The Green Bay Packers remain the only team in NFL history to have won three league titles in a row. Recently, the Kansas City Chiefs competed in Super Bowl LIX trying to win their third consecutive title, but were handily defeated by the Philadelphia Eagles. Green Bay previously won three championships in a row in 1929-1931 and again in 1965-1967. The last two, of course, were victories in Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II.
Vince Lombardi was the head coach of the final three-peat teams, and the players on those rosters are still revered by Packers fans, even 60 years later.
Unfortunately, one of them has passed away.
Former Green Bay Packers Champion Bob Long Has Passed Away
Today, the Packers organization announced that Bob Long, a wide receiver on all three of Lombardi’s championship teams, had passed away. He was 83 years old.
Former Packers end Bob Long has passed away at 83.
Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) March 18, 2025
Long was drafted in the fourth round of the 1964 NFL Draft despite playing just one season of college football. Prior to that, he had been a college basketball star at Wichita State. When he had used up all of his basketball eligibility, he switched to football.
During his lone season as a wide receiver at Wichita State, he set school records for receptions (42), yards (653), and touchdowns (nine).
In four seasons with Green Bay, he had just 25 receptions for 487 yards and four touchdowns because he played behind the likes of Max McGhee and Boyd Dowler. His best season with the Packers was in 1965 when he had 13 receptions for 304 yards and four touchdowns.
After a year with the Atlanta Falcons, Lombardi, who was the head coach and general manager in Washington, acquired him via trade in 1969. It was that year that he had his best season as a pro, catching 48 passes for 533 yards and one touchdown.
After his playing days were over following the 1970 season, Long returned to Wisconsin where he owned multiple Pizza Hut stores.
Per the Green Bay Press Gazette, Long died on Sunday at his home in Brookfield, Wisconsin. A cause of death has not been made public.
It is little wonder that Long returned to Wisconsin after his playing career ended. Per the Gazette, Long once said of Packers fans: “Packers fans are the best fans in the world. I may not be a legend, but they never, ever forget. Wherever I go, they treat me like I’m a hall of famer.”
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