Other punters soon followed suit, and eventually the NFL had to change punt coverage rules to bring punt returns back into the game.
Donny Anderson is a member of the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame.
John Anderson, LB—1978—Selected 26th overall
6'3", 226 lbs.
Out of the University of Michigan, John Anderson was an Academic All-American. Born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, he couldn't have been happier to be drafted by the Packers.
Anderson was actually the second of Green Bay's two first-round picks (the first was James Lofton—more on him later). The pick was obtained from the Oakland Raiders in exchange for DT Mike McCoy.
A team leader on defense, Anderson had a solid 12-year NFL career, all with the Packers. He was a fixture at left outside linebacker, and retired as the Packers all-time leader in tackles and interceptions for a linebacker (25).
Although he was never named to a Pro Bowl, Anderson was named to the NFL's All-Decade team for the 1980s and is a member of the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame.
Fred Carr, LB—1968—Selected fifth overall
6'5", 238 lbs.
Out of the University of Texas—El Paso (UTEP), the 6'5" Fred "Freddy" Carr helped usher in the move to taller linebackers in the NFL. As Vince Lombardi's final first-round pick for the Packers, Carr was rated the best overall athlete in the 1968 draft.
With the Packers, Carr was originally tried at tight end and defensive end before settling in to his final position of outside linebacker, starting every game for the next eight years.
Carr's amazing athletic ability manifested itself in many ways. In high school, Carr was a national top-10 discus thrower.
In college, besides starting for UTEP football, Carr was a member of the 1966 NCAA Basketball champions from UTEP (then known as Texas Western College).
Although he didn't see much playing time as a sophomore on the basketball team, he did witness history. UTEP won the NCAA championship, beating legend Adolph Rupp's University of Kentucky team in the final game.
Coach Don Haskins broke racial barriers by being the first coach to start five African-American players in an NCAA championship game. This was the team that the movie "Glory Road" was based on.
For the Packers, Carr was a model of consistency. In his 10 years with Green Bay, Carr never missed a game. He had a nose for the ball, recovering 25 fumbles in his NFL career. He also blocked three field goals and two extra points.
Carr was named to the NFL Pro Bowl three times, and was voted the MVP of the 1971 Pro Bowl. Carr is a member of the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame.
Gale Gillingham, G—1966—Selected 13th overall
6'3", 255 lbs.
Out of the University of Minnesota, Gale Gillingham was the Packers' second of two first round draft choices in 1966 (the first was running back Jim Graboski, selected with the ninth pick).
Gillingham was drafted as the heir apparent at guard for Fuzzy Thurston and/or Jerry Kramer.
Gillingham was an early proponent of weight lifting, which was still uncommon at that time. His rookie season, he was a backup for Kramer and Thurston, and earned a Super Bowl ring.
Fuzzy Thurston retired and Gillingham took over his left guard spot for the 1967 season, when he helped the Packers earn their second Super Bowl win.
Gillingham would play 10 seasons for the Packers, earning Pro Bowl honors four times. In 1972, Coach Dan Devine made the dubious decision to convert Gillingham into a defensive tackle. He was injured in the first game and missed the rest of the season.
He came back next year at his normal offensive guard spot and played three more years. Gillingham is a member of the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame.
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