1972 Green Bay Packers season
Encyclopedia
The 1972 Green Bay Packers
season was their 52nd season in the National Football League
. The club posted a 10-4 record under coach Dan Devine
, earning them a first-place finish in the NFC Central
division. This marked the return of the Packers to the playoffs after a four-year drought. The Packers lost in the Divisional Playoffs
to the Washington Redskins
, 16-3. Chester Marcol set an NFL rookie record (since broken) for most Field Goals in one year with 32.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
season was their 52nd season in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. The club posted a 10-4 record under coach Dan Devine
Dan Devine
Daniel John Devine was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach football coach at Arizona State University from 1955 to 1957, the University of Missouri from 1958 to 1970, and the University of Notre Dame from 1975 to 1980, compiling a career college football mark of...
, earning them a first-place finish in the NFC Central
NFC North
The NFC North is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference, based in the Upper Midwest region of the United States...
division. This marked the return of the Packers to the playoffs after a four-year drought. The Packers lost in the Divisional Playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1972-73
The NFL playoffs following the 1972 NFL season led up to Super Bowl VII. Like the previous NFL seasons, the home teams in the playoffs were decided based on a yearly divisional rotation, excluding the wild card teams who would always play on the road.-Bracket:...
to the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, 16-3. Chester Marcol set an NFL rookie record (since broken) for most Field Goals in one year with 32.
NFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Willie Buchanon Willie Buchanon Willie James Buchanon is a former cornerback for the National Football League's Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers; he was defensive rookie of the year in 1972 and a three-time Pro Bowl player... |
Defensive Back Defensive back In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of... |
San Diego State San Diego State University San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system... |
| 1 | 11 (From San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... ) |
Jerry Tagge Jerry Tagge Jerry Lee Tagge is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the NFL, WFL, and CFL from 1972-79. He is best known as the quarterback of the Nebraska Cornhusker teams which won national championships in 1970 and 1971.... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Nebraska University of Nebraska–Lincoln The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is a public research university located in the city of Lincoln in the U.S. state of Nebraska... |
| 2 | 34 | Chester Marcol Chester Marcol Czesław "Chester" Marcol is a former American Football Placekicker for the Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1987.-Early years:... |
Placekicker Placekicker Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points... |
Hillsdale Hillsdale College Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis... |
| 4 | 86 | Eric Patton | Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
Notre Dame University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States... |
| 6 | 138 | Nathaniel Ross | Defensive Back | Bethune-Cookman |
| 6 | 147 | Bob Hudson Bob Hudson (American football running back) Bob Hudson is a former running back in the National Football League.-Career:Hudson was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1972 NFL Draft and played that season with the team. The following two seasons he played with the Oakland Raiders.He played at the collegiate level at... |
Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
Northeastern State Northeastern State University Northeastern State University is a public university with its main campus located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, United States, at the foot of the Ozark Mountains. Northeastern's home, Tahlequah, is also the capital of the Cherokee nation of Oklahoma... |
| 7 | 163 | Bill Bushong | Defensive Tackle | Kentucky University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky... |
| 8 | 190 | Leland Glass Leland Glass -Biography:Glass was born Leland Strother Glass on November 5, 1950 in Sacramento, California.-Career:Glass was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the eighth round of the 1972 NFL Draft and played two seasons with the team. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Oregon.-References:... |
Wide Receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
Oregon University of Oregon -Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :... |
| 10 | 242 | Keith Wortman Keith Wortman Keith Delane Wortman was an offensive lineman who played ten professional seasons in the National Football League. Wortman attended the University of Nebraska.Keith attended California High School from 1965 - 68.... |
Guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Nebraska |
| 11 | 266 | David Bailey | Wide Receiver | Alabama University of Alabama The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States.... |
| 12 | 294 | Mike Rich | Running Back | Florida University of Florida The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906... |
| 13 | 319 | Jesse Lakes | Running Back | Central Michigan Central Michigan University Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan... |
| 14 | 246 | Larry Hefner Larry Hefner -Biography:Hefner was born Larry Douglas Hefner on August 2, 1949 in Charlotte, North Carolina.-Career:Hefner was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourteenth round of the 1972 NFL Draft and played four seasons with the team. He played at the collegiate level at Clemson University.-References:... |
Linebacker | Clemson Clemson University Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States.... |
| 15 | 371 | Rick Thone | Wide Receiver | Arkansas Tech Arkansas Tech University Arkansas Tech University is a comprehensive regional institution located in Russellville, Arkansas, United States. The university offers programs at both baccalaureate and graduate levels in a range of fields. As of 2004, the University also operates a small satellite campus in the town of Ozark... |
| 16 | 398 | Charles Burrell | Defensive Tackle | Arkansas AM&N University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is a historically black university located in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States. Founded in 1873, it is the oldest HBCU and the second oldest public institution in the state of Arkansas . UAPB is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund... |
- Yellow indicates a future Pro BowlPro BowlIn professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 17, 1972 | at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 26-10 | Cleveland Stadium Cleveland Stadium Cleveland Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in Cleveland, Ohio. In its final years, the stadium seated 74,438, for baseball and 81,000, for football. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball and football... |
|
| 2 | September 24, 1972 | Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 20-14 | Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field... |
|
| 3 | October 1, 1972 | Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
W 16-13 | Milwaukee County Stadium Milwaukee County Stadium Milwaukee County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events... |
|
| 4 | October 8, 1972 | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20-17 | Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field... |
|
| 5 | October 16, 1972 | at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
W 24-23 | Tiger Stadium | |
| 6 | October 22, 1972 | Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 10-9 | Milwaukee County Stadium Milwaukee County Stadium Milwaukee County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events... |
|
| 7 | October 29, 1972 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
L 27-13 | Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field... |
|
| 8 | November 5, 1972 | San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
W 34-24 | Milwaukee County Stadium Milwaukee County Stadium Milwaukee County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events... |
|
| 9 | November 12, 1972 | at Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 23-17 | Soldier Field Soldier Field Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears... |
|
| 10 | November 19, 1972 | at Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
W 23-10 | Astrodome Reliant Astrodome Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex... |
|
| 11 | November 26, 1972 | at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
L 21-16 | RFK Stadium Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United.... |
|
| 12 | December 3, 1972 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
W 33-7 | Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field... |
|
| 13 | December 10, 1972 | at Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 23-7 | Metropolitan Stadium Metropolitan Stadium Metropolitan Stadium was a sports stadium that once stood in Bloomington, Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis. The area where the stadium once stood is now the site of the Mall of America... |
|
| 14 | December 17, 1972 | at New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
W 30-20 | Tulane Stadium Tulane Stadium Tulane Stadium was an outdoor football stadium located in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1926 to 1980. Officially known as the Third Tulane Stadium, it replaced the "Second Tulane Stadium" where the Telephone Exchange Building is now located... |
|
Playoffs
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Venue | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divisional | December 24, 1972 | at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
L 16-3 | RFK Stadium Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Washington, D.C., United States, and the current home of MLS's D.C. United.... |
|
Standings
| NFC Central | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| Green Bay Packers | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 304 | 226 | W-3 |
| Detroit Lions 1972 Detroit Lions season The 1972 Detroit Lions season was their 43rd in the league. The team improved on their previous season's output of 7-6-1, winning eight games. The team missed the playoffs for the second straight season.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
8 | 5 | 1 | .607 | 339 | 290 | W-1 |
| Minnesota Vikings 1972 Minnesota Vikings season 1972 was the 12th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a record of seven wins and seven losses.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-All-Pros:First Team... |
7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 301 | 252 | L-2 |
| Chicago Bears 1972 Chicago Bears season The 1972 Chicago Bears season was their 53rd regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 4-9-1 record, another below .500 showing, in head coach Abe Gibron's first season.-Schedule:-Standings:... |
4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | 225 | 275 | L-1 |
Roster
| Green Bay Packers roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Ken Bowman Kenneth Brian Bowman was a center in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers. Bowman was the center during the winning play of the Ice Bowl in which Bart Starr scored the winning touchdown. Bowman attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison.... Gale Gillingham Gale Herbert Gillingham , was an American guard who spent his entire ten-year professional football career in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers .... Bill Hayhoe William J. Hayhoe II is a former American footballoffensive tackle in the National Football League who played for the Green Bay Packers. Hayhoe played collegiate ball for Los Angeles Valley College and the University of Southern California before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 5th... Dick Himes Richard Dean Himes, AKA "Ox" Himes, was a National Football League offensive lineman from 1968 through 1977 for the Green Bay Packers.... Kevin Hunt (American football) Richard Kevin Hunt is a former professional American football player who played offensive lineman for seven seasons for the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Houston Oilers, and New Orleans Saints.-References:... Bill Lueck William "Bill" Lueck is a former guard in the National Football League who played 98 games for the Green Bay Packers and 11 games for the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1968, the Green Bay Packers used the 26th pick in the 1st round of the 1968 NFL Draft to sign Lueck out of the University of Arizona. ... Francis Peay -External links:... Malcolm Snider Malcolm Pratt Snider is a former professional American football guard and tackle who played six seasons in the National Football League.-College career:... Cal Withrow James Calvin Withrow is a former center in the National Football League who played for the San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers and the St. Louis Cardinals. Withrow played collegiate ball for the University of Kentucky before playing professionally in the NFL for 5 season and retired in 1974.... Keith Wortman Keith Delane Wortman was an offensive lineman who played ten professional seasons in the National Football League. Wortman attended the University of Nebraska.Keith attended California High School from 1965 - 68.... Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Jim Carter (American football) James Charles Carter is a former American football player who played linebacker for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League from 1970-1978.-External links:*went to South Saint Paul High School... Tommy Crutcher Tommy Joe Crutcher Tommy Joe Crutcher with 10.5 speed, was one of the finest fullbacks and defensive linebackers in Texas High School football during the late 1950s... Larry Hefner -Biography:Hefner was born Larry Douglas Hefner on August 2, 1949 in Charlotte, North Carolina.-Career:Hefner was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourteenth round of the 1972 NFL Draft and played four seasons with the team. He played at the collegiate level at Clemson University.-References:... Ray Nitschke Raymond Ernest "Ray" Nitschke was a professional football player who played his entire career as a middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. Wearing #66, he played fifteen seasons, from 1958-72.... Defensive Backs
Special Teams
Rookies and first-year players in italics |
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Awards, records, and honors
- Chester MarcolChester MarcolCzesław "Chester" Marcol is a former American Football Placekicker for the Green Bay Packers. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1987.-Early years:...
, NFL rookie record (since broken), most Field Goals in one year by a rookie, (32) - Willie BuchanonWillie BuchanonWillie James Buchanon is a former cornerback for the National Football League's Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers; he was defensive rookie of the year in 1972 and a three-time Pro Bowl player...
- AP Defensive Rookie of the Year