HOF Profile: Dave Robinson
Vince Lombardi is considered one of the most legendary coaches in the NFL with him and Don Shula constantly one and two on the best coaches list. Lombardi would win 4 NFL Championships and the two first Super Bowls in his time as a head coach of the Green Bay Packers. He was so good that the NFL would name the trophy that he won twice after him. The Vince Lombardi Trophy is given out to the best team at the end of every year. Many would claim that the team that could be named the best team to ever step on a football field may just be the Lombardi Packers. With a total of 7 players in the Hall of Fame and 6 National Championships to their name the Lombardi Packers were almost unstoppable. With players like Tony Canadeo, Jim Taylor, Forest Gregg, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, Paul Hornung, and Willie Davis the Lombardi Packers were loaded. The only debate that rages on about these Lombardi Packers is how many of them should be in the Hall of Fame. With 7 of the 26 starters already in the Hall how many more should they let in the Hall. The Hall of Fame would say at least one more as they would elect the 8th Lombardi Packer into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Dave Robinson. The move to put Robinson into the Hall would mean that the entire left side of Lombardi’s defence has made it into the Hall of Fame. Robinson was the Left Outside Linebacker and will join Left Cornerback Herb Adderly and Left Defensive End Willie Davis in the Canton. It will be more evidence of Lombardi’s Packers being one of the best team’s of all time even if Jerry Kramer remains on the outside looking in.
As a member of “Lombardi’s Left Side” that has become famous for being the best defensive group in the league at the time. Along with Willie Davis and Herb Adderly Robinson would shut down offences throughout the 1960s. Robinson was a very athletic linebacker who would take on some of the best tight ends in the era. The NFL was moving into a new era in the 1960s when the passing game was taking over. As it began to become a legitimate alternative to the running game but the wide receivers were still not as important as today. Instead the teams would look to the tough men on the inside of the field. Tight ends like Dick Butkis and John Mackey were the stars of the passing game at that time. Dave Robinson was the man who would stop them as his physical play and athleticism made him a perfect coverage linebacker. With a total of 27 interceptions in his career Robinson was one of the most feared linebackers in the league. He would be a key part to a defence that was considered one of the best of the eras. It may have taken a long time for Robinson to get in to the Hall of Fame but he is finally in and he deserves it as the finally Hall of Fame member of “Lombardi’s Left Side.”
Dave Robinson, LB (1963-1974)
6’3” 245 lbs
Green Bay Packers (10 years)
27 INT
449 INT yds
1 TD
– 2 Time Super Bowl Champion (I, II)
– 3 Time NFL Champion (1965, 1966, 1967)
– 3 Time Pro Bowl Selection (1966-67, 1969)
– 1967 Pro Bowl MVP
– Also played with Washington Redskins
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