Bill Cottrell
Cottrell with the Lions | |||||||
| No. 70, 52, 66 | |||||||
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| Born: | September 18, 1944 Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||
| Died: | March 20, 2025 (aged 80) | ||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 255 lb (116 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Chester | ||||||
| College: | Delaware Valley (1962–1965) | ||||||
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William Henry Cottrell (September 18, 1944 – March 20, 2025) was an American professional football offensive lineman who played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos. He played college football for the Delaware Valley Aggies and signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 1966. After a season with the Richmond Rebels of the Continental Football League (COFL), he played for the Lions from 1967 to 1970, later joining the Denver Broncos for the 1972 season. He appeared in a total of 63 games in the NFL and was the league's first black center.