Willis, Bill (1921-2007), was an outstanding American professional football player. Along with Woody Strode, Kenny Washington, and his Cleveland Browns teammate Marion Motley, Willis was one of four players who permanently broke football’s color barrier in 1946, opening professional football to Black players. Black players had played in the early history of professional football, but all had been forced out by 1934.
Willis played middle guard, a position similar to middle linebacker in modern football. He chose to play this position despite being relatively small for a defensive player, at 6 feet 2 inches (1.9 meters) in height and weighing 213 pounds (96 kilograms). Despite his size, he became one of the most feared defensive players due to his exceptional quickness and strong tackling ability.
William Karnet Willis was born on Oct. 5, 1921, in Columbus, Ohio. He attended East High School. He then enrolled at Ohio State University, where he played under head coach Paul Brown. The Ohio State Buckeyes won their first national championship in 1942. Willis was named to the All-American team in 1943 and 1944.
In 1946, the Cleveland Browns began play as part of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), a rival to the National Football League (NFL). Brown was named head coach and general manager, and he recruited Willis to the team. With Willis anchoring the defense, the Browns won all four AAFC championships.
In 1950, the Browns and two other teams from the AAFC joined the NFL. That year, Willis’s speed saved the Browns’ season during a playoff game against the New York Giants. On a play in which Giants running back Gene Roberts had broken away from the defense and was heading for a touchdown, Willis chased Roberts down and tackled him at the 4-yard line. The play helped preserve Cleveland’s victory, and the Browns went on to win the 1950 NFL championship game.
Willis was named to three NFL Pro Bowl teams. He retired after the 1953 season and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. Willis died Nov. 27, 2007, in Columbus, Ohio.
