookie with a 1,000-yard receiving season after recording 1,231 yards that year. He led the league in receiving yards twice, was named to four Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro. He holds Green Bay's single-game franchise record with 257 receiving yards in a 1956 game against the Los Angeles Rams, and when he retired in 1963, he was the NFL's all-time leading receiver in receptions (503) and receiving yards (8,459). He was inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame in 1974. "For my money, Howton is the toughest pass receiver to cover in the National League," Hall of Fame safety Emlen Tunnell said before the 1958 season, which was Howton's last with the Packers. ADVERTISEMENT After seven years in Green Bay, Howton was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1959 and then to Dallas as a member of the Cowboys' inaugural team in 1960. He spent the rest of his career there, playing for coach Tom Landry with quarterbacks Eddie LeBaron and Don Meredith. Howton was an All-American in college at Rice and is a member of the Rice Hall of Fame. Reporting by The Associated Press. share
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
Packers star Billy Howton, believed to have been the oldest living NFL player, dies at 95
Published Aug 08, 2025 • 1 minute read FILE - Billy Howton of the Green Bay Packers in Philadelphia, on Jan. 27, 1958, after a conference on the feasibility of a player pension plan. Photo by Bill Ingraham / AP Billy Howton, a former Green Bay Packers star regarded as one of the most productive wide receivers of the pre-Super Bowl era who was a founder and the first president of the NFL Players Association, has died. He was 95. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Howton died in Houston on Monday, according to an obituary. Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home confirmed his death on Friday. Howton was born in Littlefield, Texas, in 1930. He was believed to have been the oldest living NFL player. Howton scored the Packers' first receiving touchdown at Lambeau Field in 1957. He was a second-round selection by the Packers in 1952 and became the first NFL rookie with a 1,000-yard receiving season after recording 1,231 yards that year. He led the league in receiving yards twice, was named to four Pro Bowls and was a two-time All-Pro. He holds Green Bay's single-game franchise record with 257 receiving yards in a 1956 game against the Los Angeles Rams, and when he retired in 1963, he was the NFL's all-time leading receiver in receptions (503) and receiving yards (8,459). He was inducted into the Packer Hall of Fame in 1974. 'For my money, Howton is the toughest pass receiver to cover in the National League,' Hall of Fame safety Emlen Tunnell said before the 1958 season, which was Howton's last with the Packers. After seven years in Green Bay, Howton was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 1959 and then to Dallas as a member of the Cowboys' inaugural team in 1960. He spent the rest of his career there, playing for coach Tom Landry with quarterbacks Eddie LeBaron and Don Meredith. Howton was an All-American in college at Rice and is a member of the Rice Hall of Fame. Toronto Blue Jays Tennis Editorials Ontario Columnists
