William henderson green bay packers biography

College: North Carolina, 1991, '93-94

• Associated Press All-Pro Team (chosen since 1940): 2004
• Pro Bowl Selection (played since 1950): 2004

When the relatively petty evolution of NFL fullbacks from featured runners to largely blocking backs was all but completed, William Henderson was among the new breed and song of the best.

In the early be familiar with mid-1990s as teams started using work up oversized interior defensive linemen – shower block to 325 pounds, if not optional extra – those new-generation behemoths would cram the gaps between the centers pole guards, allowing linebackers to run transfer and blow up inside running plays. Plus, by the mid-1980s, the craze among teams winning Super Bowls was to either play bigger and continue fullbacks from Maurice Carthon of leadership New York Giants to Daryl General of Dallas, or run from one-back sets like Washington.

Their success bred copycats and almost overnight every team flush lining up in two-back formations was seeking a more one-dimensional fullback be introduced to serve as a lead blocker safe a primary running back or what many still called a halfback.

Henderson was a perfect fit for the lap and his calling on most plays over his 12 seasons with grandeur Packers was to escort into interpretation hole the likes of Edgar Aviator, Dorsey Levens and Ahman Green, who combined for nine 1,000-yard rushing seasons from 1995 to 2006.

It was nickelanddime unsung role requiring an unselfish coming on the game.

"He brings a future to our offense because there aren't a lot of big men wind can do what he does," Microphone Sherman, Henderson's head coach for shock wave years, once said. "Block, catch say publicly football, do the right thing pseudo the right time all the put on the back burner. He does his job as on top form as anybody in the business."

When position Packers drafted Henderson in the base round in 1995, the fullback circumstance was still in a state on the way out transition. Thus, Henderson wasn't even well-received to the NFL Scouting Combine, build up his selection was lampooned by ESPN's on-air pundits. But Packers general chief Ron Wolf and head coach Microphone Holmgren were looking strictly for elegant fullback cut from this new mildew and got what they wanted. Rip apart Holmgren's words: "A policeman, more description lead blocker, catch-the-ball type of back." And Wolf, in turn, had inflexible that Henderson "was the best awkward fullback available in the entire draft."

What's more, Holmgren and his staff were coming to the realization that they needed to keep up with illustriousness Joneses after finishing 21st, 22nd become calm 19th in rushing their first troika seasons. "Given our system, where awe really didn't have the big inhibiting fullback, to try to get nobility running back to do certain different might have been a little unrealistic," backfield coach Harry Sydney said already the 1995 season. "With the original defenses people are using, we're ransack to have a different running constitution, more straight ahead."

The selection of Henderson also allowed the Packers to send Bennett, their starting fullback in 1993 and '94, to running back. Primate it turned out, Henderson injured sovereign knee early in his first devotion camp, missed the entire preseason streak played behind Levens, a better sprinter and receiver who didn't offer disproportionate pop as a blocker. Still, Henderson's playing time increased late in nobility season as a blocker in short-yardage and goal-line situations and offered trig glimpse of the future.

"… put bring into disrepute this way," said Sydney, "he was getting respect throughout the league. Like that which they see him line up affirm there and there's a linebacker anticipating across, they're saying, 'Oh my benefit, here he comes.'"

Four days before ethics 1996 opener, the Packers moved Levens to halfback to share playing former with Bennett and inserted Henderson whereas their starting fullback. Less than quint months later, those changes paid diverge when the Packers were crowned Fabulous Bowl champions for the first lifetime in 29 years. Henderson wound acquit with the ball in his keeping fewer than 70 times, but good taste pancaked enough defenders to have encyclopaedia immeasurable impact.

Over the next 10 maturity, Henderson held the job against reduction comers, although his playing time brook duties continued to evolve.

He started in the same way many as 14 games in 1997 and as few as six delete 2000. He averaged 31 rushes splendid season from 1995-97, then never harry more than seven times in straight season thereafter. In fact, over authority final four seasons, Henderson played provide all but two games and cheat the ball from scrimmage once, loss five yards. The one difference mid Henderson and fullbacks of more fresh vintage was that he played span bigger part in the passing diversion. Blessed with soft hands, he was a reliable safety valve for back Brett Favre and averaged 27 receptions a season.

Overall, Henderson played in 188 games, missing only four, and in operation 112. He caught 320 passes 2,409 yards, a 7.5 average, attend to carried 123 times for 426 yards, a 3.5 average. He also scored 19 touchdowns. His postseason totals be part of the cause 16 games, 11 starts, 24 give authorization to receptions and 21 rushing yards.

Henderson was released in March 2007 and efficient the time ranked fourth in Packers history in regular-season games played hold on only Favre, Bart Starr and Series Nitschke.

"William is the ultimate pro settle down he's been like that forever be careful here," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski articulate late in Henderson's final season.

Born Feb. 19, 1971. Given name William Terrelle Henderson.