Lambeau Legends: Travis "Roadrunner" Williams

Travis Williams was a rookie running back for Lombardi's 1967 Packers and broke records for most kick return touchdowns (4) in a season as well as kick return average (41.1). Both records stand today although he shares the touchdown record with Cecil Turner of the Bears (1970).
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[@msm5517]

Thank you so much for the kind words about my grandfather I am the oldest Granddaughter of the late Travis Williams my Mother’s father. Wonderful lovely words greatly appreciated he will forever be missed.

[@Lewis9700]

Your Grandfather was a legend. I'm sorry that he suffered so much in his later years

[@rlh5870]

He was an exciting kick returner, best ever for the Packers!

[@jamesbertolini-rh4mw]

When I was a gradeschooler, my friends and I emulated your grandfathers moves. Great Packer player❤😅

[@brianworkman9954]

I watched the Roadrunner back then. Travis was a star and more. Green Bay had some historic players.

[@lartsashulrhak7513]

R.I.P. Travis "Roadrunner" Williams ✊🏿 From Richmond California (Bay Area)

[@RockinSG]

Loved watching him play. I even had a 23 jersey as a kid.

[@davidmartin3023]

same wish I still had it .

[@musicandairplanes6330]

I was playing football and in the eighth grade! I loved the packers and Travis Williams! He was my idol! (I am white and now 67 Yrs old) I ran back one kickoff 80 yards for a touch down that year and scored 9 TD’s and 5 extra points, we didn’t have an extra point kicker. Thank you Travis Williams for being so awesome!

[@michaelbyrne8860]

I remember Travis Williams when he first started playing for the Packers! I'm a Chicagoan Bear Fan! He was the Devin Hester before Devin Hester! Travis Williams was a Great Athlete! In today's NFL he would've been more than a return man or running back! He scared the crap out of the Teams he played against!

[@johnperrigo6474]

I was just a kid when I attended the game against Cleveland in Milwaukee where he returned 2 kick-offs for touchdown. One was the opening kick. My Dad and I arrived late and missed it! I still haven't forgiven Dad for that yet.

[@edwardburks2868]

I knew Travis Williams he's from Richmond CA.. A real nice guy.

[@davidmartin3023]

He was my boyhood idol and the reason I became a Packers fan . I still have his picture on my wall in my man cave .

[@tasiawaters8054]

I did not know him but hes my grandpa my dads dad

[@brendagriggs8395]

@@tasiawaters8054 Hi Tasia! I met Travis in Cleveland, Ohio when the Packers came to town. My uncle Claudis Ray James was his roommate. I live in Richmond California now and I was wondering if Travis had any relatives living here in town. I just remember that he was tall and handsome and very nice.

[@lucianfick2218]

1967 was quite the year for Trav. Can still recall the excitement 23 generated as he found the holes and wove past the scrum into daylight.

[@isaacdriskell4705]

Travis Williams was one of the greatest players of all times ❤

[@leebowens2631]

I was in grade school in Milwaukee and loved watching the beep beep Road Runner Travis Williams !

[@stephenjackson5131]

Packers were my team then and I loved watching Travis Williams.

[@TuckaBuck89]

Travis was fun to watch. What an inspiration! I still remember him.

[@colerainfan1143]

I can remember as a 14 year old, lying on the living room floor, and watching that Brown’s game. Travis ran back two as the Packers romped. We lived in Ohio, so every week the Brown’s game was televised. I loved the Packers, hated the Browns, still do. It’s funny how childhood first impressions can form loyalties that last a lifetime.

[@jimdahlin7333]

Good memories. It is too bad that modern NFL teams fail to develop or draft stud returners--Devin Hester was worth 2-3 games a year for the Bears, as was Desmond Howard for the Packers, and Percy Harvin/Cordarelle Patterson for the Vikings.

[@bobfeller604]

I remember him, truly great. Is he in Canton? He should be.

[@SuperIliad]

The first time I saw Travis Williams was on Saturday, December 9th, 1967 at the Los Angeles Coliseum (the game presented here at 3:22.) The coaches were George Allen, Rams, and Vince Lombardi, Green Bay. The Rams would win the game 27 to 24, but not before Travis Williams stepped back four yards into the endzone to receive a kickoff and jet-speed 104 yards to a touchdown. (The narrator announced 105 yards; however, official NFL records cite this run at 104 yards.) Williams already had two TD returns in one game against Cleveland on Nov. 12, 1967 and would end his rookie 1967 season with four, with a 41.06 kickoff return average. At the time, Williams ran the 100 yards in 9.3 seconds.

[@dhart8451]

And just a few weeks later the Packers would defeat the Rams in a playoff game in Milwaukee and the Roadrunner would play a big part in defeating the Rams, not with his kickoff returns but as a running back. Scored 2 TDs., one a 46 yard run to put the game away. One of those players who every time he had the ball was a threat to score.

[@SuperIliad]

@@dhart8451 I was jealous that my Rams didn't have him.

[@tasiawaters8054]

hes my grandpa btw my dads dad

[@howardcosell2022]

@@tasiawaters8054 Only if Lombardi stayed and Travis could hone his skills. You would not need to announce your relations to Travis Williams. Everyone would know who you are because Travis would have been a Hall of Fame player

[@chrispaul7849]

i recall watching the game vs cleve where he had the 2 ko tds... i was 12 and the nfl was magic.

[@badbadkingjohn]

same

[@dhart8451]

I was also 12 and at the game in Milwaukee at County Stadium !!!

[@leebowens2631]

@@dhart8451 I was 11 watching in Milwaukee, loved channel 6 sportscaster Earl Gillespie talk about the Road runner .

[@ligayabarlow5077]

And he had that key 20+ yd td run in that playoff game vs. L.A. the Packers won 28-7 !

[@tasiawaters8054]

Thats my grandpa my dads dad i never met him tho but my dad died too so he never met me btw my dads name is Antoine williams i have a old new paper from 19 somethings that my dad gave to me and my mom kept it. s even know in this video i wasnt even thought still just finding this in 2021

[@cliftonferrell7274]

Went to school with your dad in middle school and high school and your dad was also a hell of good athlete as well on the field and the basketball court!!! RIP 29!

[@mikezak3473]

You can’t forget that famous ‘Gallup’ of TRAVIS…

[@jimvivian9245]

memories from my first year watching pro football. Williams was a human highlight film. Big and blazing fast KOR. Like a lot of them never worked out returning punts, probably couldn't field punts well . One reason why I renamed punt returning #Dangerfielding. And of course because it gets no respect

[@jefferyfunk5337]

I remember Travis when I was a kid seems like just yesterday I do remember him running the 100 yard dash in 9.3 seconds pretty fast guy the only other one I remember was Bob Hayes from the Dallas cowboys that was faster at 9.1 in the 100 I think at that time Bob Hayes was the fastest man in the world and maybe still is?

[@dape8993]

I believe that Gale Sayers had 3 kickoff return touchdowns that same season. Now no one ever returns a kick off!

[@bobfeller604]

I think it's because the rules are different. They don't allow the wedge anymore.

[@howardcosell2022]

@@bobfeller604 Kickers have howitzers for legs and generally kick them out of the endzones. A practice nowadays is to kick the ball high in the air and the kicking team running down the field to pin the receiving team down in their own end. They have to change the kickoff rules dramatically

[@manny4552]

I still have his 3 d football card I got out of a cereal box as a kid... It's here somewhere lol

[@liontagvr5378]

That’s my cousin

[@forrestunderwood3174]

Dud had some big ol' legs.

[@MrTyroneweaver]

Lombardi didn't play him in the ice bowl

[@howardcosell2022]

Lombardi didn't know what to do with his speed

[@johmhill7312]

Yes he did play. 4 rushing attempts for 13 yards, 1 reception for 4 yards