Packers Legend and Hall of Famer Willie Wood Passes Away at Age 83

A legendary figure in football history passed away Monday evening.

The Green Bay Packers announced that former safety Willie Wood died at the age of 83. The team revealed that Wood had been living in an assisted living facility while dealing with dementia.

Wood attended USC during his collegiate years, where he became the first African American quarterback to play in the Pac-12. Once his USC playing days were over, Wood joined the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1960, where he transitioned into a safety.

The position switch proved to be a wise one for Wood, and it benefitted the Packers. In Super Bowl I, Wood recorded an interception off Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson and returned it for 50 yards.

In his entire 12-year playing career with Green Bay, Wood was an eight-time Pro Bowler and earned First-Team All-Pro honors five times. He also recorded 48 interceptions, the second-most in franchise history.

Wood earned an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989, where he's one of 17 undrafted players to be enshrined in Canton.