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| No. 46 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Guard | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | (1913-10-05)October 5, 1913 Dinuba, California, U.S. | ||||
| Died | October 12, 1987(1987-10-12) (aged 74) San Luis Obispo, California, U.S. | ||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||
| Weight | 214 lb (97 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | Taft (CA) Union[1] | ||||
| College | San Francisco | ||||
| NFL draft | 1936: 1st round, 7th overall pick | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Willard Russell Letlow (October 5, 1913 – October 12, 1987) was an American professionalfootballguard who played professionally for theGreen Bay Packers of theNational Football League (NFL).
Letlow played his college career at theUniversity of San Francisco. Prior to the1936 NFL draft, college players were free agents that could sign with an NFL team; Letlow had signed with theChicago Cardinals prior to the draft. Subsequently, he was chosen by theGreen Bay Packers as their first-round draft pick in the inaugural1936 NFL draft.[2] After being drafted by Green Bay, he was released by the Cardinals.[3]
In Letlow's rookie season, the Packers won their fourth NFL Championship (and firstchampionship game). Letlow played for the Packers from 1936 to 42, and again in 1946. He was selected as an All-Pro for four straight seasons from 1937 to 1940. He played in 71 career games while starting in 30 of them. He was named to the All-Star game, the predecessor to the Pro Bowl in 1938 and 1939. He went into the Navy in 1943, being named to the All-Service team in 1943 and 1944. He returned to the Packers for one more season in 1946.
Letlow was inducted into theGreen Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1972.[4] Letlow is one of ten players that were named to theNational Football League 1930s All-Decade Team that have not been inducted into thePro Football Hall of Fame.