Drafted in the first round (9th overall) of the 1971 NFL Draft out of Ohio State—where he starred as Woody Hayes’ power hammer—John Brockington took the professional gridiron by storm. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound fullback charged into Titletown and compiled 1,105 rushing yards as a rookie, becoming the first player in NFL history to break the 1,000-yard rushing barrier in his debut season, while earning 1971 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and First-Team All-Pro honors.

Brockington’s arrival re-energized Green Bay's offense, forming a punishing backfield tandem alongside halfback MacArthur Lane. He made history by reeling off three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons (1,105 in 1971; 1,027 in 1972; 1,144 in 1973), earning three straight Pro Bowl invitations and driving the Packers to an NFC Central title in 1972. His head-first, high-thigh collision style made him a nightmare for linebackers, but the relentless physical toll gradually caught up with him over the middle stretch of his career.

While heavy workloads and wear and tear slowed his output from 1974 onward, Brockington remained an integral offensive contributor through seven seasons in Wisconsin. Beyond his ground dominance, he served as a reliable outlet receiver, amassing 147 receptions and over 1,200 receiving yards to eclipse 6,000 total yards from scrimmage.

After a brief stint with Kansas City in 1977, Brockington retired as one of the most prolific power backs in franchise history, sitting second only to Jim Taylor on Green Bay's all-time rushing leaderboard at the time of his departure. In 1984, the Green Bay Packers formally recognized his record-setting start and bruising legacy by inducting him into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.