Billy Howton, perhaps the last of the original superstars of professional football, died Monday in Houston at the age of 95. He was a true giant of the history of the Green Bay Packers. He continued to do well within the sport and left behind an incredible legacy including being an All-American athlete at Rice University. His ideas live on in football at both the college and professional levels today.
Born in Littlefield, Texas, in 1930, Howton became a star at Rice, where he earned All-American accolades. His impressive collegiate career earned him induction to Rice’s Hall of Fame. This accomplishment put the finishing touch on his legacy as one of the greatest athletes in school history. After college, he strode boldly onto the professional stage. There, he immediately stood out for his speed and route-running ability with impressive skills as a wide receiver.
Howton’s professional career was spent with the Green Bay Packers for seven years. In the meantime, he developed into one of the most productive receivers in the league. He went on to lead the league in receiving yards twice and earn four Pro Bowl selections over his career. Further, on two separate occasions Howton received All-Pro recognition. His accomplishments on the field were acknowledged when he was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1974.
In 1959, Howton was traded to the Cleveland Browns and took his professional career to the NFL. He went on to be a member of the original Dallas Cowboys team that joined the NFL in 1960. He was the last remaining tie to the Cowboys glory days, having played for coach Tom Landry. He was a backup to star quarterbacks Eddie LeBaron and Don Meredith. It was a second act of his career that only further revealed his mastery—one that only deepened his already otherworldly legacy.
Howton was universally respected not just for what he did on the field, but the way he played through pain and eventually tragedy with unflinching resolve and determination. That’s a significant statement from a fellow player, Emlen Tunnell. Add Morgan’s assessment: “For my money, Howton is the most difficult pass receiver to defend in the National League. It was an appropriate and poetic statement of the respect and admiration he earned from fellow players all the years he played.
At the time of his death, Howton was the youngest living NFL player. His unprecedented longevity and continued impact indelibly shaped the narrative of the sport’s history. Fans and fellow players will always remember his play-making contributions to the game of football. His contributions will be felt for generations to come.
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