One of the oldest living members of the Green Bay Packers’ heralded history has passed away. John Martinkovic, who turned 91 on Super Bowl Sunday, died this past Thursday in Green Bay, via the Green Bay Press Gazette.
Martinkovic played for the Packers from 1951-56 and was acquired from Washington in a trade after that year’s draft. He didn’t miss a single game throughout a seven-year career that also included a stint with the New York Giants. A former member of the Navy, the defensive lineman earned three trips to the Pro Bowl and was inducted into the Packers’ Hall of Fame back in 1974.
A Xavier graduate, Martinkovic was involved in the local Green Bay community in the decades since retirement. As his obituary notes, Martinkovic was a member of the local Knights of Columbus and Green Bay Moose Lodge. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Clare, and their four daughters.