Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1973
On Nov. 26, 1942, Cochran had an amazing day in a 33-14 win over South Carolina at Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte. In the first quarter, Cochran took a lateral pass and went 30 yards for a touchdown. In the third quarter, he broke through right tackle and went 54 yards for a score. Also in the third quarter, he sprinted 25 yards and threw a lateral to a teammate who went on to score. Cochran added a 57-yard punt return for a score in the third quarter and went 45 yards with an interception for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
World War II compelled him to withdraw from the university to pilot B-24 aircraft for the Air Force. After the war, he returned to complete his eligibility.
An eighth round NFL Draft pick in 1944, Cochran played for the Chicago Cardinals from 1947-49. He recorded 15 interceptions in his first two seasons including two in the 1948 NFL Championship game.
After his playing days ended, Cochran moved into his first coaching job as a member of the Wake Forest staff. He worked his way into the professional coaching ranks and was tapped by Vince Lombardi to join the staff of the Green Bay Packers in 1959.
In his eight seasons there, Cochran developed one of the most acclaimed backfields in football history: quarterback Bart Starr and running backs Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung. The Packers won the NFL's inaugural World Championship Game in January of 1967; the contest would not become known as the Super Bowl for another three years.
During his coaching career, he spent time as an assistant coach with the Detroit Lions (1956-58), Packers (1959-66, 71-74), St. Louis Cardinals Cardinals (1968-69) and San Diego Chargers (1970). From 1975 until his death in 2004, Cochran was a scout for the Packers.
Cochran was born Aug. 2, 1922 and died on Sept. 5, 2004.
He was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 1972-73. He was elected to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1996.
