Charley Brock is the clear pick for the Green Bay Packers’ No. 29, and he earned that spot with far more than just jersey longevity.
Among the Packers Hall of Famers who wore the number, Brock stands alone as the only one to wear it exclusively. Jug Earp, Boob Darling and Joe Laws all used other numbers during their careers, but Brock was No. 29 through and through. That alone gives him a strong case, and the rest of his résumé makes it even easier.
A two-time All-American at Nebraska, Brock arrived in Green Bay as a third-round pick in the 1939 NFL Draft, going 24th overall. He made an immediate impact, landing his first of three Pro Bowl selections as a rookie while helping the Packers capture the fifth NFL Championship in franchise history.
Brock did steady work as a center, but his real value came on defense. He was one of the league’s best ball-hawking linebackers, and his takeaway numbers back that up.
Interceptions weren’t an official NFL statistic in 1939, but Brock was credited with eight that season, including three against Washington star Sammy Baugh in a big midseason win. He also picked off two passes in Green Bay’s NFL Championship Game victory over the New York Giants.
Once interceptions became an official stat in 1940, Brock kept piling them up. Before he retired after the 1947 season, he had added 20 more interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. He also collected a pair of All-Pro honors, along with those three Pro Bowl nods, and won another title in 1944.
If that 1939 total had counted officially, Brock’s career interception number would stand at 28, which would be the most by any Packers linebacker. Instead, Ray Nitschke and John Anderson are tied for that mark at 25 apiece.
Even with that technicality, Brock remains one of the best linebackers in Packers history, and he was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 1973.
Here’s a quick look at the other Packers who have worn No. 29 over the years:
Larry Bettencourt, C
Kentrell Brice, S
Charley Brock, C/LB
Tyrone Culver, S
Boob Darling, C
Rasul Douglas, CB
Dave Dunaway, WR
Jug Earp, OL
Curtis Fuller, S
Herbert Goodman, RB
Raymont Harris, RB
Casey Hayward, CB
Ka'dar Hollman, CB
Joe Laws, HB
Darrell Lester, C
Derrick Martin, DB
Al Matthews, DB
Mike McCoy, DB
Xavier McKinney, S
Les Peterson, E
Ken Stills, DB
Howie Williams, DB
Walter Williams, RB
Marcus Wilson, RB
Bobby Wood, OT
Jerry Woods, S
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