Ron Kramer, a two-time all-American at the University of Michiganwho became one of the first outstanding tight ends in the National Football League, playing for Coach Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers championship teams of the early 1960s, died Saturday at his home in Fenton, Mich. He was 75.

University of Michigan

Ron Kramer, a 1962 All-Pro.

His death was announced by the university. His former teammate Paul Hornung, the Packer Hall of Fame halfback, said that Kramer recently had several heart attacks.

When Kramer joined the Packers in 1957, they were a lackluster franchise. But everything began to change two years later, when Lombardi arrived.

“He was very convincing,” Kramer told The Flint Journal in 1994. “He told us how good we were.”

At 6 feet 3 inches and 235 pounds, Kramer became an outstanding receiver, and he was also a fine blocker on Lombardi’s favorite play, the sweep, which opened the way for Hornung to run wide or to pass.

“He was the reason the Lombardi sweep was successful,” Hornung said in an interview Sunday. “He was the main blocker.”

Kramer caught two touchdown passes from Bart Starr in the Packers’ 37-0 victory over the Giants in the 1961 title game. He was a first-team All-Pro in 1962, when the Packers beat the Giants, 16-7, for the title. He was a second-team All-Pro in 1963.

Ronald John Kramer was born on June 24, 1935, in Girard, Kan., but moved with his family to the Detroit area as a youngster. He was an all-American at Michigan in 1955 and ’56, playing end on offense and defense. He was also captain of the basketball team as a senior, when he set Michigan’s career scoring record, which has since been broken, and was a high jumper for the track team.

Kramer joined the Packers as a first-round draft pick in 1957, taken fourth over all, with Hornung having been the No. 1 choice.

Playing for the Packers in 1957 and, after a stint in the Air Force, from 1959 to 1964, and for the Detroit Lions from 1965 to ’67, Kramer had 229 career receptions for 3,272 yards and 16 touchdowns.

He is survived by his son, Kurt, and his daughter, Cassie. His wife, Nancy, died years ago.

He operated a specialty advertising business, Ron Kramer Industries, in Fenton.

Kramer played a key role on a brilliant Packers offensive line, with center Jim Ringo, guards Jerry Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston and tackles Forrest Gregg and Bob Skoronski.

Kramer was assigned to move the linebacker to help clear the way for Hornung. In recalling how all the linemen had to work together, Kramer saw the sweep play in a context beyond football.

“Everyone was important in the sweep,” he said in Michael MacCambridge’s book “America’s Game.” “It’s really all of life. We all have to do things together to make this thing we call America great.”

Ronald J Kramer