Bill Willis

William Karnet Willis was an American football middle guard and guard who played for eight seasons with the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and the National Football League (NFL). Known for his quickness and strength despite his small stature, Willis was one of the dominant defensive football players of the 1940s and early 1950s. He was named an All-Pro in every season of his career and reached the NFL's Pro Bowl in three of the four seasons he played in the league. His techniques and style of play were emulated by other teams, and his versatility as a pass-rusher and coverage man influenced the development of the modern-day linebacker position. When he retired, Cleveland coach Paul Brown called him "one of the outstanding linemen in the history of professional football".

5 October 1921

Born on the same birth day (5 October): Bil Keane • Cédric Villani • Francesco Guardi • Jesse Joensuu • Kelly Joe Phelps • Magda Szabó • Malik Saidullaev • Manny Ziener • Nathalie Kelley • Remington Kellogg • Teresa de la Parra • Yashiki Takajin

Born in the same month (October 1921): Art Clokey • Bill Mauldin • George Mackay Brown • Giovanni Michelotti • Hans Warren • James Whitmore • Jerry Cooke (photographer) • MacKenzie Miller • Manny Ayulo • R. K. Laxman • Tadeusz Różewicz • Tom Poston