Ex-Packers, Badgers LB Teteak dies at 85

Deral Teteak, one of the Green Bay Packers' steadiest defensive players during the 1950s, died Thursday in Naples, Fla. He was 85.

Born in the town of Spruce in rural Oconto County and raised in Oshkosh, where he was a star fullback in the 1940s, he was a linebacker on the University of Wisconsin's top-ranked "Hard Rocks" defense in the early 1950s.

The Packers selected Teteak in the ninth round of the 1952 NFL draft.

Known as "Little Bull," the 5-foot-10, 210-pounder made an immediate impact as a rookie and was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1952.

He blocked a punt that teammate John Martinkovic returned for the go-ahead touchdown in a 12-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Marquette Stadium in Milwaukee on Nov. 2, 1952.

Teteak played in 49 games over five seasons with the Packers and had six career interceptions.

He retired after the 1956 season and returned to UW, where he was an assistant football coach from 1957 to 1967 before going into business.

He was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1987.

Teteak is survived by his wife, Shirley, a son, a daughter, three grandchildren and other family members. Services will be Tuesday in Naples, Fla.

-- jash@greenbaypressgazette.com or follow on Twitter @JeffAshPG

Packers deaths in 2014

Deral Teteak (linebacker, 1952-56), Dec. 18.

Fuzzy Thurston (guard, 1959-67), Dec. 14.

Don Bracken (punter, 1985-90), Oct. 29.

Leon McLaughlin (offensive line coach, 1975-76), Oct. 27.

Rebel Steiner (defensive back, 1950-51), Oct. 18.

Donnie Humphrey (defensive tackle, 1984-86), Sept. 2.

Perry Moss (quarterback, 1948), Aug. 7.

Ray DiPierro (guard, 1950-51), July 20.

Allen Jacobs (halfback, 1965), April 22.