CANTON, Ohio (CBS 58) – Hall of Famer and former Packers player Forrest Gregg died Friday at the age of 85. A press release from the Pro Football Hall of Fame said legendary coach Vince Lombardi described Gregg as “the best player I ever coached."
Gregg starred at tackle, and guard as needed, for the Green Bay Packers from 1956, 1958-1970 and one final season with the 1971 Dallas Cowboys.
Gregg was a member of six NFL/NFC championship teams and three Super Bowl winners. He was elected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1960s and the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Following his playing career, Gregg embarked on a long coaching career that included 11 seasons as a head coach in the National Football League (1975-77 Cleveland Browns, 1980-83 Cincinnati Bengals and 1984-87 Green Bay Packers). During the 1981 season, he led the Bengals to their first-ever Super Bowl.
Gregg was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame flag on the Hall’s campus will be flown at half-staff until Gregg is laid to rest.