Dave Robinson

Richard David Robinson (born May 3, 1941) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and professionally for the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Redskins.

Robinson is a 1959 graduate of Moorestown High School and a member of three unbeaten NJSIAA championship teams:

Robinson earned the name "Lefty" because he was a left-footed kicker.

From 1960 to 1962, Robinson played end on offense and defense at Penn State University.

The Nittany Lions' record was 24–8 under the guidance of head coach Rip Engle and assistant coach Joe Paterno.

Robinson's honors in 1962 included: All-America status, College Player of the Year from the Newark Athletic Club, and College Lineman of the Year from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association.

In 1962, during his senior year, Robinson led Penn State to a 9–1 regular- season, made 17 receptions for 178 yards and was named a first-team All-America by the Associated Press, NEA, Football Writers (Look), Post and Time magazines.

The first-team All-East choice also was named the nation's top collegiate lineman by the Philadelphia Sportswriters.

Robinson was the MVP of the 1962 Gator Bowl, despite the Nittany Lions' loss to Florida.

Robinson was drafted by the Packers in the first round of the 1963 NFL draft and by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the AFL Draft of the same year.

He was also drafted by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Originally, he did not think he would end up playing in Green Bay.

The Chargers had a financial package of $38,000 for Robinson but ran out of money and were going to trade his AFL rights to the Buffalo Bills.

Robinson's fiancé (and future wife) Elaine had been to Buffalo and knew how cold it was there, but had never been to Green Bay.

Robinson would later recall that she didn't join him there until his second year in the NFL.

Robinson made his NFL debut on September 15, 1963, against the Chicago Bears.

The Packers decided to move Robinson from defensive end to linebacker.

Robinson played on two Super Bowl Championship teams, and won a total of three NFL Titles with the Packers (1965, 1966, 1967).

During that time, he developed a reputation as a big-game player.

He intercepted 21 passes as a Packer, including five in 1966, which tied cornerback Bob Jeter for the team lead.

Perhaps the most notable example came in the 1966 NFL Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys.

On a fourth down play from the Packers' two-yard-line, Robinson pressured Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith into a desperation pass that was intercepted by safety Tom Brown in the end zone, preserving a 34–27 victory by the Packers.

Despite this, Vince Lombardi, the future Hall of Fame head coach of the Packers, was not pleased that Robinson had freelanced on the play and gave him the coach's lowest grade possible, a minus two.

However, Lombardi would later privately praise Robinson for making the game-winning play.

After Lombardi's retirement as Packers' head coach following Super Bowl II, the aging team went into a period of decline under new coach (and former defensive coordinator) Phil Bengtson.

Individually, Robinson continued to shine.

He was named 1st Team All-Pro by the NEA and UPI in 1968.

In 1969, he was again named 1st Team All-Pro by the NEA and UPI and was also chosen for the 1st Teams of the New York Daily News, PFW and The Sporting News.

After backing up incumbent Dan Currie during his rookie season, Robinson became the starting left side linebacker for the Packers and remained in that role with the team through 1972.

Alongside the immortal MLB Ray Nitschke and Pro Bowler Lee Roy Caffey, the three formed one of the best starting units of linebackers in NFL history.

Robinson was not only adept at defending the run but also against the pass.

He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1982.

Robinson earned his degree in Civil Engineering at Penn State University.

He also minored in economics.

He was inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame in 1996.

Robinson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

Robinson, the youngest child of Leslie Robinson and his wife, Mary Gaines, lived in Mount Laurel, New Jersey for the first 18 years of his life.

Robinson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997.

Robinson is among 22 members of the Penn State football family who are enshrined into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame (1997).