Henry Jordan

Henry Wendell Jordan (January 26, 1935 – February 21, 1977) spent 13 seasons as a defensive tackle in the NFL, suiting up for the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers. He played college ball at the University of Virginia and was picked in the fifth round of the 1957 NFL draft. His pro career ran from 1957 to 1969, and he was later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Born in Emporia, Virginia, Jordan graduated from Warwick High School in Newport News in 1953. There, he stood out as a leader, serving multiple terms as class president, and excelled in academics and athletics. He earned letters in football, track, and wrestling, was a football co-captain, and received All-Tidewater, All-Eastern District, and honorable mention All-State honors. In wrestling, he won the State AAU Heavyweight Championship as a junior. A college scholarship fund in his name was created in 1985 for a graduating Warwick senior, and in 2008 the Henry Jordan Memorial Scholarship Fund was formally set up with the Peninsula Community Foundation of Virginia to provide annual awards.

At the University of Virginia, Jordan earned a Bachelor of Science in commerce in 1957. He made the Dean’s list, served as vice-president of his graduating class, and was named Distinguished Military Student of 1957. He captained the football team as a senior, earning All-State and All-ACC honors. He was also an All-American wrestler in 1957—UVA’s first—won the ACC championship in the unlimited weight division, and was the NCAA runner-up at the 1957 wrestling championships. He belonged to the Beta chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity.

The Cleveland Browns selected Jordan 52nd overall in the 1957 draft. He played in every game his first two seasons but didn’t start any. After two years, the Browns traded him to the Green Bay Packers for a fourth-round pick, just as Vince Lombardi took over. Jordan played for Green Bay from 1959 to 1969, becoming a key piece of five championship teams. In 1959, Lombardi started him in all 12 games at right defensive tackle. The next year, he started at both tackle spots, racking up 7.5 sacks and five fumble recoveries, earning first-team All-Pro nods from the AP and UPI and a Pro Bowl selection. The Packers reached the 1960 NFL Championship but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 17–13.

In 1961, the Packers won the NFL title, beating the New York Giants 37–0 with Jordan starting at right tackle. He posted 8.5 sacks that season, was named first-team All-Pro by the AP, UPI, and NEA, and made another Pro Bowl. Green Bay repeated as champions over the Giants in 1962, with Jordan at right tackle. He recorded 8.5 sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery, earning first-team All-Pro from the AP and second-team honors from the NEA and UPI. He made the Pro Bowl again in 1963 and was first-team All-Pro by all three major selectors. In 1964, he was first-team All-Pro by the AP and UPI. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 1966 and was second-team All-Pro by the AP, NEA, and UPI. He had five sacks in 1965, 6.5 in 1966, and 7.5 in 1967.

With Jordan starting, the Packers won NFL championships in 1965, 1966 (where he had a sack), and 1967. They also won the first two Super Bowls, with Jordan starting both: on January 15, 1967, he had 1.5 sacks, and on January 14, 1968. In Super Bowl I against the Kansas City Chiefs, his hit on quarterback Len Dawson led to a key interception by Willie Wood. Before the 1967 title game and Super Bowl, the Packers beat the Los Angeles Rams 28–7 in the division playoff; the Rams were 11–1–2 and favored. Jordan had 3.5 sacks against future Hall of Fame guard Tom Mack. He retired after the 1969 season due to injuries.

Jordan was elected to four Pro Bowls (1960, 1961, 1963, 1966) and was the Pro Bowl MVP in 1961. He earned All-NFL honors six times and was a defensive leader on a Packers team that won five of six NFL title games in eight seasons and the first two Super Bowls. One of his most famous quips: “Lombardi treats us all the same, like dogs.”

He was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 and the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1975. In 1995, he was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. At the coin toss for Super Bowl XXIX, former teammate Ray Nitschke represented him. In 2000, Warwick High School’s athletics field was named in his honor. In May 2009, he was named to the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame.