On this day, 57 years ago, the gridiron witnessed a triumph led by two distinguished members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. – Brothers Elijah Eugene Pitts and Herbert Allen Adderley.
Brother Elijah Pitts, an initiate of Pi Sigma Chapter (‘59) at Philander Smith College, and Brother Herb Adderley, an initiate of Sigma Chapter (‘61) at Michigan State University, etched their names in NFL football history.
Drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1961, these Omega men showcased prowess on the field that transcended their positions.
As part of the legendary Packers squad, Pitts and Adderley played pivotal roles in securing five NFL Championships and two Super Bowl victories.
In historic Super Bowl I, Pitts made history by scoring the first-ever rushing touchdown, while Adderley, at cornerback, skillfully contained Chiefs’ wide receiver Otis Taylor, limiting him to only four catches. The Packers emerged triumphant with a 35-10 victory.
Beyond the gridiron, Pitts left an indelible mark on the NFL, contributing for four decades until his untimely passing in 1998 while coaching for the Buffalo Bills. Adderley, on the other hand, continued to make history, winning another Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys in 1971 and earning his rightful place in the NFL Hall of Fame in 1980.
Both Pitts and Adderley, exemplars of excellence, were rightfully inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Today, we celebrate the memories these Omega men, whose contributions to the sport and Fraternity legacy endure.
