Bart Starr
Encyclopedia
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr (born January 9, 1934) is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers
from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 .
He was named the Most Valuable Player of the first two Super Bowl
s and earned four Pro Bowl
selections. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
and Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
in 1977. He won the league MVP award in 1966.
Starr has the second-highest playoff passer rating (104.80, behind current Packer Aaron Rodgers
' 112.6) of any quarterback in NFL
history and a playoff record of 9–1. Starr's career completion percentage of 57.4 was an NFL best when he retired in 1972. Starr also held the Packers' franchise record for games-played (196) for 32 years, through the 2003 season.
Starr played at the University of Alabama
from 1952 to 1956 and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 17th round of the 1956 draft (199th overall).
, his father's reserve unit was activated and in 1942 he was deployed to the Pacific Theater. His was first in the Army but transferred to the Air Force for his military career.
Starr had a younger brother, Hilton (Bubba). In 1947, Bubba stepped on a dog bone while playing in the yard and passed away of tetanus
three days later. Starr’s relationship with his father deteriorated after Hilton’s passing. He was an introverted child who rarely showed his emotions and his father pushed to develop more of a mean streak.
Starr attended Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama. He tried out for the football team in his sophomore year, but decided to quit after two weeks. His father gave him the option of playing football or working in the family garden; Starr chose to return to the football field.
In his junior year, the starting quarterback broke his leg and Starr became the starter. He led Lanier to an undefeated season. In his senior season, Starr was named all-state and All-American, and received college scholarship offers from universities across the country. He seriously considered the University of Kentucky
, coached by Bear Bryant
. Starr's high school sweetheart, Cherry Louise Morton, was planning to attend Auburn
and Starr wished to attend a college close to her. Starr changed his mind and committed to the University of Alabama
.
was fought during Starr’s freshman year, the SEC conference – which Alabama was a part of – allowed freshman to play varsity ball. Starr did not start for Alabama his freshman year, but did play enough minutes to earn a varsity letter. His high point of the season was in the Orange Bowl
, where in quarterback relief he completed eight of 12 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Bart Starr entered his sophomore year as Alabama’s starting quarterback and punter. He also played starting safety. His punting average of 41.4 yards per kick ranked second in the nation in 1953 behind Zeke Bratkowski
. Alabama had a 6–2–3 record and lost in the Cotton Bowl to Rice
by the score of 28–3. Starr completed 59 out of 119 passes for 870 yards, with eight touchdowns that season.
In May, 1954, Starr eloped with Cherry Morton. The couple choose to keep their marriage a secret. Colleges often revoked the scholarships of married athletes in the 1950s, believing their focus should remain on sports. Cherry remained in Jackson, Alabama when Starr returned to the University of Alabama.
That summer, Starr suffered a severe back sprain while punting a football. He barely played his junior year due to the injury. The back sprain would occasionally bother him the rest of his football career. After a disappointing season of 4–5–2, Red Drew was replaced by J. B. Whitworth as coach of Alabama.
Whitworth conducted a youth movement in Alabama for the 1955 season and only two seniors started for the team. While healed from the back injury, Starr rarely played in his senior season. Starr played briefly in the Blue–Gray bowl of 1955.
Johnny Dees, the basketball coach at Alabama, was a friend of Jack Vainisi, the personal director of the Green Bay Packers. Dees recommended Starr as a prospect to Vainisi. The Packers were under the impression that Starr was a Phi Beta Kappa and would learn quickly. In the 17th round of the 1956 draft, the Green Bay Packers made Starr the 199th player selected.
Starr spent the summer of 1956 living with his in-laws and throwing footballs through a tire in their backyard, in order to prepare for his rookie season. The Packers offered $6500 to sign Starr and he accepted, with the added condition, by Starr, that he receive $1000 up front.
in 1956
and split time with Babe Parilli
until 1959
, Vince Lombardi
's first year as Packers coach. In that season, Lombardi pulled starter Lamar McHan
in favor of Starr, and he held the starting job henceforth. The following season the Packers advanced to the 1960 NFL Championship Game
, but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles
, Lombardi's only post season loss as a head coach. The Packers returned to the title game and won in 1961
and 1962
, both over the New York Giants
. In 1966
, Starr was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player by the Associated Press
(AP), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) and UPI.
Starr was responsible for calling plays when he was quarterback, as was the norm at the time. One of his most famous play calls was in the Ice Bowl against the Dallas Cowboys
in the NFL championship game on the final day of 1967
. In Miami, the Packers defeated the AFL champion Oakland Raiders
33–14 in Super Bowl II
, Lombardi's final game as head coach of the Packers.
The 1967 Packers
were the last team to win three consecutive NFL titles. Starr's playing career ended at the conclusion of the 1971 season
, and at the time had the second best career passer rating at 80.5. (First at the time was Otto Graham
at 86.6)
In 1965, Starr and his wife Cherry helped co-found Rawhide Boys Ranch
in New London
, a facility designed to help at-risk and troubled boys throughout the state of Wisconsin
, and continue to be affiliated with it.
under Dan Devine
, when the Packers won the NFC Central division title at 10–4 with Scott Hunter
under center. He was then a broadcaster for CBS
for two seasons. When Devine left for Notre Dame
after the 1974
season, Starr was hired as head coach of the Packers. His regular season record was a disappointing 52–76–2 , with a playoff record of 1–1. Posting a 5–3–1 record in the strike-shortened season of 1982
, Starr's Packers made their first playoff appearance in ten years (and their last for another 11 years). They defeated the St. Louis Cardinals
41–16 in the expanded wild card round of 16 teams on January 8, 1983, then lost to the Dallas Cowboys
37–26 in the divisional round the following week. After a disappointing 8–8 finish the following year, Starr was dismissed in favor of his former teammate, Forrest Gregg
, who previously led the Cincinnati Bengals
to Super Bowl XVI
and coached the Cleveland Browns
before that.
Starr was voted to the NFL Pro Bowl four times. He was voted NFL Most Valuable Player by both AP and UPI in 1966, and was chosen Super Bowl MVP in 1966 and 1967. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 1977.
He is one of five Green Bay Packers to have his number (15) retired by the team. The others are Tony Canadeo
(3), Don Hutson
(14), Ray Nitschke
(66), and Reggie White
(92). Of the five, only Starr is still living.
Starr was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
in 1981.
Starr has an NFL award named after him. The Bart Starr Award is given annually, by a panel of judges, to an NFL player of outstanding character. Drew Brees was the recipient of the 2011 award, presented in Dallas, Texas.
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...
from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 .
He was named the Most Valuable Player of the first two Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s and earned four Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In 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...
selections. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
and Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame was the first hall of fame built to honor a single professional American football team. After receiving approval from coach Vince Lombardi, William L. Brault, a Green Bay restaurateur and Packers fan, founded the Hall of Fame in 1966...
in 1977. He won the league MVP award in 1966.
Starr has the second-highest playoff passer rating (104.80, behind current Packer Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Charles Rodgers is an American football quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . Rodgers was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Packers...
' 112.6) of any quarterback in NFL
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...
history and a playoff record of 9–1. Starr's career completion percentage of 57.4 was an NFL best when he retired in 1972. Starr also held the Packers' franchise record for games-played (196) for 32 years, through the 2003 season.
Starr played at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
from 1952 to 1956 and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the 17th round of the 1956 draft (199th overall).
Early life
Starr’s early life was marked by hardships. Shortly after the start of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, his father's reserve unit was activated and in 1942 he was deployed to the Pacific Theater. His was first in the Army but transferred to the Air Force for his military career.
Starr had a younger brother, Hilton (Bubba). In 1947, Bubba stepped on a dog bone while playing in the yard and passed away of tetanus
Tetanus
Tetanus is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani...
three days later. Starr’s relationship with his father deteriorated after Hilton’s passing. He was an introverted child who rarely showed his emotions and his father pushed to develop more of a mean streak.
Starr attended Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama. He tried out for the football team in his sophomore year, but decided to quit after two weeks. His father gave him the option of playing football or working in the family garden; Starr chose to return to the football field.
In his junior year, the starting quarterback broke his leg and Starr became the starter. He led Lanier to an undefeated season. In his senior season, Starr was named all-state and All-American, and received college scholarship offers from universities across the country. He seriously considered the University of 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...
, coached by Bear Bryant
Bear Bryant
Paul William "Bear" Bryant was an American college football player and coach. He was best known as the longtime head coach of the University of Alabama football team. During his 25-year tenure as Alabama's head coach, he amassed six national championships and thirteen conference championships...
. Starr's high school sweetheart, Cherry Louise Morton, was planning to attend Auburn
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
and Starr wished to attend a college close to her. Starr changed his mind and committed to the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
.
College career (1952–1956)
As the Korean WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
was fought during Starr’s freshman year, the SEC conference – which Alabama was a part of – allowed freshman to play varsity ball. Starr did not start for Alabama his freshman year, but did play enough minutes to earn a varsity letter. His high point of the season was in the Orange Bowl
Orange Bowl
The Orange Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It has been played annually since January 1, 1935 and celebrated its 75th playing on January 1, 2009...
, where in quarterback relief he completed eight of 12 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Bart Starr entered his sophomore year as Alabama’s starting quarterback and punter. He also played starting safety. His punting average of 41.4 yards per kick ranked second in the nation in 1953 behind Zeke Bratkowski
Zeke Bratkowski
Edmund Raymond "Zeke" Bratkowski is a former All-American quarterback at the University of Georgia from 1952 to 1953. He also had a fourteen year career in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, L.A. Rams and Green Bay Packers, followed by a 26-year coaching career...
. Alabama had a 6–2–3 record and lost in the Cotton Bowl to Rice
Rice Owls football
The Rice Owls football team represents Rice University in NCAA Division I college football. The Owls have competed in Conference USA's Western Division since 2005. Rice Stadium, built in 1950, hosts the Owls' home football games.-Venue:...
by the score of 28–3. Starr completed 59 out of 119 passes for 870 yards, with eight touchdowns that season.
In May, 1954, Starr eloped with Cherry Morton. The couple choose to keep their marriage a secret. Colleges often revoked the scholarships of married athletes in the 1950s, believing their focus should remain on sports. Cherry remained in Jackson, Alabama when Starr returned to the University of Alabama.
That summer, Starr suffered a severe back sprain while punting a football. He barely played his junior year due to the injury. The back sprain would occasionally bother him the rest of his football career. After a disappointing season of 4–5–2, Red Drew was replaced by J. B. Whitworth as coach of Alabama.
Whitworth conducted a youth movement in Alabama for the 1955 season and only two seniors started for the team. While healed from the back injury, Starr rarely played in his senior season. Starr played briefly in the Blue–Gray bowl of 1955.
Johnny Dees, the basketball coach at Alabama, was a friend of Jack Vainisi, the personal director of the Green Bay Packers. Dees recommended Starr as a prospect to Vainisi. The Packers were under the impression that Starr was a Phi Beta Kappa and would learn quickly. In the 17th round of the 1956 draft, the Green Bay Packers made Starr the 199th player selected.
Starr spent the summer of 1956 living with his in-laws and throwing footballs through a tire in their backyard, in order to prepare for his rookie season. The Packers offered $6500 to sign Starr and he accepted, with the added condition, by Starr, that he receive $1000 up front.
Packers quarterback
Starr began as a backup to Tobin RoteTobin Rote
Tobin Cornelius Rote was an American college and professional football player who played quarterback for the NFL's Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts, and the American Football League's San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.-Early life:Rote...
in 1956
1956 Green Bay Packers season
The 1956 Green Bay Packers season was their 36th in the National Football League. The club posted a 4-8 record under coach Lisle Blackbourn, earning them a fifth-place finish in the Western Conference.-NFL Draft:...
and split time with Babe Parilli
Babe Parilli
-Biography:Parilli was born in the Pittsburgh industrial suburb of Rochester, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Kentucky as an All-American starting quarterback for the Wildcats under Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant....
until 1959
1959 Green Bay Packers season
The 1959 Green Bay Packers season was their 39th season in the National Football League and 41st overall. The club posted a 7-5 record under first-year coach Vince Lombardi, earning a third-place finish in the National Conference.-NFL Draft:...
, Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi was an American football coach. He is best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s, where he led the team to three straight league championships and five in seven years, including winning the first two Super Bowls following the 1966 and...
's first year as Packers coach. In that season, Lombardi pulled starter Lamar McHan
Lamar McHan
Clarence Lamar McHan was a professional American football quarterback in the National Football League. McHan played football collegiately at the University of Arkansas. He was ninth in the 1953 Heisman Trophy balloting.McHan played for the Green Bay Packers from 1959-1960...
in favor of Starr, and he held the starting job henceforth. The following season the Packers advanced to the 1960 NFL Championship Game
NFL Championship Game, 1961
The 1961 National Football League championship game was the 29th title game. The game was played at "New" City Stadium, later known as Lambeau Field, in Green Bay, Wisconsin on December 31, 1961...
, but lost to the Philadelphia Eagles
1960 Philadelphia Eagles season
The 1960 Philadelphia Eagles season, their 28th in the league, resulted in defeating the Green Bay Packers to win their third NFL Championship. It was their only postseason appearance in the twenty-eight seasons from 1950 to 1977.-Off Season:...
, Lombardi's only post season loss as a head coach. The Packers returned to the title game and won in 1961
NFL Championship Game, 1961
The 1961 National Football League championship game was the 29th title game. The game was played at "New" City Stadium, later known as Lambeau Field, in Green Bay, Wisconsin on December 31, 1961...
and 1962
NFL Championship Game, 1962
The 1962 National Football League championship game was the 30th NFL title game. The game was played on December 30, 1962 at Yankee Stadium in New York City between the New York Giants and Green Bay Packers. The attendance for the game was 64,892. The Packers were coached by Hall of Fame coach...
, both over the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In 1966
1966 Green Bay Packers season
The 1966 Green Bay Packers season was their 46th in the NFL and resulted in a 12-2 record, coached by Vince Lombardi and led by quarterback Bart Starr. The team beat the Dallas Cowboys in the 1966 NFL Championship Game, the Packers' 10th NFL title...
, Starr was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
(AP), the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) and UPI.
Starr was responsible for calling plays when he was quarterback, as was the norm at the time. One of his most famous play calls was in the Ice Bowl against the Dallas Cowboys
1967 Dallas Cowboys season
The 1967 Dallas Cowboys season was their eighth in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 10–3–1, winning only nine games. They qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive season.-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:...
in the NFL championship game on the final day of 1967
1967 NFL season
The 1967 NFL season was the 48th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 16 teams with the addition of the New Orleans Saints. The league's teams were realigned into four divisions: the Capitol and Century Divisions in the Eastern Conference, and the Central and...
. In Miami, the Packers defeated the AFL champion Oakland Raiders
1967 Oakland Raiders season
With only one game played during the AFL's opening week, the Raiders' season began on September 10, 1967, with a 51–0 wipeout of the Denver Broncos in front of a home crowd of just more than 25,000. Running back Hewritt Dixon caught one touchdown pass and ran for another. Warren Powers capped the...
33–14 in Super Bowl II
Super Bowl II
The second AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida....
, Lombardi's final game as head coach of the Packers.
The 1967 Packers
1967 Green Bay Packers season
The 1967 Green Bay Packers season was their 47th season in the NFL and resulted in a 9-4-1 record and a victory in Super Bowl II. The team beat the Dallas Cowboys in the 1967 NFL Championship Game, a game commonly known as the "Ice Bowl," which marked the second time the Packers had won an...
were the last team to win three consecutive NFL titles. Starr's playing career ended at the conclusion of the 1971 season
1971 NFL season
The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins...
, and at the time had the second best career passer rating at 80.5. (First at the time was Otto Graham
Otto Graham
Otto Everett Graham, Jr. was a professional American football and basketball player who played for the Cleveland Browns in both the All-America Football Conference and National Football League, as well as the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League.-Early life:Born in Waukegan,...
at 86.6)
In 1965, Starr and his wife Cherry helped co-found Rawhide Boys Ranch
Rawhide Boys Ranch
Rawhide Boy's Ranch is a faith-based non-profit organization located just south of New London, Wisconsin, established in 1965. It provides residential programs for delinquent and emotionally disturbed adolescent boys.-1965 - 1983:...
in New London
New London, Wisconsin
New London is a city in Outagamie and Waupaca Counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 7,295 at the 2010 census. The city has a Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Irish Fest, and week-long festivities, when the city's name is changed to "New Dublin" for the week. The American Water...
, a facility designed to help at-risk and troubled boys throughout the state of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, and continue to be affiliated with it.
Packers coach
Immediately after his retirement as a player, he served as an assistant coach (quarterbacks) in 19721972 Green Bay Packers season
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...
under 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...
, when the Packers won the NFC Central division title at 10–4 with Scott Hunter
Scott Hunter (American football)
James Scott Hunter is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League. He played for the Green Bay Packers, the Buffalo Bills, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Detroit Lions...
under center. He was then a broadcaster for CBS
NFL on CBS
The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:...
for two seasons. When Devine left for Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
after the 1974
1974 Green Bay Packers season
The 1974 Green Bay Packers season was their 54th season in the National Football League. The club posted a 6-8 record under coach Dan Devine, earning them a third-place finish in the NFC Central division...
season, Starr was hired as head coach of the Packers. His regular season record was a disappointing 52–76–2 , with a playoff record of 1–1. Posting a 5–3–1 record in the strike-shortened season of 1982
1982 Green Bay Packers season
The 1982 Green Bay Packers season was their 62nd season in the National Football League and shortened due to a players strike. The club posted a 5–3–1 record under coach Bart Starr. Due to the strike, the NFL ignored division standing and placed eight teams from each conference into the playoffs....
, Starr's Packers made their first playoff appearance in ten years (and their last for another 11 years). They defeated the St. Louis Cardinals
1982 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season
The 1982 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 63rd year with the National Football League and the 23rd season in St. Louis. It was the Cardinals first postseason appearance since 1975, and their last before the team's 1988 move to Arizona. The '82 Football Cardinals were 5-4 during the...
41–16 in the expanded wild card round of 16 teams on January 8, 1983, then lost to the Dallas Cowboys
1982 Dallas Cowboys season
The Dallas Cowboys finished the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses, placing them second in the NFC. After losing the season opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers , the Cowboys won the next six, five after the strike...
37–26 in the divisional round the following week. After a disappointing 8–8 finish the following year, Starr was dismissed in favor of his former teammate, Forrest Gregg
Forrest Gregg
Alvis Forrest Gregg is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League. During a Pro Football Hall of Fame playing career, he was a part of six championships, five of them with the Green Bay Packers before closing out his tenure with the Dallas Cowboys with a win in...
, who previously led the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
to Super Bowl XVI
Super Bowl XVI
Super Bowl XVI was an American football game played on January 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan to decide the National Football League champion following the 1981 regular season. It marked the first time that a Super Bowl was held at a cold-weather city...
and coached the 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...
before that.
Honors
He is one of five Green Bay Packers to have his number (15) retired by the team. The others are Tony Canadeo
Tony Canadeo
Anthony Robert "Tony" Canadeo was a professional football player, a halfback and quarterback for the NFL's Green Bay Packers from 1941 to 1944 and 1946 to 1952, having missed the 1945 season while serving in the United States Army during World War II.Born and raised in Chicago, Tony Canadeo...
(3), Don Hutson
Don Hutson
Donald Montgomery Hutson was the first star wide receiver in National Football League history. He is considered by many to have been the first modern receiver....
(14), Ray Nitschke
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....
(66), and Reggie White
Reggie White
Reginald Howard "Reggie" White was a professional American football player. He played 15 seasons as a defensive end in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most decorated players in NFL history...
(92). Of the five, only Starr is still living.
Starr was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
The Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame is a promenade in downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, dedicated to honoring distinguished members of Wisconsin's sports history. New members are honored at a biennial banquet.-History:...
in 1981.
Starr has an NFL award named after him. The Bart Starr Award is given annually, by a panel of judges, to an NFL player of outstanding character. Drew Brees was the recipient of the 2011 award, presented in Dallas, Texas.
Head coaching record
| Team | |Regular Season | GB 1975 Green Bay Packers season The 1975 Green Bay Packers season was their 55th season in the National Football League. The club posted a 4-10 record under new coach Bart Starr, earning them a fourth-place finish in the NFC Central division.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-Roster:... |
1975 1975 NFL season The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:... |
4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 3rd in NFC Central | – | – | – | – |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB 1976 Green Bay Packers season The 1976 Green Bay Packers season was their 56th season in the National Football League. The club posted a 5-9 record under coach Bart Starr, earning them a fourth-place finish in the NFC Central division.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-Roster:... |
1976 1976 NFL season The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers... |
5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 4th in NFC Central | ||||||
| GB 1977 Green Bay Packers season The 1977 Green Bay Packers season was their 57th season in the National Football League. The club posted a 4-10 record under coach Bart Starr, earning them a fourth-place finish in the NFC Central division.-NFL Draft:... |
1977 1977 NFL season The 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central.... |
4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 4th in NFC Central | ||||||
| GB 1978 Green Bay Packers season The 1978 Green Bay Packers season was their 58th season in the National Football League. The club posted a 8-7-1 record under coach Bart Starr, earning them a second place finish in the NFC Central division... |
1978 1978 NFL season The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference... |
8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 2nd in NFC Central | ||||||
| GB 1979 Green Bay Packers season The 1979 Green Bay Packers season was their 59th season in the National Football League. The club posted a 5-11 record under coach Bart Starr, earning them a fourth-place finish in the NFC Central division.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-Roster:... |
1979 1979 NFL season The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams... |
5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in NFC Central | ||||||
| GB 1980 Green Bay Packers season The 1980 Green Bay Packers season was their 60th season in the National Football League. The club posted a 5–10–1 record under coach Bart Starr, earning them a fourth-place finish in the NFC Central division.-NFL Draft :... |
1980 1980 NFL season The 1980 NFL season was the 61st regular season of the National Football League.After the league declined to approve the proposed move by the Raiders from Oakland, California to Los Angeles, the team along with the Los Angeles Coliseum sued the NFL for violating antitrust laws... |
5 | 10 | 1 | .344 | 5th in NFC Central | ||||||
| GB 1981 Green Bay Packers season The 1981 Green Bay Packers season was their 61st season in the National Football League. The club posted a 8–8 record under coach Bart Starr, earning them a third-place finish in the NFC Central division.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:... |
1981 1981 NFL season The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals.-Major rule changes:... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in NFC Central | ||||||
| GB 1982 Green Bay Packers season The 1982 Green Bay Packers season was their 62nd season in the National Football League and shortened due to a players strike. The club posted a 5–3–1 record under coach Bart Starr. Due to the strike, the NFL ignored division standing and placed eight teams from each conference into the playoffs.... |
1982 1982 NFL season The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule... |
5 | 3 | 1 | .611 | 3rd in NFC | 1 | 1 | .500 | Defeated St. Louis Cardinals 1982 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season The 1982 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 63rd year with the National Football League and the 23rd season in St. Louis. It was the Cardinals first postseason appearance since 1975, and their last before the team's 1988 move to Arizona. The '82 Football Cardinals were 5-4 during the... in first round NFL playoffs, 1982-83 The NFL playoffs following the 1982 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XVII.A players' strike reduced the regular season to nine games. Thus, the league used a special 16-team playoff format , just for this year. Division standings were ignored... . Lost to Dallas Cowboys 1982 Dallas Cowboys season The Dallas Cowboys finished the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses, placing them second in the NFC. After losing the season opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers , the Cowboys won the next six, five after the strike... in second round. |
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| GB 1983 Green Bay Packers season The 1983 Green Bay Packers season was their 63rd season in the National Football League. The club posted a 8–8 record under coach Bart Starr, earning them a second-place finish in the NFC Central division. The 1983 season was the last that the Packers played under Starr. The team set an NFL record... |
1983 1983 NFL season The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2nd in NFC Central | ||||||
| Total | 52 | 76 | 3 | .408 | 1 | 1 | .500 | |||||
Regular season
| Year | | Passing | | Rushing | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Comp | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 1956 1956 NFL season The 1956 NFL season was the 37th regular season of the National Football League. CBS became the first network to televise some regular season games across the nation... |
44 | 24 | 325 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 35 | 7.0 | 0 | |
| 1957 1957 NFL season The 1957 NFL season was the 38th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Detroit Lions crushed the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship Game, 59–14.-Major rule changes:... |
215 | 117 | 1,489 | 8 | 10 | 31 | 98 | 3.1 | 3 | |
| 1958 1958 NFL season The 1958 NFL season was the 39th regular season of the National Football League.The Baltimore Colts defeated the New York Giants, 23–17, in the first sudden-death overtime in an NFL Championship Game... |
157 | 78 | 875 | 3 | 12 | 25 | 113 | 4.5 | 1 | |
| 1959 1959 NFL season The 1959 NFL season was the 40th regular season of the National Football League. Tragedy struck as NFL Commissioner Bert Bell died of a heart attack on October 11 at Philadelphia's Franklin Field while watching the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers play... |
134 | 70 | 972 | 6 | 7 | 16 | 83 | 5.2 | 0 | |
| 1960 1960 NFL season The 1960 NFL season was the 41st regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, Pete Rozelle was elected NFL commissioner as a compromise choice on the twenty-third ballot. Meanwhile, the league expanded to 13 teams with the addition of the Dallas Cowboys. Also, the Cardinals... |
172 | 98 | 1,358 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 12 | 1.7 | 0 | |
| 1961 1961 NFL season The 1961 NFL season was the 42nd regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 14 teams with the addition of the Minnesota Vikings, after the team's owners declined to be charter members of the new American Football League. The schedule was also expanded from 12 games per... |
295 | 172 | 2,418 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 56 | 4.7 | 1 | |
| 1962 1962 NFL season The 1962 NFL season was the 43rd regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, CBS signed a contract with the league to televise all regular-season games for a $4.65 million annual fee.... |
285 | 178 | 2,438 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 72 | 3.4 | 1 | |
| 1963 1963 NFL season The 1963 NFL season was the 44th regular season of the National Football League. On April 17, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle indefinitely suspended Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras for gambling on their own teams, as well as other NFL games;... |
244 | 132 | 1,855 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 116 | 8.9 | 0 | |
| 1964 1964 NFL season The 1964 NFL season was the 45th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season started, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle reinstated Green Bay Packers running back Paul Hornung and Detroit Lions defensive tackle Alex Karras, who had been suspended for the 1963 season due to... |
272 | 163 | 2,144 | 15 | 4 | 24 | 165 | 6.9 | 3 | |
| 1965 1965 NFL season The 1965 NFL season was the 46th regular season of the National Football League.Because the Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Colts ended up tied in the Western Conference standings after the regular season ended, a conference playoff game was held in Green Bay. Although the Packers had defeated the... |
251 | 140 | 2,055 | 16 | 9 | 18 | 169 | 9.4 | 1 | |
| 1966 1966 NFL season The 1966 NFL season was the 47th regular season of the National Football League, and the season after which was played Super Bowl I, though it was called the AFL-NFL World Championship Game. The league expanded to 15 teams with the addition of the Atlanta Falcons, thus an odd number of teams... |
251 | 166 | 2,257 | 14 | 3 | 21 | 104 | 5.0 | 2 | |
| 1967 1967 NFL season The 1967 NFL season was the 48th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 16 teams with the addition of the New Orleans Saints. The league's teams were realigned into four divisions: the Capitol and Century Divisions in the Eastern Conference, and the Central and... |
210 | 115 | 1,823 | 9 | 17 | 21 | 90 | 4.3 | 0 | |
| 1968 1968 NFL season The 1968 NFL season was the 49th regular season of the National Football League. As per the agreement made during the 1967 realignment, the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants switched divisions; the Saints joined the Century Division while the Giants became part of the Capitol Division.The... |
171 | 109 | 1,617 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 62 | 5.6 | 1 | |
| 1969 1969 NFL season The 1969 NFL season was the 50th regular season of the National Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger. To honor the NFL's 50th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season.As per the... |
148 | 92 | 1,161 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 60 | 8.6 | 4 | |
| 1970 1970 NFL season The 1970 NFL season was the 51st regular season of the National Football League, and the first one after the AFL-NFL Merger.The merger forced a realignment between the combined league's clubs. Because there were 16 NFL teams and 10 AFL teams, three teams needed to transfer to balance the two new... |
255 | 140 | 1,645 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 62 | 5.2 | 1 | |
| 1971 1971 NFL season The 1971 NFL season was the 52nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl VI when the Dallas Cowboys defeated the Miami Dolphins... |
45 | 24 | 286 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 3.7 | 1 | |
| Total | 3,149 | 1,808 | 24,718 | 152 | 138 | 247 | 1,308 | 5.3 | 15 | |