Bill Willis

Encyclopedia : B : BI : BIL : Bill Willis

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[] at NFL.comWilliam Karnet Willis (born October 5, 1921 in Columbus, Ohio) is a former professional football defensive lineman who played for the Cleveland Browns from 1946 to 1953.

Willis was one of the first African American football players to play professional football. He was signed to a contract with the Browns a full year before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

He was selected for the Pro Bowl in 1950, 1951, and 1952, and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. He is a graduate of the Ohio State University.

External links

• [Bill Willis] at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• [College Football Hall of Fame bio]
• [Class of 1977]
• [Pro-Football-Reference.com] - career statistics

National Football League | NFL's 1940s All-Decade Team

Sammy Baugh | Sid Luckman | Bob Waterfield | Tony Canadeo | Bill Dudley | George McAfee | Charley Trippi | Steve Van Buren | Byron White | Pat Harder | Marion Motley | Bill Osmanski | Jim Benton | Jack Ferrante | Ken Kavanaugh | Dante Lavelli | Pete Pihos | Mac Speedie | Ed Sprinkle | Al Blozis | George Connor | Frank "Bucko" Kilroy | Buford "Baby" Ray | Vic Sears | Al Wistert | Bruno Banducci | Bill Edwards | Garrard "Buster" Ramsey | Bill Willis | Len Younce | Charley Brock | Clyde "Bulldog" Turner | Alex Wojciechowicz |

 

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