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

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.

He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1974. Howton was an All-American receiver at Rice, where he’s also in the school’s Hall of Fame and has his name in the stadium’s ring of honor. Despite all his success on the field, Howton may have been even more respected for his work off of it.

“Howton was a consistent presence in the NFLPA during its early years and attended every player rep meeting between 1956 and 1961,” the Associated Press wrote. “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 is survived by his sister Sylvia Baker. He is also survived by his three children. His family will hold a small, private ceremony to honor him.