Forrest Gregg, 7-time All-Pro and 9-time Pro Bowler, has passed away at his home in Colorado Springs, Co. Gregg played for the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys for 15 seasons.

Not many people my age will remember Forrest Gregg, but for folks like my Dad, he was an American hero. At 6’4 and 250 lbs, Gregg was one of the hardest-working athletes to ever strap on the pads and a leader of the Packers’ dynasty in the 1960’s.

Some highlights of the “Iron Man’s” career include:

  • 6 NFL Championships (5 with GB & 1 with Dallas)
  • 7 All-Pro Seasons
  • 9 Pro Bowl Seasons
  • Started a then-NFL record 188 consecutive games
  • 1 of 4 players to win 6 NFL Championships

Vince Lombardi, popularly referred to as the greatest coach in the history of sports, had this to say about Gregg in his book Run to Daylight, “Forrest Gregg is the finest player I ever coached!”


(Photo: “Victory in the Mud” by Robert Riger)

Now that is a compliment that carries some weight!

After Gregg retired from playing, he went on to coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and the Packers for 4 seasons. He finished his NFL coaching run with a record of 75-85-1 and did lead the Bengals to Super Bowl XVI in 1981 where they lost to the San Francisco 49ers.

Notably, Forrest Gregg returned to his alma mater, Southern Methodist University, in 1988 to resurrect the program after receiving a “death penalty” from the NCAA for numerous recruiting violations.

Setting the standard for not only offensive linemen, but football players and athletes as a whole, today we lost one of the greatest ever.

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