From ‘The Sheboygan Flash’ to ‘Pro Bowl Bill’: How Bill Schroeder became a well-known Green Bay Packers player | Throwback

SHEBOYGAN - Bill Schroeder didn't give football too much thought until his senior year at UW-LaCrosse, where his speed skills — developed in track competition — paved his way into the NFL and the Green Bay Packers.

Schroeder, who played as quarterback when he attended Sheboygan South High School, found that one season in college football was enough to impress the Packers' then general manager, Ron Wolf.

In that lone college season, Schroeder had 30 receptions for 752 yards and eight touchdowns, according to a Sheboygan Press clipping from the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.

He would collect several nicknames through his athletic career. He was affectionately known as "The Sheboygan Flash," "La Crosse Lightning," "Pro Bowl Bill" and "Bullet Bill," according to a Press clipping.

During the lows during his athletic career, he was also known as the "Southside Fumbler" to Sheboygan North-siders.

The Green Bay Packers selected Schroeder as a sixth-round draft pick in 1994, with his time spent on the practice squad before he was traded to New England, which released him.

He hooked up with the Packers again on the practice squad during that epic 1996 Super Bowl year. Schroeder then took a bit of a break from the NFL when he went to the World League in Europe with the Rhein Fire team in Germany in 1997. A bit later in 1997, he came back to the Packers when he made the 1997 team as a special teams player.

According to another Press clipping, Schroeder would become a starting receiver for the Packers, but would have some bumps along the way, including a forgettable personal foul penalty that proved costly in a game with Tampa Bay.

Another time Schroeder became the focal point in 1997 was during a Monday Night Football game in Minnesota. According to an Associated Press story, usually mild-mannered coach Mike Holmgren grabbed Schroeder by the jersey on the sidelines, yelled in his face, and shoved him away because he had been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct when he pushed down Vikings cornerback Dewayne Washington after the whistle.

Being a receiver at the Green Bay Packers' level isn't easy. Schroeder said in a Press clipping that it took him a whole year on the practice squad to acquire the knowledge to do the job well.

Speedy legs, however, made him a valuable addition to the Packers. His previous achievements in track at UW-LaCrosse earned him 17 All-America honors, eight National Championship honors and three Division III titles.

All told, Schroeder spent 11 years in professional football. His best years were in the late-1990s and early 2000s with the Packers.

In 1999, he had his only 1,000-yard season, racking up 1,051 yards and scoring five touchdowns on 74 grabs, according to a Press clipping.

During his NFL career, Schroeder would have 304 receptions, 28 touchdowns and have run 4,583 receiving yards, according to NFL stats.

Schroeder would end up playing with the Green Bay Packers, the New England Patriots, the Rein Fire, the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during his pro career.

However, his heart has always with the Green Bay Packers. In 2008, he informed General Manager Ted Thompson he would like to retire as a Packer. He would sign again with the Packers on May 21, 2008, and would retire the very next day.

Today, Schroeder is employed as a performance coach in track and field and football at Synergy Sports Performance in Green Bay. He coaches track and football at Ashwaubenon High School, teaching and encouraging the athletes of tomorrow.

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This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Packers' Bill Schroeder started his NFL journey at Sheboygan South