Position switches from offense to defense are not unheard of in the NFL and the Green Bay Packers have been no exception. Just last season, wide receiver Bo Melton was switched to cornerback, for example. But most position switches happen to depth players who have little to lose by switching positions so they can remain on the team. But in 1972, Packers head coach Dan Devine made the strangest position switch in Packers history when he moved Pro Bowl guard Gale Gillingham to defensive tackle and the move blew up in his face.
Remembering Gale Gillingham and the Strangest Position Switch in Packers History: The Circumstances
Vince Lombardi selected Gillingham in the first round of the 1966 NFL Draft with the 13th overall selection. The University of Minnesota alum started two games as a rookie before taking over as the starter in his second NFL season. Gillingham was a member of the Packers teams that won the first two Super Bowls.
Gillingham quickly developed into one of the best guards in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl in 1969, 1970, and 1971. Gillingham was big, strong and wanted to dominate his opponent. Hall of Fame defensive tackle Henry Jordan described what it was like running the nutcracker drill against Gillingham in practice. “It was like kissing the front end of a train.”
Gillingham was an early advocate of weight training in the NFL. In 1970, teammate and assistant coach Forrest Gregg called Gillingham “the finest guard in the NFL.” He added, “I don’t know of any guard anywhere stronger than Gilly is and he has tremendous speed for a guy his size.”
The Switch
In 1971, Devine took over as head coach of the Packers, replacing Phil Bengtson. The Packers struggled to a 4-8-2 record in his first season as coach. But during training camp in 1972, Devine decided to make a major position switch. He proposed to move Gillingham, his best offensive lineman, to defensive tackle. The Packers traded running back Dave Hampton to Atlanta to acquire Malcolm Snider who would play guard in place of Gillingham.
The reason for the switch? Defensive tackle Mike McCoy, another of the team’s former first round picks, had broken a bone in his foot in training camp and was unavailable. So, Devine decided Gillingham would move to defensive tackle and when he was healthy and returned, McCoy would switch to the offensive line.
“We just want to put the 22 best football players on the field. We’ve been thinking about both of these moves for a year,” Devine told reporters. “I really feel he will take naturally to defense, and I’m just as sure Mike McCoy will be able to make the switch from defense to offense. Mike should be a great pass protector and a great blocker. Maybe not overnight but in time. And he can work on his offensive techniques now while he’s building up his leg.”
In 1972, NFL teams played 14 regular season games and six preseason games. When did Devine decide to make this position switch? After the team’s sixth and final preseason game. Gillingham had all of one week to learn to play defense before the season opener.
Gillingham seemed willing to make the switch even if he was a bit skeptical. “It will take some time,” he said. “It will take a while to adjust. It’s different—you don’t have as many responsibilities on defense as you do on offense. On defense, you just have to go all the time. It’s going to take a little getting used to. I’m just going to do the best I can and hope it works out all right. There’s a big adjustment both physically and mentally, but the biggest adjustment is mental. Not in getting ready for a game, but in getting to recognize things and reacting to them. Offense, of course, is more of a disciplined game, more technical, whereas defense is more of a reaction type of thing.”
Remembering Gale Gillingham and the Strangest Position Switch in Packers History: Figuring It Out
Defensive line coach Dave “Hawg” Hanner thought Gillingham could make the switch. “I think Gilly can do a good job for us. I think he can help us, no question about it,” Hanner explained. “He’s played enough defense in the past [in college], and he’s played against it. Gillie’s quick and strong and smart. And he knows all the tricks. I really hate to lose McCoy but we’re in a position where we need help now. And Mike could help the team sooner on offense when he comes back off the injury, than he could on defense.”
Running back John Brockington, who had gained more than 1,000 yards rushing as a rookie in 1971, was concerned about losing his top blocker. “I’ll accept anything that is best for the team but how do you replace a man like Gilly?” he told reporters.
Middle linebacker Jim Carter also questioned the move. “Gilly could help the defense, but his absence could really hurt the offense. We always run toward Gilly when we’re near the goal line,” he said.
But when the Packers took the field in Week 1, Gillingham lined up at defensive tackle.
The Early Results
The Packers got four field goals from rookie Chester Marcol and two touchdowns from Scott Hunter to Rich McGeorge to beat the Browns 26-10. The Packers defense played well, holding Cleveland to 188 total yards and forcing four turnovers. Cleveland’s only touchdown came on a blocked field goal return.
Gillingham started and held his own according to Devine. “Gilly had his man [guard Bubba Pena] talking to himself.”
Defensive tackle Bob Brown, who played next to Gillingham on the defensive line added, “I thought Gilly played really well for his first time on defense. He’s a big, mean, guard who likes to hit.”
Gillingham himself tried to stay positive. “I did what they—the coaches—wanted me to do. They wanted me to chase them ([he running backs]. The Browns trapped me, but I put some pressure on the quarterback. I was so nervous today. Normally, I go into a game relaxed. Our plan was for me to rush the passer and to chase—and to forget the traps. It would be pretty hard for me to step in there and try to be too fancy. They thought I could rush the passer, and I think I did pressure him a couple of times. There’s a hell of a difference between this and playing offense. I think we hit pretty good today, but you don’t react right. Of course, I’ve only played there five days.”
Hanner also tried to put a positive spin on the experiment. “He got held twice, which is just as good as getting the passer twice, because they were penalized both times,” he explained. “He did everything we asked him to, although we didn’t give him a lot of responsibilities because of the short time, he’s been on defense. We told him to just take off and he sure did that.”
Gillingham’s opponent, Robert [Bubba] Pena of the Browns, was less impressed. “He was all right. He wasn’t overly strong, but he’s a good guard.”
Remembering Gale Gillingham and the Strangest Position Switch in Packers History: An Abrupt End
The experiment didn’t last long. In Week 2, the Packers hosted the Raiders at Lambeau Field. They lost 20-14 on a controversial play that the league later admitted they got wrong when the Raiders were allowed to return a muff 104 yards for a touchdown. League rules said you cannot advance a muff.
But in that game, Gillingham suffered a knee injury that effectively ended his season. “I hurt my knee early in the third quarter and again in the fourth. So, I thought if I didn’t want to screw up the defense, I’d better get out of there,” Gillingham explained after the game.
Guard Bill Lueck also suffered an injury in the Raiders game so Devine immediately thought of switching Gillingham back to offense. Unfortunately, Gillingham’s injury kept him out for the rest of the season. He had surgery on the knee in October.
When he was healthy again, McCoy returned to defensive tackle where he spent the rest of his career. When Gillingham returned to action in 1973, he was back on offense.
The Aftermath
The Packers overcame Gillingham’s loss and finished the 1972 season with a 10-4 record. They made the playoffs for the only time in the decade of the 70s.
The move made little sense. If he really wanted to move Gillingham to defense, he had all of training camp and six preseason games to do it. Waiting until five days before the regular season opener made no sense. I also made no sense to move your best offensive lineman to defense.
“That was stupid,” Hall of Fame guard Jerry Kramer told Bob Fox years later. “That really was a stupid move. That’s the only thing I can say about that. It just boggles your mind taking a kid of that caliber and quality and then move him to a whole new position. It just doesn’t make any sense.”
Gillingham earned Pro Bowl honors at guard in both 1973 and 1974. After retiring in 1975, he returned for one final season in 1976 before retiring for good.
“He was an outstanding football player,” Gregg said. Then he added, “He had good speed and as strong of an offensive lineman I ever played with. He was a starter in his second year and played against some real good people.”
Gillingham was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1982. Many people feel the five-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champ belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He died in 2011 at the age of 67.
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