Cleveland Browns Career: 1946-53

Notes:
Three-year starter with the Ohio State Buckeyes, playing both offense and defense... First African-American from OSU to win All-American honors... One of four African-Americans who helped break pro football's color barrier in 1946... Played in eight consecutive championship games, each year he was with the Browns... First African-American lineman to win all-league honors (AAFC, 1946; NFL, 1950)... Made game-saving tackle come-from-behind tackle of Gene Roberts at the four-yard-line which enabled the Browns to defeat the New York Giants for the American Conference Championship in 1950... Participated in three NFL Pro Bowls... Fellow Hall-of-Famer Paul Brown presented Willis at his HOF induction ceremony in 1977... Assistant Recreation Director for the City of Cleveland following his retirement in 1953... Served as director of the Ohio Youth Commission... Retired and lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Honors:
All-American Selection, Ohio State, 1943, 1944
AAFC All-League Team 1946,1947,1948,1949
All-NFL, 1950,1951,1952
Ohio High School Hall of Fame
Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1977