It was a long wait, but former Green Bay Packers linebacker Dave Robinson is finally a Hall of Famer.
Robinson, who was a senior committee nominee, joins Cowboys tackle Larry Allen; Eagles and Vikings receiver Cris Carter; Giants, Patriots and Cowboys coach Bill Parcells; Ravens tackle Jonathan Ogden; Buccaneers and Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp; and Chiefs, Oilers and Lions defensive lineman Curly Culp, the second senior committee nominee, in the class of 2013.
Robinson was the Packers first-round selection in 1963 and played in Green Bay until 1972. He played his final two seasons with Washington.
During Robinson’s Packers tenure, he was a three-time Pro Bowler and a first-team All Pro in 1967. Robinson is also a member of the NFL’s All-Decade team of the 1960s and a three-time NFL champion.
He’ll join the guy he played alongside of in Green Bay — Ray Nitschke — in the Hall of Fame. Those two, along with Lee Roy Caffey formed one of the greatest linebacking corps in NFL history.
Ironically, a lot of people believe that’s what kept Robinson out of the Hall of Fame for so many years. Not only was he surrounded by great players on those Vince Lombardi-coached teams and often overshadowed by Nitschke, but there’s a perceived Packers fatigue among Hall of Fame voters.
Ten players from those Lombardi teams are already in the Hall of Fame. Robinson makes it 11 and deservedly so.
Let’s get jerry in!
I live about 1 hour from Penn State and have been a Dave Robinson fan forever. Got to meet him in Green Bay when we came up for training camp a few years ago. Great player and great person. Had a real good conversation with him. And Jerry Kramer is way overdue! Lets get him in neXt!
One down, one to go. Such a shame this guy has had to wait this long. Best LB to play football in the 60’s.
Good for Dave, but Jerry Kramer’s absence from the HOF is still astonishing and mysterious. The greatest offensive guard of his generation, maybe the best OL of his generation, and still maybe one of the best 3-4 guards in NFL history. Mind blowing.