For those who built the game
Darrell Thompson, a former running back with the Green Bay Packers, is the Chair for the Pro Football Retired Players Association Board of Directors. His NFL career began after being selected by Green Bay in the first round (19th overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft. Since his retirement from the NFL, Thompson has served as President of Bolder Options, a nonprofit organization that provides wellness-based mentoring for middle school youth. In 1997, Thompson was inducted into the Gophers Hall of Fame and later became a sideline reporter and football radio color commentator for the team.
Ron Mix is President of the Pro Football Retired Players Association Board of Directors. He was nicknamed "The Intellectual Assassin” for eventually earning a law degree and for being a student of the game. Mix earned many accolades during his 12-year career, including being elected to the AFL All-Star Team for nine straight seasons and playing in eight Pro Bowls. Mix is a member of the All-Time All-AFL Team and is one of only 20 men who have played at least 10 seasons in the AFL. In 1979, he became the first player to have worn a Raider uniform inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When he completed his professional football career, the Chargers retired his jersey—number 74. Ron is an active PFRPA Board Member, dedicated to supporting his fellow retired players.
Dave Robinson is the Vice-Chair of the Pro Football Retired Players Association Board of Directors. His 12-season professional career began after joining the Green Bay Packers as the team’s first-round pick (14th overall) in the 1963 NFL Draft. Under legendary coach Vince Lombardi’s leadership, Robinson helped the Packers to victory in three consecutive NFL Championships (1965–67) and Super Bowls I and II. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1982, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. Robinson has especially dedicated his own experience to find ways to better the health and well-being of his fellow retired players.
Billy Joe DuPree is considered one of the greatest tight ends who ever played football for Michigan State University. The Dallas Cowboys selected DuPree in the first round (20th overall) of the 1973 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he became an immediate starter, taking over for Mike Ditka. He led the team with 392 receiving yards and was second in receiving touchdowns with five. By the end of his 11-season career, he never missed one game and was selected to three consecutive Pro Bowls from 1976–78. He was inducted into Michigan State’s Blue-Gray Football Classic Hall of Fame, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Texas Black Sports Hall of Fame. He has also been involved in many charities, including inner-city youth groups.
Mike Haynes is widely recognized as one of the NFL’s greatest defensive backs. A first-round draft choice of the New England Patriots, Haynes was voted the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. In 1983, Haynes joined the Raiders and contributed to the team’s Super Bowl XVIII victory. After retirement, Haynes returned to the NFL in 2002 to lead the Player Development Department, which created and managed programs to help players transition into and out of the NFL. He was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1994, named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary All-Time Team in 1995, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2000. He was also selected to the NFL 100 All-Time Team. Giving back to the community plays a significant role in Haynes’ philosophy, and he is passionate about breaking down barriers to bring about meaningful change.
Mike Singletary was one of the most intense, focused and fearless linebackers, which is why many consider him to be one of the greatest players in Chicago Bears franchise history. In the 1981 NFL Draft, Singletary was a second-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears and the 38th player selected overall. He played in 10 consecutive Pro Bowls from 1983–1992 and was First-Team All-Pro in seven of those seasons. Singletary was an anchor for the 1985 Bears team, which is often considered the best defensive unit in professional football history. That year, the team won three playoff games before going on to secure the championship title at Super Bowl XX. His performance earned him NFL Defensive Player of the Year three times, and he served as the Bears' team captain for 10 years. In 1998, his first year of eligibility, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Following his retirement from the NFL, he spent time as a motivational speaker before becoming a coach. Mike is an active PFRPA Board Member, committed to making a difference in the retired player community.
Jackie Slater is a 20-season NFL veteran who is tied for the third-most seasons played in the history of the League. The Los Angeles Rams drafted him in the third round of the 1976 NFL Draft. During the 1979 season, he became a starter on the Rams’ offensive line, which finished second in the NFL in total yards gained with 6,006. That same season, Slater helped the team to Super Bowl XIV. By the end of his professional football career, Slater had played in 259 regular-season games, which was the most ever by an offensive lineman at that time. In 2001, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is in the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and had his jersey, number 78, retired by the Rams. Like Singletary, Slater is committed to making a difference in the retired player community.
Jack Youngblood was the 20th player selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 1971 NFL Draft. During his 14-season career with the Rams, he played a franchise-record 201 consecutive games. He played in seven straight Pro Bowls and helped lead the team to Super Bowl XIV against the Pittsburgh Steelers. After hanging up his cleats in 1985, he became a member of the front office for the Rams and, years later, served as the National Football League liaison for the Arena Football League. He has also made an impact through his consistent involvement in charity work since college. In 2001, he joined fellow PFRPA Board Member Jackie Slater and other peers as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Like Singletary and Slater, Youngblood is committed to making a difference in the retired player community.