Hall of Fame DB Wood, 83, dies
Willie Wood, the Hall of Fame defensive back who won five NFL championships with the Packers under coach Vince Lombardi and made the first interception in Super Bowl history, died Monday. He was 83.
After being undrafted out of USC, Wood sent postcards to several NFL teams seeking a tryout. He signed as a free agent with the Packers and played safety for them from 1960-71.
Wood had a key interception in the first Super Bowl, returning it 50 yards to set up a third quarter touchdown that sealed the Packers' 35-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in 1967.
“The Green Bay Packers family lost a legend,” Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy said. “Willie's success story, rising from an undrafted rookie free agent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is an inspiration to generations of football fans.”
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