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Former Green Bay fullback John Brockington dies at 74 years old

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•03/31/23
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(Photo by George Gelatly/Getty Images)

Former Green Bay Packers fullback John Brockington died on Friday, the franchise announced on their website on Friday evening. He was 74 years old. Brockington was drafted by Green Bay with the ninth overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft and wasted little time, making an instant impact with the team.

Brockington rushed for 1,105 yards his rookie season, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, earning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He would go on to rush for more than 1,000 yards or more during his first three seasons, becoming the first NFL player to accomplish such a feat.

Check out the statement released on Twitter on Friday evening by Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy.

“The Packers family was saddened to hear about the passing of John. One of the great runners of his era, John was an exciting player to watch with his powerful running style. Fans enthusiastically welcome John back to Lambeau Field over the years, fondly remembering the 1972 division championship as well as the bright spots he provided in the less-successful seasons. I enjoyed getting to know John during his return visits to Green Bay and greatly respected his work in support of organ donation through the John Brockington Foundation. He leaves a wonderful legacy. We extend our condolences to his wife, Diane, and his family and friends,” Murphy wrote.

Former Packer teammates shared memories of Brockington on Friday, remembering him for his punishing running style. The Packers deployed him like a battering ram in the backfield, according to the team historian, Cliff Christi. In 1972 when the Packers won the division title, Brockington was Green Bay’s second leading receiver, hauling in 19 catches. Even with his punishing running style, he still played in every game during his first six seasons. He was named to three consecutive Pro Bowls from 1971-1973.

After his first three seasons, his stats started to dip considerably. He rushed for 883 yards in 1974 and then for no more than 434 yards in the two seasons he played under Bart Starr. Red Cochran, who was the running back coach under Vince Lombardi and under Dan Devine from 1971-1974, thought the coaching change was one of the biggest reasons for Brockington’s decline.

Once he hung up his cleats with the Packers, Brockington piled up 5,024 rushing yards, ranking him fourth all-time in Green Bay history. He was also inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1984. The gifted fullback left a remarkable legacy on the franchise.

During his college football career with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Brockington finished his senior season with 1,142 rushing yards, which was a Buckeyes’ single-season school record at the time. He also finished with 17 touchdowns that year. He was named to the Ohio State All-Century Team in 2000 and was also elected to the Varsity O Hall of Fame in 2002.