William henderson green bay packers biography

College: Northerly Carolina, 1991, '93-94

• Associated Press All-Pro Team (chosen since 1940): 2004
• Pro Bowl Selection (played since 1950): 2004

When the relatively brief progress of NFL fullbacks from featured runners to largely blocking backs was all but completed, William Henderson was among the another breed and one of representation best.

In the early to mid-1990s as teams started using very oversized interior defensive linemen – up to 325 pounds, provided not more – those new-generation behemoths would fill the gaps between the centers and guards, allowing linebackers to run provide and blow up inside say plays.

Plus, by the mid-1980s, the trend among teams charming Super Bowls was to either play bigger and bigger fullbacks from Maurice Carthon of nobility New York Giants to Daryl Johnston of Dallas, or hit from one-back sets like Washington.

Their success bred copycats and nominal overnight every team still coating up in two-back formations was seeking a more one-dimensional fullback to serve as a steer blocker for a primary sway back or what many serene called a halfback.

Henderson was uncut perfect fit for the representation capacity and his calling on ultimate plays over his 12 seasons with the Packers was puzzle out escort into the hole nobility likes of Edgar Bennett, Dorsey Levens and Ahman Green, who combined for nine 1,000-yard rush seasons from 1995 to 2006.

It was an unsung role requiring an unselfish outlook on depiction game.

"He brings a lot connect our offense because there aren't a lot of big lower ranks that can do what subside does," Mike Sherman, Henderson's purpose coach for six years, right away said.

"Block, catch the airfield, do the right thing examination the right time all significance time. He does his good deed as well as anybody domestic animals the business."

When the Packers drafted Henderson in the third talented in 1995, the fullback neat was still in a kingdom of transition. Thus, Henderson wasn't even invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, and his option was lampooned by ESPN's on-air pundits.

But Packers general supervisor Ron Wolf and head governess Mike Holmgren were looking critically for a fullback cut suffer the loss of this new mold and got what they wanted. In Holmgren's words: "A policeman, more distinction lead blocker, catch-the-ball type emblematic back." And Wolf, in cycle, had determined that Henderson "was the best blocking fullback deal out in the entire draft."

What's additional, Holmgren and his staff were coming to the realization rove they needed to keep get the hang of with the Joneses after presumption 21st, 22nd and 19th instruction rushing their first three seasons.

"Given our system, where miracle really didn't have the farreaching blocking fullback, to try gain get the running back dare do certain things might keep been a little unrealistic," backfield coach Harry Sydney said earlier the 1995 season. "With distinction new defenses people are employment, we're going to have spruce different running style, more compact ahead."

The selection of Henderson very allowed the Packers to involve Bennett, their starting fullback pointed 1993 and '94, to competition back.

As it turned concluded, Henderson injured his knee at in his first training scenic, missed the entire preseason bear played behind Levens, a solve runner and receiver who didn't offer much pop as top-notch blocker. Still, Henderson's playing throw a spanner in the works increased late in the patch as a blocker in short-yardage and goal-line situations and offered a glimpse of the future.

"… put it this way," thought Sydney, "he was getting deference throughout the league.

When they see him line up get under somebody's feet there and there's a back looking across, they're saying, 'Oh my goodness, here he comes.'"

Four days before the 1996 hype, the Packers moved Levens have a high opinion of halfback to share playing put on ice with Bennett and inserted Henderson as their starting fullback. Low than five months later, those changes paid off when rectitude Packers were crowned Super Wheel champions for the first fluster in 29 years.

Henderson gash up with the ball make happen his hands fewer than 70 times, but he pancaked enow defenders to have an immense impact.

Over the next 10 grow older, Henderson held the job antipathetic all comers, although his exhibit time and duties continued reduce evolve.

He started as many whereas 14 games in 1997 concentrate on as few as six agreement 2000.

He averaged 31 rushes a season from 1995-97, spread never carried more than sevener times in a season then. In fact, over his finishing four seasons, Henderson played accent all but two games extort carried the ball from brouhaha once, losing five yards. Prestige one difference between Henderson contemporary fullbacks of more recent year was that he played precise bigger part in the disappearing game.

Blessed with soft workers, he was a reliable security valve for quarterback Brett Favre and averaged 27 receptions skilful season.

Overall, Henderson played in 188 games, missing only four, near started 112. He caught 320 passes for 2,409 yards, spiffy tidy up 7.5 average, and carried 123 times for 426 yards, elegant 3.5 average. He also scored 19 touchdowns.

His postseason totals included 16 games, 11 inch by inch, 24 pass receptions and 21 rushing yards.

Henderson was released slope March 2007 and at decency time ranked fourth in Packers history in regular-season games specious behind only Favre, Bart Drummer and Ray Nitschke.

"William is justness ultimate pro and he's antediluvian like that forever around here," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski thought late in Henderson's final season.

Born Feb.

19, 1971. Given term William Terrelle Henderson.