The day that many a Green Bay Packers fan has long awaited for has finally come: Sterling Sharpe has been voted for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A five-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time First-Team All-Pro, Sharpe dominated the NFL in the early 1990’s, and would have done so beyond that time had a neck injury not forced him to retired after just seven seasons.
Regardless of his relatively short NFL career, there is no question that Sharpe deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. For years, fans, former teammates, and many others have advocated for him to be able to take his rightful place in Canton.
And now that he has, it is time (and perhaps well-past time) for these advocates to turn their attention to another former Packers pass catcher who is more than deserving of a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Green Bay Packers Legend Billy Howton Is Not in the Hall of Fame, but He Should Be
File photos Mandatory Credit: Green Bay Press-Gazette
One of the things that is so frustrating about Hall of Fame voting in all major sports, but especially in the NFL, is that there are dozens, if not hundreds, of former players that are deserving of immortalization, but do not get the votes or recognition that they deserve.
One of these is former Packers wide receiver (tight end) Billy Howton. One can forgive modern day fans if they do not know Howton’s name, as he played for Green Bay from 1953-1958. His time with the Packers both started and ended prior to the Vince Lombardi Era, which many consider to be the Golden Age of Green Bay football.
But one must not let Howton’s obscurity now detract from the fact that, during his playing career, he was the most dominant pass catcher in the NFL.
And this is not hyperbole.
At the time of his retirement in 1963, Howton was the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions and receiving yards. Second, at the time, was another Packers legend: Don Hutson. Howton was also fifth all-time in receiving touchdowns at the end of his NFL career.
In 2023, much was made about Jayden Reed breaking Sterling Sharpe’s franchise record for receptions by a rookie. Sharpe had 55 in 1988 and Reed had 64 as a rookie in 2023.
But no one talks about the other two major receiving categories and who holds those Packers rookie records. That would be Howton, who had 1,231 receiving yards (led the NFL) and 13 touchdowns in 1952.
In 1955, he led the NFL in both receiving yards (1,188) and receiving touchdowns (12).
For his career, which saw him spend eight seasons with the Packers, one with the Cleveland Browns, and four with the Dallas Cowboys, Howton made four Pro Bowls, was named First Team All-Pro twice, and put up 503 receptions for 8,459 yards and 61 touchdowns.
Of course, these numbers do not stand up to the monstrous receiving numbers put up in the NFL today. However, Howton was one of the early pass catchers who helped develop the position into what it is today.
And, as mentioned, at the time of his retirement, no one had more receptions or receiving yards.
He is still alive, 94 years old, and living in Texas.
Howton was one of 183 senior committee nominees for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, but did not advance to the later stages of voting.
Time is running out with his being so advanced in years. It would be nice if the Hall of Fame got it right while he is still around to have his moment.
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