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Billy Howton dies at 95
Former Packers star and NFLPA founder Billy Howton dies in Houston at age 95.
Former Packers great Billy Howton dies at 95, leaving a legacy on the field and in player rights.
Billy Howton dies at 95 former Packers star and NFLPA pioneer
HOUSTON has confirmed the death of Billy Howton, a former Green Bay Packers star and early leader of the NFL Players Association. Howton died in Houston on Monday, according to an obituary. The Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home confirmed his passing on Friday.
Howton, born in 1930 in Littlefield, Texas, was a top receiver in the pre Super Bowl era. He became the Packers’ first 1,000-yard rookie in 1952 with 1,231 yards, led the league in receiving yards twice, and earned four Pro Bowls and two All-Pro selections. He still holds Green Bay’s single-game receiving yards record with 257 in a 1956 win over the Los Angeles Rams. When he retired in 1963, he was the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards and was later inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1974.
Off the field, Howton helped shape the NFLPA, attending every player rep meeting from 1956 to 1961 and serving as the organization’s first president in 1958. He pressed the league for pension and other post‑career benefits, a push that contributed to the pension plan established in 1959.
Key Takeaways
"He was a key figure in the NFLPA’s formation & a pioneer for player rights."
NFLPA statement after Howton's death
"Because of Billy’s advocacy as our first president, today’s players have a pension, disability benefits & a voice of their own in the business of football."
NFLPA statement after Howton's death
"For my money, Howton is the toughest pass receiver to cover in the National League."
Emlen Tunnell quote
Howton’s life reflects two threads that defined professional football’s early era: lasting on-field excellence and a quiet push for better treatment of players after retirement. His leadership helped turn a fringe group into an organized voice that could negotiate a pension and other benefits. That achievement did not come without risk or resistance, but it reshaped the league’s economics for generations of players.
Today’s game sits on the shoulders of players who fought for financial security long before the current era of salaries and sponsorships. Howton’s example shows how collective action can turn a sport into a more humane business, even as fans celebrate the game’s speed and spectacle.
Highlights
- He was a key figure in the NFLPA’s formation & a pioneer for player rights
- Because of Billy’s advocacy as our first president today’s players have a pension disability benefits & a voice of their own in the business of football
- For my money Howton is the toughest pass receiver to cover in the National League
- The pension plan followed his push for players to be cared for after football
His legacy goes beyond numbers and trophies, shaping how players are cared for after the final whistle.
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