Bill Willis is seen here on Sept. 11, 1944. (Associated Press)

Bill Willis, tackle for Ohio State. (Associated Press)

Bill Willis, one of the first African American football players to play professional football when he played guard for the Cleveland Browns. (Associated Press)

Coach Paul Brown, lower left, poses with Cleveland Browns players on Dec. 23, 1952. At front, left to right: Coach Brown, Dante Lavelli, Lin Houston, Frank Gatski, and George Young. Standing, left to right: Marion Motley, Otto Graham, Mac Speedie, Lou Groza, and Bill Willis. (AP Photo/Julian Wilson)

Cleveland Browns' Bill Willis, #60, is pictured during a game on Nov. 1, 1953. (Associated Press)

Cleveland, Browns players pose for a photo. Front row, Dante Lavelli, Marion Motley, Lou Groza, and Otto graham, Back Row, Bill Willis, Frank Gatski, George Young, Max Speedie and Lin Houstin on August 4, 1952 in Cleveland. (Associated Press)

Bill Willis, Ohio State's first black football All-American in 1943 and 1944, waves to the crowd as his No. 99 jersey was retired at halftime during a college football game in Nov. 3, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Hall of Famer Bill Willis of the Cleveland Browns waves after he was honored at halftime of the Hall of Fame football game in this Aug. 6, 2006 file photo, in Canton, Ohio. Willis, a two-time All-American at Ohio State and Hall of Famer with the Browns helped break down pro football's color barrier in the 1940s. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)