Bill Pellington

William A. Pellington (September 25, 1927 – April 26, 1994) was an American professional football linebacker who played 12 seasons in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts. Born in Paterson, New Jersey, he was raised in nearby Ramsey, where he attended and played prep football at Ramsey High School. After graduating, Pellington joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Panama during the final months of World War II. Following his military service he returned to New Jersey, where he played football and baseball for the team representing the American Legion in Wyckoff.

Pellington began his college football career at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio, before transferring to Rutgers University. He spent two years at Rutgers, graduating in 1952, and became known there for his speed relative to his size, playing both quarterback and fullback.

In the NFL, Pellington was known for his aggressive style and his so-called neck-tie tackles. He was a mainstay with the Baltimore Colts teams that captured league championships in the 1958 and 1959 seasons. Pellington died on April 26, 1994.