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LB
"I don't try to hurt anyone out there...but the harder you hit a man in the first period, the more you slow him down in the fourth period.
(Penn State)...6'3'', 245...Richard David Robinson ... Drafted in 1st round by Packers in NFL; 3rd round by Chargers in AFL, 1963 … Big-play performer on Packers dynasty … Started OLB in three straight NFL championship wins, 1965-67 and Super Bowl I and II victories … Intercepted 27 passes for 449 yards, 1 TD … All-Pro second-team in 1968-69 … First-team All-NFL, 1967-69 … Three Pro Bowls … Named to NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s … Born May 3, 1941 in Mt. Holly, New Jersey.
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 ten 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 which he returned for 449 yards and one touchdown.
Robinson maintained a consistently high level of play but competed for national notoriety with many great defensive stars including numerous future Hall of Famers on the Packers roster. He was named All-NFL three straight years from 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 then 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 just four games. He rebounded the following season and didn’t miss a game for the Packers in 1971 and 1972 before moving on to the Redskins. 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.
Championship Games
1965 NFL – Green Bay Packers 23, Cleveland Browns 12 Robinson started at left outside linebacker. Defensive stats not available.
1966 NFL – Green Bay Packers 34, Dallas Cowboys 27 Robinson started at left outside linebacker. He had two tackles and four assists.
1967 NFL – Green Bay Packers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17 Robinson started at left outside linebacker. Defensive stats not available.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl I – Green Bay Packers 35, Kansas City Chiefs 10 Robinson started at left outside linebacker. He had three tackles.
Super Bowl II – Green Bay Packers 33, Oakland Raiders 14 Robinson started at left outside linebacker. He had two tackles, five assists, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed.
All-Pro Second Team: 1968 (PFWA) • 1969 (HOF, PFWA, NEA)
All-NFL: 1967 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY) • 1968 (UPI, NEA, NY) • 1969 (AP, UPI, NEA, PW, NY) All-NFL Second Team: 1968 (AP) All-Western Conference: 1966 (SN) • 1967 (SN) • 1968 (SN)
(3) – 1967, 1968, 1970
• 1970s NFL All-Decade Team
Full Name: Richard David Robinson
Birthdate: May 3, 1941
Birthplace: Mt. Holly, New Jersey
High School: Moorestown (NJ)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: February 2, 2013 Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: August 3, 2013 Other Members of Class of 2013: Larry Allen, Cris Carter, Curley Culp, Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcells, Warren Sapp
Pro Career: 12 seasons, 155 games
Drafted: 1st round (14th player overall) in 1963 NFL Draft by Green Bay
Uniform Number: 89