Dave Robinson
Idon'ttrytohurtanyoneoutthere...buttheharderyouhitamaninthefirstperiod,themoreyouslowhimdowninthefourthperiod.
Dave Robinson joined the Green Bay Packers as the team’s first-round pick out of Penn State in the 1963 NFL Draft. For the next 10 seasons in Green Bay, he was a big-play performer from his linebacker spot as the Packers became one of the most dominant dynasties in NFL history.
He established himself as among the finest linebackers in the game during a career that spanned 12 seasons, including two final years with the Washington Redskins in 1973-74. In all, he intercepted 27 passes that he returned for 449 yards and one touchdown.
Robinson maintained a consistently high level of play but competed for national acclaim with many great defensive stars, including numerous future Hall of Famers on the Packers' roster. He was named All-NFL three consecutive years (1967-69) and voted to three Pro Bowls as Green Bay dominated the league. In addition, he was named second-team All-Pro in 1968 and 1969 and was voted All-Western Conference three times (1966-68).
At 6’3”, 245 pounds, he possessed great strength but was also extremely agile. He started at left outside linebacker in three NFL championship victories and two Super Bowl wins. He contributed three tackles in Green Bay’s 35-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I and had two tackles, five assisted tackles, one fumble recovery and a pass defensed in Super Bowl II as the Packers downed the Oakland Raiders 33-14.
Robinson suffered a severe Achilles tendon injury in 1970 that limited him to four games. He rebounded the following season and didn’t miss a game for the Packers in 1971 and 1972 before moving on to Washington. He recorded four interceptions during his first season with Washington. His lone interception return for a touchdown during his career came against the New York Giants on Oct. 14, 1973, when he picked off a Norm Snead pass and ran it back 28 yards for a score in fourth quarter to seal the Redskins’ 21-3 victory.
Robinson played in a total of 155 regular-season games during his career and was voted to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s.
