BOBBY DILLON

Bobby Dillon
6'1" 180
Safety
Green Bay Packers
1952 - 1959
8 Seasons
94 Games Played
52 Interceptions
976 Return Yards
5 Touchdowns
5 Pro Bowls




Bobby Dan Dillon was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1952 draft by the Green Bay Packers. He was the 28th player chosen overall. Dillon attended college at Texas University, where he was a All Southwest Conference and All American selection in 1951 as a defensive back. Bobby Dillon is inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor, and to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.


Bobby earned a starting job immediately for the Packers. He picked off 4 passes in his rookie year. Then he became even more of a nightmare to opposing teams in 1953, when he had 9 interceptions for 112 yards. He also scored the first touchdown of his career off of a 49 yard return of an interception. Dillon accomplished this despite playing in just 10 of the 12 games that year. 1954 saw Dillon snag 7 more balls for 11 yards, scoring another toudown as well. He was named to his first All Pro team that season. He was named to the All Pro team the next season after getting 9 interceptions for 153 yards. Dillon gained a career best 244 yards off of 7 interceptions in 1956, which also led the NFL. He scored another touchdown, and was named to the All Pro team. Bobby tied his career best mark of 9 interceptions in 1957. He scored a touchdown off of a 55 yard return in his 180 total yards, and was named to his fourth consecutive All Pro team. He earned his last All Pro honors in 1958, after picking off 6 balls for 134 yards. He also scored his fifth, and final, career touchdown. 1959 was the last year that Bobby Dillon played in the NFL. He had a lone interception that year, returning it 7 yards. He then retired at the end of the year. Bobby Dillon is still holds the Packers franchise record for career interceptions and interception return yardage. He is a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall Of Fame.


Bobby got a lot of early noteriety early in his career because he was blind in one eye. Since it is more than obvious this did not detract from his play, Dillon's exploits on the field are his real mark on the game. He averaged over 6 interceptions a year for his career. There are a few factors that may have kept Bobby from inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame. One is that he played on some bad Packers teams. The only season that he played on a winning team was his last, which also happened to be Vince Lombardi's first year in Green Bay. Another reason may be that he played just 8 seasons. Those detractors would get some argument from me on these facts. There is the obvious fact of the impact Bobby had on the gridiron. His amazing nose for the ball is not matched by many to have ever played the game. When he retired, he ranked 2nd all time in NFL history with his 52 interceptions That mark was tied by Jack Bulter of the Pittsburgh Steelers (a recent CCC profilee whose link is below), who also retired in 1959. Both are now presently tied with Hall of Famers Larry Wilson, Mel Renfro, as well as Ty Law and Jimmy Patton (another CCC profilee), for 23rd all time. There are only 4 safeties in NFL history with more interceptions than Bobby Dillon (Ronnie Lott's first five seasons were spent at cornerback). If you add these facts up, it eradicates the arguments of his teams record or his amount of seasons played. Bobby Dillon deserves his inductions into Canton.


Notable Players Drafted In 1952 (* Denotes Hall of Fame Member)

1. Billy Wade, QB, Los Angeles Rams
2. Les Richter, LB, Dallas Texans
3. Ollie Matson, RB, Chicago Cardinals *
4. Babe Parilli, QB, Green Bay
9. Hugh McElhenny, RB, San Francisco *
10. Bert Rechichar, DB, Cleveland
11. Frank Gifford, RB, NY Giants *
14. Gino Marchetti, DE, Dallas *
15. Billy Howton, WR, Green Bay
17. Jim Weatherall, DT, Philadelphia
21. Pete Brewster, WR, Chicago Cardinals
22. Bob Toneff, DT, San Francisco
29. Lum Snyder, OT, Pittsburgh
31. Al Dorow, QB, Washington
34. Yale Lary, DB, Detroit *
45. Pat Summerall, DE, Detroit (Noted Broadcaster)
46. Marion Campbell, DE, San Francisco
48. Ray Renfro, RB, Cleveland
49. Skeets Quinlan, RB, LA Rams
52. Dave Hanner, DT, Green Bay
56. Fred Williams, DT, Chicago Bears
66. Duane Putnam, G, LA Rams
68. Ed Brown, QB, Chicago Bears
80. Joe Fortunado, LB, Chicago Bears
89. Wayne Robinson, LB, Philadelphia
90. Bill Bishop, DT, Chicago Bears
100. Deral Teteak, G, Green Bay
103. Dick Alban, DB, Washington
123. Leo Sugar, DE, Chicago Cardinals
133. Sam Baker, K, LA Rams
134. Jim Mutscheller, TE, Dallas
212. Tommy O'Connell, QB, Chicago Bears
261. Jim David, DB, Detroit
313. Frank Fuller, DT, LA Rams