Vote below for CB1 of the 2000s.
We’ve been on a tear the last couple of weeks putting together the Green Bay Packers All-Quarter Century Team, decided by your votes, and we’re on to one of my favorites: cornerback! For some, this has been a sore spot on the team in the 2010s and beyond, but brother, do we have some fun guys to take a look at. Reminder: we are only looking at players during their time in Green Bay, and from the 2000 season on.
We’re going to start by voting on the best outside CB of the last 25 years, and will cover slot guys in a separate post. Enjoy the blast from the past, and let us know who deserves the title of CB1.
Cornerback Nominees
Tyrone Williams (2000-2002)
Regular season stats: 47 games played, 47 starts; 9 INT, 222 return yards, 2 INT TDs, 34 passes defensed, 217 total tackles (188 solo, 29 assisted), 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
Postseason stats: 3 games played, 3 starts; 1 INT, 2 passes defensed, 8 total tackles (all solo)
Williams’ time with Green Bay in the 2000s was brief, so we’re not getting the full view of a guy who was pretty reliable in green and gold. He started every game this century in which he made an appearance, including his final game with the team in January 2003, when the Packers lost at Lambeau Field for the very first time in the postseason. With some really great names coming after him, Williams may get lost among the shuffle, but make no mistake: he delivered pretty consistently.
Mike McKenzie (2000-2004)
Regular season stats: 54 games played, 51 starts; 9 INT, 162 return yards, 2 INT TDs, 53 passes defensed, 222 total tackles (184 solo, 38 assisted), 7 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
Postseason stats: 5 games played, 5 starts; 11 passes defensed, 19 total tackles (13 solo, 6 assisted), 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles
Mike McKenzie was another pretty reliable face for the Packers, but his time with the team ended on a sour note. McKenzie signed a contract extension in 2002, and became unhappy after other CBs around the league signed for bigger deals. He ended up holding out in 2004 and requesting a trade, and returned to the team for one game before being traded to the New Orleans Saints.
Al Harris (2003-2009)
1x Second-Team All Pro, 2x Pro Bowl
Regular season stats: 102 games played, 102 starts; 14 INT, 233 return yards, 2 INT TDs, 87 passes defensed, 300 total tackles (269 solo, 31 assisted), 8 TFLs, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
Postseason stats: 5 games played, 4 starts; 1 INT, 52 return yards, 1 INT TD, 5 passes defensed, 26 total tackles (23 solo, 3 assisted), 1 forced fumble
The numbers don’t tell the full story, but Al Harris was that guy. He was one of the most physical corners of his time, and became a defensive leader almost as soon as he arrived in Green Bay. Al Harris and his hair are burned into the memory of fans around the league, thanks to his legendary game-winning pick six against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2003 playoffs. Harris was a beloved member of the Packers for 7 seasons before being waived in 2010 after starting the year on the PUP list. He received a Super Bowl ring after the Packers’ win that year, and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2021. He repaid us by joining the Chicago Bears this year as their defensive backs coach.
Charles Woodson (2006-2012)
1x Defensive Player of the Year, 2x First-Team All Pro, 2x Second-Team All Pro, 4x Pro Bowl, 2x NFL Interceptions Leader, NFL record for most consecutive seasons with a pick six: 2006-2011
Regular season stats: 100 games played, 100 starts; 38 INT, 568 return yards, 9 INT TDs, 99 passes defensed, 467 total tackles (384 solo, 83 assisted), 29 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, 1 fumble returned for a TD
Postseason stats: 8 games played, 7 starts; 4 passes defensed, 37 total tackles (30 solo, 7 assisted), 2 TFLs, 1 sack
I mean…what is there to say? Charles Woodson joined the Packers in 2006 after no other team wanted him. He didn’t want to play in Green Bay, but the Packers were the only team to offer him a contract. He had suffered numerous injuries over the years, including a cracked fibula, and had broken his leg in the 2005 season. The Packers took a chance, and it turned out to be one of the best free agent signings in the team’s history.
For his play in the 2009 season, he was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. He had 74 tackles, 9 INTs, 3 pick sixes, 4 FFs, and 1 FR. Insane stuff from a 33 year old. Woodson went on to win Super Bowl XLV with the Packers, suffering a broken collarbone just before halftime. In his final season with the team, he suffered yet another broken collarbone and missed some time before returning for the playoffs. He was waived shortly after the season ended, and returned to Oakland. In 2021, he was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame, and made the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot.
Tramon Williams (2007-2014, 2018-2019, 2020ish)
1x Pro Bowl
Regular season stats: 159 games played, 122 starts; 30 INT, 419 return yards, 1 INT TD, 125 passes defensed, 559 total tackles (461 solo, 98 assisted), 12 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries
Postseason stats: 14 games played, 11 starts; 4 INT, 96 return yards, 1 INT TD, 16 passes defensed, 54 total tackles (44 solo, 10 assisted), 3 fumble recoveries
Tramon Williams, I DO love you. Before we start, it must be said that several (many) of his fumble recoveries were recoveries of his fumbles on special teams, and I simply do not have the time to find which ones came on actual defense. Williams went undrafted and signed to the Packers practice squad in 2006, eventually making the 53-man roster in 2007. In his first game with the team, he was listed sixth on the depth chart. By the next season, he was third on the depth chart behind Charles Woodson and Al Harris, and he eventually became the full-time starter upon Harris’ departure.
He had an incredible stretch of games during the team’s playoff run in the 2010 season, which included one of my favorite plays ever, a 70-yard pick six in the Divisional Round. Williams left the team in free agency after the 2014 season, and spent a few years with the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals. He returned to the Packers for two more years, and was then signed by the Baltimore Ravens for the 2020 season. The Ravens waived Williams in January of 2021, and three days later, he was signed to the Packers practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for the NFC Championship Game, but did not play (he probably should’ve!). Williams just could not quit the Packers, and I simply cannot quit him.
Sam Shields (2010-2016)
1x Pro Bowl
Regular season stats: 80 games played, 62 starts; 18 INT, 180 return yards, 66 passes defensed, 245 total tackles (214 solo, 31 assisted), 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
Postseason stats: 10 games played, 7 starts; 5 INT, 92 return yards, 1 INT TD, 12 passes defensed, 32 total tackles (28 solo, 4 assisted), 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Signed by the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2010, Sam Shields made an immediate impact along the team’s path to Super Bowl victory. Originally a receiver in college, he switched to cornerback in his senior season. One of the fastest players of his time, Shields showed a ton of promise as a defensive back, not only because of his speed, but because of his ability to track the ball like a receiver. Shields was an unfortunate victim of the injury bug, suffering some nasty concussions in particular, which ultimately derailed his career. He was very public about his struggles dealing with the physical and emotional toll this took on him.
Davon House (2011-2014, 2017-2018)
Regular season stats: 55 games played, 26 starts; 3 INT, 11 return yards, 31 passes defensed, 144 total tackles (122 solo, 22 assisted), 7 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Postseason stats: 3 games played; 2 passes defensed, 7 total tackles (4 solo, 3 assisted)
I cannot just skip over the dark ages so I leave you with this. Buckle up.
Damarious Randall (2015-2017)
Regular season stats: 39 games played, 30 starts; 10 INT, 173 return yards, 2 INT TDs, 32 passes defensed, 144 total tackles (126 solo, 18 assisted), 6 TFLs, 1 fumble recovery
Postseason stats: 5 games played, 5 starts; 2 INT, 78 return yards, 5 passes defensed, 23 total tackles (18 solo, 5 assisted)
Remain buckled; we are almost done.
Kevin King (2017-2021)
Regular season stats: 51 games played, 42 starts; 7 INT, 54 return yards, 30 passes defensed, 197 total tackles (158 solo, 39 assisted), 5 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
Postseason stats: 5 games played, 4 starts; 2 passes defensed, 20 total tackles (16 solo, 4 assisted), 1 TFL
Get back in the car.
Jaire Alexander (2018-2024)
2x Second-Team All Pro, 2x Pro Bowl, PFWA All-Rookie Team
Regular season stats: 78 games played, 76 starts; 12 INT, 201 return yards, 1 INT TD, 70 passes defensed, 287 total tackles (241 solo, 46 assisted), 12 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 1 safety, 3 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries
Postseason stats: 6 games played, 6 starts; 3 INT, 16 return yards, 5 passes defensed, 28 total tackles (20 solo, 8 assisted), 1 TFL
Writing this made me sad. Jaire Alexander was one of the most talented defensive backs the team had rostered since Charles Woodson was playing for them. He was incredibly fun to watch, and had built up a reputation as one of the most annoying guys to play against (complimentary). He was their guy! After years of disappointment from the guys who came before him, they finally found a good corner. And then you realize he played fewer games for the Packers than Sam Shields. In fact, he played a full 16 game season just once. It was never supposed to go this way, but Jaire could not stay healthy. After playing 78 out of a possible 116 games, the Packers released Alexander a few weeks ago, and he signed with the Baltimore Ravens shortly thereafter.
Rasul Douglas (2021-2023)
Regular season stats: 36 games played, 28 starts; 10 INT, 129 return yards, 2 INT TD, 32 passes defensed, 174 total tackles (147 solo, 27 assisted), 7 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
Postseason stats: 1 game played, 1 start; 1 pass defensed, 5 total tackles (3 solo, 2 assisted)
The discovery of Rasul Douglas was a fun time for fans of the Packers. After a few seasons in Philadelphia and Carolina, Douglas was on three different teams in 2021 before being signed by the Packers. With various DBs on the roster suffering some sort of injury, Douglas saw a ton of playing time and recorded 5 INTs in his 13 games that year, including 4 picks in a 4 week span. He became an incredibly reliable piece for the defense in his short time with the team before being traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2023 when it looked like the Packers were on their way down (they were not).