Phil Vandersea, the versatile former Green Bay Packers linebacker who contributed to the franchise’s victory in the first Super Bowl, died on October 24 in Massachusetts. He was 83.
Born on February 25, 1943, in Whitinsville, Vandersea grew up as a multi-sport standout at Northbridge High School, excelling in football, basketball, and baseball.
He continued his athletic path at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where his combination of size, toughness, and adaptability made him one of the program’s most accomplished players of the early 1960s.
In 1963, he helped the Minutemen finish 8-0-1, the only undefeated season in school history at the time and the program’s second Yankee Conference championship. Playing primarily as a fullback, he also punted and recorded an interception that year.
As a senior in 1965, he rushed for 388 yards on 100 carries and scored six touchdowns, earning All-Yankee Conference honors.
Decades later, UMass placed him on its all-time anniversary team and inducted him into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.
The Packers selected Vandersea in the 16th round of the 1965 NFL Draft and converted the college fullback into a defensive player. He joined Vince Lombardi’s championship team in 1966, appearing in all 14 regular-season games as a linebacker and special-teams contributor.
That season ended with Green Bay defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in Super Bowl I. Vandersea was the only native New Englander on the active roster for the historic game.
After the Packers claimed him, the expansion New Orleans Saints selected him in 1967, where he appeared in eight games before returning to Green Bay for the 1968 and 1969 seasons.
Over four NFL years he played in 46 games at multiple positions, including linebacker, defensive end, and special teams, reflecting the versatility that defined his career.
Injuries later limited him, but he played briefly in the Canadian Football League with the Montreal Alouettes and later coached as an assistant at the College of the Holy Cross.
After leaving the game, Vandersea spent two decades with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, working as a counselor and community release supervisor.
He remained connected to football by supporting retired NFL players and participating in research on the long-term effects of concussions.
He ultimately donated his brain to Boston University’s CTE study.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Sandra, his children and grandchildren, and his brother Mark. A celebration of life is planned for November 8 in Northborough, Massachusetts.
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