Jackson Free Press

Super Bowl III was one of the most important games in professional football history. It featured Jackson State University icon Willie Richardson, but he was on the losing side of the scoreboard.

In a strange coincidence, Richardson could have played with the winning team. The Baltimore Colts drafted the standout wide receiver in the seventh round with the 89th overall pick, and the New York Jets drafted him in the third round with the 19th overall pick in the 1963 AFL and NFL drafts.

During those days, the NFL and AFL hadn't merged into a single league, so both drafted the same players, and the player picked which team he would play for after the draft. Richardson decided to play for the Baltimore Colts.

At the time, the Colts were one of the powerhouses in the NFL and featured future Hall of Fame players such as Johnny Unitas, Raymond Berry and John Mackey.

Richardson began his football career without the approval of his father, a minister who didn't find out his son was playing the sport until he read his name in the newspaper. Richardson also ran track and caught a touchdown to help Greenville Coleman High School win a state championship over Lanier High School during his high-school career.

Richardson wasn't the only football star in his family, either. His four brothers, Gloster, Thomas, Ernest and Charles, all played professional football as well. Only Gloster won a Super Bowl; he was also a two-time champion with the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs.

At Jackson State, Richardson (1959-1963) only continued to shine. He was a three-time All-SWAC athlete, two-time NAIA All-American and was one of the few players chosen for the Pittsburgh Courier Black All-American team four times.

He led the SWAC in receiving yards all four years and led the nation in receiving in 1960. Richardson also held a college record for 60 catches and 1,229 yards.

Known as "Wonderful Willie" during his time with the Tigers, Richardson had 171 receptions for 36 touchdowns, and he also played safety on defense. He helped JSU to a SWAC title in 1961, which was his junior season, and to another SWAC title and Black National Championship during his senior season in 1962.

He was named MVP of the All-American Bowl and played in the North-South Game and the Chicago All-Star Game.

After his college-football days were over, the city of Jackson held a "Willie Richardson Day." Part of the festivities included a parade and Richardson's jersey being retired.

Early in his NFL career, Richardson had to wait behind Berry and Jimmy Orr to get a lot of playing time. He finally was able to have a breakout season in 1967 after Berry retired and Orr was injured.

Richardson finished that season with 63 receptions for 860 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro. He followed that season up with another solid season in 1968 with 37 catches for 698 yards and eight touchdowns.

After the 1968 season, Richardson was chosen for his second and final Pro Bowl. The Colts also met the Jets in Super Bowl III following the 1968 season.

Richardson led Baltimore in receiving yards with six catches for 58 yards in the 16-7 New York upset. Super Bowl III featured an injured, aging Unitas coming off the bench, a guarantee from brash young quarterback in Joe Namath and was the first Super Bowl to not feature a touchdown pass.

Richardson left the Colts after the 1969 season and played for the Miami Dolphins during the 1970 season. The Baltimore Colts went on to win the Super Bowl after that season, defeating the Dallas Cowboys.

Richardson returned to Baltimore for his final season in 1971 and only caught 10 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. He finished his NFL career with 195 receptions for 2,950 yards and 25 touchdowns.

After his playing career was over, Richardson owned a liquor store in the Pimlico neighborhood in Baltimore, was the sports director at Channel 45 there and was a football coach for John Hopkins University. He returned to Mississippi in 1980 and spent the next 25 years working in the state's tax division.

Richardson was named to the Jackson State Hall of Fame in 1978, and a year later, he was named to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (1979). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Recently, Richardson worked as a color analyst for Jackson State football with play-by-play commentator Rob Jay and hosted an hour-long radio program on ESPN's The Zone 105.9 FM.

Richardson passed away from natural causes at the age of 76 on Monday, Feb. 8. Rob Jay, sports writer Rick Cleveland and sports radio personality Jon Wiener, among others, paid tribute to the sports great soon after.

Richardson's funeral is on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m., at New Hope Baptist Church in Jackson. Condolences can be sent to Earline Richardson at 5928 Waverly Drive in Jackson.