Donny Anderson Garry Don " Donny " Anderson ( born May 16 , 1943 ) is a former professional football player , a halfback and punter for nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers and St . Louis Cardinals of the National Football League . From Texas Tech ( then Texas Technological College , now Texas Tech University ) , Anderson was the first round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in the 1965 NFL Draft , the seventh overall selection . That year ' s draft included future hall - of - famers Dick Butkus , Gale Sayers , Joe Namath , and Fred Biletnikoff . Early years . Born in Borger , Texas , Anderson grew up in Stinnett , seat of Hutchinson County in the Texas Panhandle , and graduated from Stinnett High School in 1961 . A talented multi - sport athlete , he was all - state in football and basketball , placed in the state track meet ( hurdles and relay ) and played baseball in the summer . College career . At Texas Tech in Lubbock , Anderson earned the nickname the " Golden Palomino . " He received All - America n honors twice ( 1964 & 1965 ) and was a three - time all - Southwest Conference halfback ( 1963 – 65 ) . Anderson held many of Texas Tech ' s football records and finished fourth in the 1965 Heisman Trophy race . He is part of the Texas Tech Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame . Because of a redshirt year due to academic issues , Anderson was eligible as underclassman for the 1965 NFL Draft , Despite being selected by the Packers , he returned for his senior season at Texas Tech in 1965 and led the Red Raiders to an 8 - 2 regular season and a berth in the Gator Bowl on the afternoon of New Year ' s Eve . In 1964 he ran for 966 yards with 3 TD and had 32 catches for 396 yards and 4 TD then as a Senior ran for 705 yards with 10 TD and had 60 catches for 797 yards and 7 TD . Selected the outstanding player for Texas Tech in a ten - point loss to Georgia Tech , Anderson signed his pro contract hours after the game . He selected the Packers over the reportedly higher offer from the Houston Oilers of the AFL . His contract was believed to be a then - record $ 600 , 000 , exceeding Joe Namath ' s contract of the previous year . Pro career . Anderson began his NFL career in 1966 as # 44 for the world champion Packers . Fellow All - American Jim Grabowski , a fullback from Illinois , was the Packers ' first pick in the 1966 NFL Draft , and ninth overall . The well - paid pair were the projected successors of Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor , future hall of famers in their final season with Green Bay . The two rookies were on the College All - Star team that lost to the defending NFL champion Packers 38 – 0 on August 5 at Soldier Field in Chicago . They joined the Packers ' training camp after the game , and were tabbed the " Gold Dust Twins . " Though he did not see much playing time as a rookie , he was part of a memorable play . During his second carry in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl I , Anderson ' s knee knocked out Chiefs defensive back Fred " The Hammer " Williamson , who had been boastful in pre - game interviews . Williamson was carried off on a stretcher . While with the Packers , Anderson originated the concept of hang time in punting . Until Anderson , punters typically strove for maximum distance , with the NFL ' s leaders usually averaging 45 or more yards a punt . Punt return s varied , with an average of perhaps 5 yards per return . In 1967 , the left - footed Anderson worked instead at punting the ball higher , shortening the distance traveled but increasing the ball ' s time in the air , allowing better coverage by his team on the punt return . Green Bay punted 66 times that year , 63 of them by Anderson ; opponents were able to return only 13 of them for a total of 22 yards , or about 1 / 3 yard per punt . It was Anderson ' s coach , Vince Lombardi , who explained the concept to sportswriters who questioned why Lombardi didn ' t try to find a better punter than Anderson , who averaged only 36 . 6 yards per punt that year . Lombardi pointed out the lack of return yardage . Other punters soon followed Anderson , working for greater hang time . Eventually the NFL changed its rules governing punt coverage , to restore the ability to return punts . In February 1972 , Anderson was traded to the St . Louis Cardinals for MacArthur Lane . Anderson played through the 1974 season with the Cardinals , then was traded in the offseason to the Miami Dolphins . At age 32 , he recognized that his prospects for playing time were low , and retired during training camp in mid - August 1975 . After football . Following his retirement from the NFL , Anderson spent nearly two decades on the celebrity golf tour . As of 2013 , Anderson lives in the Dallas area and stays busy with eight grandchildren and his Dallas - based foundation , " Winners for Life , " that helps send at - risk kids to college .