Dick Himes, one of the more unsung offensive linemen in Green Bay Packers history, died July 5, 2026, at his home in Luxemburg, Wis. Himes had suffered from Parkinson's disease and was receiving hospice care. He was 80 years old.
Himes was drafted by the Packers in the third round – the 81st overall selection – in 1968. He had been a two-time all-state selection as a high school player in Canton, Ohio, and then started for three years and was a two-time all-Big Ten Conference pick at Ohio State.
Himes backed up starting right tackle and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg during his first two seasons in Green Bay. In 1970, Himes replaced Gregg but missed five starts with a knee injury. Thereafter, Himes was a fixture at right tackle for seven seasons.
"Dick was from the Woody Hayes' school at Ohio State," said former Packers center Larry McCarren in reference to Himes' college coach, who won 13 Big Ten championships and three national titles. "So he knew the right way to go about this stuff.
"He wasn't just a good, solid all-around player. Could he run block? Yes. Could he pass block? Yes. He wasn't just a guy you put out there. He was good. You didn't have to worry about Dick Himes."
From 1971 through '77, Himes started 95 of 98 games. He is one of only five right tackles in Packers history – the others being Gregg, Mark Tauscher, Greg Koch and Bryan Bulaga – to start more than 100 games.
"He was an established guy when I came here and everybody respected him," said McCarren, who started with Himes for four seasons from 1974-77. "He came here with fundamentals and used them."
Himes played in an era when linemen had to punch and use their feet to pass block without latching on; and most run blocking was one-on-one.
For most of his eight seasons as a starter, Himes played next to right guard Gale Gillingham, a perennial all-pro that Gregg and Bart Starr called the best in Packers history at his position. From 1971-73, Packers fullback John Brockington became the first runner in NFL history to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in his first three seasons. Gillingham wasn't part of the offensive line in 1972, but Himes didn't miss a game during that stretch.
"Pretty dynamite," was how McCarren described the right side of those lines.
Himes did not want a funeral or an announcement about his death. His one request was that his brain be donated to Boston University for research at its CTE Center.
