DB / S
Bobby Dillon
Class of 2020
Career Interceptions
52
Games
94
Pro Bowls
4
Seasons
8
“It tickles me, after all this time, to still hold it (Packers’ career interception record). And I think it’ll be a long time before it’s broken, although with 16 league games, they have a better chance, where we had only 12. It gives them a third more opportunities.”
The Green Bay Packers selected Bobby Dillon out of Texas in the third round, 28th choice overall, of the 1952 NFL Draft. A dynamic playmaking safety, Dillon played in 94 games during his eight-season career.
Dillon became one of National Football League’s premier pass interceptors despite having lost an eye during a childhood accident. He was an instant star on defense for the Packers of the 1950s. He led the team with four interceptions, while starting all 12 games as a rookie. Dillon ended up leading the team in interceptions in every year except his final season. He was an instinctive ballhawk and registered nine interceptions in a season three times (1953, 1955, 1957) and seven picks twice (1954, 1956).
He picked off four passes in one game versus the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1953, which is still tied for the NFL record for most interceptions in a single game. Dillon’s playmaking abilities where on full display in 1956 when he led the NFL in interception return yardage with 244 yards and a 34.9 return average.
Dillon was voted to the first of four consecutive Pro Bowls (1956-59) following the 1955 season. He earned First-Team All-NFL honors five straight seasons (1954-58) and was selected All-NFL Second-Team four times (1953, 1954, 1956, 1959).
In all, Dillon, recorded 52 interceptions which he returned 976 yards for an incredible career average of 18.8 yards per interception return and five touchdowns. He ranked tied for second in career interceptions at time of his retirement and still holds the Packers record for career interceptions.
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Interceptions |
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Year |
Team |
G |
No. |
Yds. |
Avg. |
TD |
|
1952 |
Green Bay |
12 |
4 |
35 |
8.8 |
0 |
|
1953 |
Green Bay |
10 |
9 |
112 |
12.4 |
1 |
|
1954 |
Green Bay |
12 |
7 |
111 |
15.9 |
1 |
|
1955 |
Green Bay |
12 |
9 |
153 |
17.0 |
0 |
|
1956 |
Green Bay |
12 |
7 |
244 |
34.9 |
1 |
|
1957 |
Green Bay |
12 |
9 |
180 |
20.0 |
1 |
|
1958 |
Green Bay |
12 |
6 |
134 |
22.3 |
1 |
|
1959 |
Green Bay |
12 |
1 |
7 |
7.0 |
0 |
|
Career Total |
94 |
52 |
976 |
18.8 |
5 |
|
Additional Career Statistics: Punt Returns: 4-37
All-League Teams
All-NFL: 1954 (AP) · 1955 (AP, UPI, NEA, SN, NY) · 1956 (UPI, NEA, NY) · 1957 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY) · 1958 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY)
All-NFL Second Team: 1953 (NY) · 1954 (NY) · 1956 (AP) · 1959 (NY)
All-Western Conference: 1956 (SN) · 1957 (SN) · 1958 (SN)
Pro Bowls
(4) – 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959
Team Records
Packers records held by Dillon
(Records through the 1959 season, Dillon’s final season with Green Bay)
· [1st] Most Interceptions, Career – 52
· [1st] Most Interceptions, Game – 4 (vs. Detroit, Nov. 26, 1953)
· [1st] Most Interception Return Yards, Career – 976
· [1st] Most Interception Return Yards, Season – 244 (1956)
· [1st] Most Interceptions Returned for Touchdowns, Career – 5
· [Tied for 2nd] Most Interceptions, Season – 9 (1953, 1955, 1957)
League/Team Statistical Titles
Team Statistical Championships
Interception Leader: 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958
Year-by-Year Team Records
1952 Green Bay Packers.............. 6-6-0 (4th)
1953 Green Bay Packers.............. 2-9-1 (6th)
1954 Green Bay Packers.............. 4-8-0 (5th)
1955 Green Bay Packers.............. 6-6-0 (3rd)
1956 Green Bay Packers.............. 4-8-0 (5th)
1957 Green Bay Packers.............. 3-9-0 (6th)
1958 Green Bay Packers............ 1-10-1 (6th)
1959 Green Bay Packers.............. 7-5-0 (3rd)
(Division Finish in Parentheses)
Full Name: Bobby Dan Dillon
Birthdate: February 23, 1930
Birthplace: Temple, Texas
Died: August 22, 2019
High School: Temple (TX)
Pro Career: 8 seasons, 94 games
Drafted: 3rd round (28th overall) in 1952 by Green Bay Packers
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