William Henry Cottrell (September 18, 1944 – March 20, 2025) was an American professionalfootballoffensive lineman who played five seasons in theNational Football League (NFL) for theDetroit Lions andDenver Broncos. He playedcollege football for theDelaware Valley Aggies and signed with the Lions as anundrafted free agent in 1966. After a season with theRichmond Rebels of theContinental Football League (COFL), he played for the Lions from 1967 to 1970, later joining theDenver Broncos for the 1972 season. He appeared in a total of 63 games in the NFL and was the league's first blackcenter.

Bill Cottrell

Cottrell with the Lions
No. 70, 52, 66
Position:	Tackle guard center
Personal information
Born:	(1944-09-18)September 18, 1944 Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died:	March 20, 2025(2025-03-20) (aged 80)
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	255 lb (116 kg)
Career information
High school:	Chester
College:	Delaware Valley (1962–1965)
Career history
Detroit Lions (1966–1971) →Richmond Rebels (1966) Denver Broncos (1972)
Career NFL statistics
Games played: 63 Games started: 10 Stats atPro Football Reference

Cottrell was born on September 18, 1944, inChester, Pennsylvania.^[1] He had four sisters and two brothers, includingTed, who also played professionalfootball.^[1][2] He attendedChester High School where he played football as alineman, but was an "unheralded" player due to Chester's poor records.^[2] He played in the midst of Chester posting a 32-game losing streak, and as asenior, when Chester went 0–9, Cottrell was only named honorable mention all-county.^[3][4] After high school, he attendedDelaware Valley College.^[4]

Cottrell attended Delaware Valley from 1962 to 1965, playing for theAggies football team in his last three years.^[5] He was a top player at Delaware Valley, a small school, and "played just about every line position" in his time there.^[2] He played with his brother for the Aggies and, as a senior, was selected both the team'smost valuable player and most inspirational player.^[6] He was the teamcaptain in football and also competed intrack and field, being captain of the track team as well.^[6] Specializing in theshot put, he set the school record and broke it several times, finishing with a mark of 49 ft, 10 and 1/2 inches.^[7] At Delaware Valley, Cottrell was noted for his size (standing at 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) and 266 pounds (121 kg)) but also impressed with his speed; a coach said that Cottrell had been timed at 10.3-10.5 seconds in the100-yard dash and 5.7 in the50-yard dash.^[7]

Cottrell received interest from both theDetroit Lions of theNational Football League (NFL) and theNew York Jets of theAmerican Football League (AFL).^[6] OneBLESTO scout described him as "one of the best linemen I've seen this year."^[7] He was not selected in the1966 NFL draft, but afterwards signed with the Lions as anundrafted free agent.^[7] He played with the team in preseason but was released before the regular season and sent to theRichmond Rebels of theContinental Football League (COFL).^[7] Cottrell explained that "They told me the problem was that I'd come from a small school and the biggest men I ever faced were only 225 pounds. In the big leagues, the guys you face are not only much bigger, but a lot quicker and smarter."^[7] He appeared in 11 of 14 games for the Rebels in the 1966 season, as the team compiled a record of 4–10.^[8]

After the 1966 season, Cottrell trained withBob Brown andLane Howell of thePhiladelphia Eagles.^[7] He returned to the Lions camp in 1967 and made the final roster, starting out as a backup andspecial teams player.^[7] He became the first NFL player from Chester High School as well as the first from Delaware Valley College.^[9][10] He said that that year, he often stayed at the team's facilities for an hour after practice had ended, practicing alone or watching film of opponents.^[7] He had made the team atcenter, but in the second game of the season was thrust into the starting lineup attackle.^[7] He ended up appearing in all 14 games for the Lions in 1967, 10 as a starter, with the team compiling a record of 5–7–2.^[11]

In 1968, Cottrell appeared in the filmPaper Lion, based onGeorge Plimpton's tryout with the Lions.^[7] He returned in 1968 and appeared in all 14 games, none as a starter.^[5] He was mainly used on special teams in 1969 and helped the Lions to a 9–4–1 record and a second-place conference finish.^[12][13] He played in 10 games as a backup in 1970, missing some time due to injury.^[5][14] He was oninjured reserve during the 1971 season and then was released in 1972.^[15] After being released by the Lions, he signed with theDenver Broncos in September 1972.^[16] He played in 11 games for the Broncos and did not return in 1973, ending his football career.^[5] He had signed a three-year contract with the Broncos, but at the end of his first season with them decided to retire from the sport to spend more time with his family.^[17]

Cottrell finished having appeared in 63 NFL games, 10 as a starter.^[5] He holds the distinction of having been the NFL's first black center.^[18] Jim Acho, an NFL Alumni attorney, told theDetroit Free Press that "In the 1960s in pro football, the positions up the middle –quarterback, center andmiddle linebacker – were reserved for white players because they were 'thinking man's' positions. It wasn't until Bill Cottrell, who was extremely smart, that it was thought that black players could play center. He was the first."^[18]

Cottrell was a member of theFellowship of Christian Athletes and during his career with the Lions, helped organize chapel services.^[19] He had started working forChrysler in labor relations during his football career, and in 1973 left to work forFord Motor Company, becoming a personnel supervisor at Ford's Woodhaven Stamping Plant.^[17] He was married to Urline Cottrel, and had a son and a daughter.^[17] Cottrell died on March 20, 2025,^[20] at the age of 80.^[18]

• Black players in professional American football