In 1962, he began to make a name for himself as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. Adderley was a fantastic one-on-one coverage back who could shut down the opposition’s top receiver. He was also a very effective tackler and was not shy about stepping up in run support. He finished the season with seven interceptions and remained the leader of the Packers secondary through the 1969 season.
Adderley won five NFL Championships with the Packers during a seven-year span from 1961-67, but he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for two players just weeks before the 1970 season. He helped the Cowboys reach the Superbowl twice in three years while continuing to shut down the league’s best receivers.
His biggest moment as an NFL player may have come on January 14, 1968, when the Packers faced the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II. Adderley became the first player in Super Bowl history to score a defensive touchdown when he picked off a Daryle Lamonica pass and returned it 60 yards for the score.
He retired after the 1972 season having played in 164 regular season games. During his career, he recorded 48 interceptions with 1,046 return yards and 7 touchdowns. He also doubled as a special teamer, registering 120 kickoff returns for 3,080 yards and two touchdowns.
Herb Adderley Career Highlights
Won All-NFL honors five times: 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1969
Named to Pro Bowl five times: 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967
Played in four of the first six Superbowls: I, II, V, VI
Won seven NFL Championships in an 11-year span from 1962-1972
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980
| Year | Team | INTs | Yards | Average | TDs |
| 1961 | Green Bay | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 0 |
| 1962 | Green Bay | 7 | 132 | 18.9 | 1 |
| 1963 | Green Bay | 5 | 86 | 17.2 | 0 |
| 1964 | Green Bay | 4 | 56 | 14.0 | 0 |
| 1965 | Green Bay | 6 | 175 | 29.2 | 3 |
| 1966 | Green Bay | 4 | 125 | 31.3 | 1 |
| 1967 | Green Bay | 4 | 16 | 4.0 | 1 |
| 1968 | Green Bay | 3 | 27 | 9.0 | 0 |
| 1969 | Green Bay | 5 | 169 | 33.8 | 1 |
| 1970 | Dallas | 3 | 69 | 23.0 | 0 |
| 1971 | Dallas | 6 | 182 | 30.3 | 0 |
| 1972 | Dallas | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 |
| Totals | 48 | 1046 | 21.8 | 7 |
