One retired Knoxville sportswriter, Marvin West, recalled for a 2011 story on Widby that "he was good for his age.

He did just that, signing with Tennessee after starring as a quarterback, safety, and punter at Fulton High School in Knoxville.

However, near the end of his senior football season at Fulton, he broke his arm and shoulder.

[1] After arriving at his hometown university, Widby initially decided to concentrate on basketball due to his high school injury.

[1] He had the unusual situation of having his football team playing in the 1965 Bluebonnet Bowl and at the same time the basketball squad was participating in the Gulf South Classic, so he was ferried by airplane back and forth between Shreveport and Houston as his playing schedule required.

[1] Similarly to the previous year, he had to take part in a basketball tournament and then rush to play in the 1966 Gator Bowl football game on the same day.

Although basketball was his favorite sport, he signed with the Saints for a $50,000 bonus, who released him in August when he couldn't beat rookie undrafted free agent Tom McNeill.

He was assigned to the Oklahoma City Plainsmen of the Continental Football League before returning to the team's taxi squad in December.

In 1969, he voluntarily gave his #12 jersey to future hall of famer Roger Staubach, who had resigned his naval commission to join the Cowboys.

On September 5, 1972, to make room for rookie punter Marv Bateman who could also place kick if needed, he was traded to the Green Bay Packers along with cornerback Ike Thomas, in exchange for a 1973 second round draft choice (#46-Golden Richards) .