If you measure a man by championships, there may not be a more accomplished football player in the history of East Texas than Pro Football Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg.

 

After his playing days at Sulphur Springs High School and Southern Methodist University in the 1950s, Gregg took his talents Titletown and became a star offensive tackle for coach Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers.

In fact, Lombardi once called Gregg "the finest player I ever coached." Not Bart Starr or Ray Nitschke.

He played with the Packers from 1956-1970, winning five NFL championships, and finished his career with another Super Bowl title as a member of the 1971 Dallas Cowboys. Gregg was one of the league's first "iron men," playing in 188 consecutive games.

Gregg was named to nine Pro Bowl teams in his career.

Following his playing career, Gregg shifted his focus to coaching. His first head coaching job in the NFL came in 1974 with the Cleveland Browns, before serving as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 1980-83. Gregg coached Cincinnati in Super Bowl XVI, where the Bengals were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers.

His final head coaching gig in the NFL was with his old team, the Green Bay Packers from 1984-87. Gregg's career coaching record was 75-85-1, including a 2-2 mark in the playoffs.

Gregg then returned to his alma mater to coach SMU in 1989 and 1990, hoping to revive the Mustangs program after the NCAA levied the "death penalty" in 1987. He resigned from the position following the '90 season, but remained as the school's athletic director until 1994.

After a couple of seasons coaching in the Canadian Football League, Gregg retired after more than 50 years in professional football.

In October of 2011, Gregg was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease.

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