History of the Green Bay Packers
Encyclopedia
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...
are a professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team that has played since 1919 and played professionally 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...
since 1921.
Founding
The Green Bay Packers were founded on August 11, 1919 by Curly LambeauCurly Lambeau
Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau was founder, player, and first coach of the Green Bay Packers professional American football team...
and George Whitney Calhoun
George Whitney Calhoun
George Whitney Calhoun was a sports and telegraph editor for the Press-Gazette of Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA. A native of Green Bay, Calhoun was a co-founder of the Green Bay Packers with Curly Lambeau, and was the team's first publicity director.Calhoun wrote The Dope Sheet, which served as the...
. Lambeau solicited funds for uniforms from his employer, the Indian Packing Company
Indian Packing Company
The Indian Packing Company was a company that was involved in the canned meat industry and that was organized in Delaware on July 22, 1919. Its canned meat sold as "Council Meats." When the company was absorbed by the Illinois-based Acme Packing Company in 1921, it had facilities in Green Bay,...
. He was given $250 for uniforms and equipment, on the condition that the team be named for its sponsor. Today, "Green Bay Packers" is the oldest team name still in use in the NFL.
The Packers became a professional franchise when they joined the newly formed American Professional Football Association on August 27, 1921. However, the franchise was revoked by the league at the end of the season when the Packers were revealed to have used college players in a game. As it turned out, the man who told the league of this was George Halas of the Chicago Staleys, who changed their name to the Bears the following year. This incident signaled the start of the infamous Packers-Bears rivalry. Lambeau appealed to the league and they allowed the franchise to be reinstated, though Lambeau had to pay the league entry fee of $50 to do so. Further troubles threatened to add more debt to the team, but local businessmen, known as the "Hungry Five
Hungry Five
The Hungry Five is the collective name given to five Green Bay, Wisconsin area businessmen who were instrumental in keeping the Green Bay Packers franchise in operation during its early years...
," got behind the team and formed the Green Bay Football Corporation in 1923, which continues to run the franchise to this day.
Public company
The Packers are now the only publicly owned company with a board of directors in AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional sports (although other teams, such as the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
By comparison, the typical NFL football city's population is in the millions. The Packers, however, have long had a large following throughout 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 the Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
; in fact, for decades, the Packers played three (one pre-season, two regular-season) home games each year in Milwaukee, first at the State Fair Park
Wisconsin State Fair Park
The Wisconsin State Fair Park is a fairgrounds and exhibition center in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis, Wisconsin, USA. It has been the location of the Wisconsin State Fair since 1892. It also hosts other venues such as the Milwaukee Mile, the oldest continuously operating motor speedway in...
fairgrounds, then at 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...
. The Packers did not move their entire home schedule to Green Bay until 1995.
The reason for ending the series of Milwaukee games, according to team president Robert Harlan, was the larger capacity of Lambeau Field and the availability of luxury boxes, which were not available at Milwaukee County Stadium. County Stadium's replacement, Miller Park, then being planned, was always intended to be a baseball-only stadium
Baseball park
A baseball park, also known as a baseball stadium, ball park, or ballpark is a venue where baseball is played. It consists of the playing field and the surrounding spectator seating...
instead of a multipurpose stadium.
Based on the original "Articles of Incorporation for the (then) Green Bay Football Corporation" put into place in 1923, if the Packers franchise was sold, after the payment of all expenses, any remaining monies would go to the Sullivan-Wallen Post of the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
in order to build "a proper soldier's memorial." This stipulation was enacted to ensure the club remained in Green Bay and that there could never be any financial enhancement for the shareholders. At the November 1997 annual meeting, shareholders voted to change the beneficiary from the Sullivan-Wallen Post to the Green Bay Packers Foundation.
In 1950, the Packers held a stock sale to again raise money to support the team. In 1956, area voters approved the construction of a new stadium, owned by the city. As with its predecessor, the new field was named City Stadium, but after the death of founder Lambeau in 1965, on September 11, 1965, the stadium was renamed 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...
.
Another stock sale occurred late in 1997 and early in 1998. It added 105,989 new shareholders and raised over $24 million, money used for the Lambeau Field redevelopment project. Priced at $200 per share, fans bought 120,010 shares during the 17-week sale, which ended March 16, 1998. As of June 8, 2005, 111,921 people (representing 4,749,925 shares) can lay claim to a franchise ownership interest. Shares of stock include voting rights, but the redemption price is minimal, no dividends are ever paid, the stock cannot appreciate in value, and stock ownership brings no season ticket privileges.
No shareholder may own over 200,000 shares, a safeguard to ensure that no individual can assume control of the club. To run the corporation, a board of directors
Green Bay Packers Board of Directors
The Green Bay Packers Board of Directors is the organization that serves as the owner of record for the Green Bay Packers football club. The Packers have been a publicly owned, non-profit corporation since August 18, 1923. The corporation currently has 111,921 stockholders, who collectively own...
is elected by the stockholders. The board of directors in turn elect a seven-member Executive Committee (officers) of the corporation, consisting of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and three members-at-large. The president is the only officer to draw compensation; The balance of the committee is sitting "gratis."
The team's elected president represents the Packers in NFL owners meetings unless someone else is designated. During his time as coach, 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...
generally represented the team at league meetings in his role as general manager, except at owners-only meetings.
Championships
The Packers have won 13 league championships, more than any other American professional football team. They have also won 4 Super BowlSuper 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.
Their arch-rivals the 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...
are second, with nine NFL championships (including one Super Bowl). The historical rivalry
Bears-Packers rivalry
The Bears–Packers or the Packers–Bears rivalry is a sports rivalry between two professional American football teams in the National Football League , the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers...
with Chicago extends to the 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...
- the Packers have the second most Hall of Famers (21, behind the Bears' 26). The Packers are also the only team to win three straight NFL titles, which they did twice (1929–1931 and 1965–67).
The first "Dark Ages" (1945-1958)
Following their 1944 championship, the Packers finished 6-4 in 1945 and 6-5 in 1946. After the NFL established a uniform 12-game season in 1947, Green Bay won six games, lost five, and had one tie. The team only won three games in 1948 and began to experience financial problems, which worsened in the 2-10 1949 season. Afterwards, Curly Lambeau stepped down as head coach. A bond drive was issued in 1950, which raised $118,000 for the struggling team. Gene Ronziani replaced Lambeau as coach, and the team began using the green and gold colored uniforms that have been worn ever since. But Green Bay still only won three games that season and in 1951. They reached 6-6 in 1952 and nearly made the postseason, but were kept out by a loss to Detroit.During this period, the issue of a new stadium began to crop up. City Stadium was an extremely inadequate facility, seating only 25,000. Players also had to use the locker rooms at the local high school. In order to improve revenue, the Packers began playing one or two home games a year at the newly-constructed Milwaukee County Stadium, a practice that continued until 1995.
The first game played at MCS was a 27-0 shutout at the hands of Cleveland, after which the Packers finished 1953 2-7-1 and Gene Ronziani resigned. Verne Llewellyn took over as GM in 1954 and Lisle Blackbourn of Marquette University was hired as HC, but the Packers still only won four games that season. A 6-6 record in 1955 again put the team in postseason contention, but a loss to the Bears sent them home. The Packers fell back to 4-8 in 1956, a season most noteworthy for the drafting of University of Alabama QB Bart Starr.
Meanwhile, the NFL threatened to force the Packers to move to Milwaukee if they didn't get a more adequate stadium. The city of Green Bay approved a bond issue to build a new facility in 1956, and New City Stadium was completed in time for the 1957 season, with Vice President Nixon attending the dedication ceremony and opening game as the Packers defeated Chicago 21-17. But the season proved another disappointing 3-9 campaign, and Lisle Blackbourn resigned as head coach. Ray "Scooter" MacLean replaced him, but the Packers collapsed to a league-worst 1-10-1 record in 1958.
Green Bay's struggles in the years after World War II were due to a number of reasons. The small town environment made it hard to attract players. Some were also lost to the CFL and to military service. In addition, the Board of Directors was engaged in constant micromanagement of the team.
Following the abysmal 1958 season, Vince Lombardi was hired as head coach. He had previously been an assistant coach for the Giants and had been unsuccessful in several attempts at acquiring a head coaching position. Upon assuming his new job, Lombardi famously said "As of now, I'm in charge." This meant that he and his assistants would take care of personnel decisions from now on, while the Board of Directors would limit their activities to the business side of the franchise. Another lesser change was Lombardi's introduction of the familiar Packers helmet logo that has been used to the present day.
Lombardi era (1959-1967)
Several other factors helped the Packers return to success in the following decade. After Pete Rozelle became NFL Commissioner in 1959, he made sure that every franchise got all its games broadcast on television, as up to that point only big-market teams like the Bears and Giants enjoyed this privilege. TV helped raise revenue for small-market teams like Green Bay, and also because of the introduction of revenue sharing, which ensured that no NFL franchise would have to worry about bankruptcy.The Lombardi era got off to a promising start when the Packers shut out Chicago on the 1959 opener, ultimately finishing 7-5 for their first winning record in 12 years. A 21-0 shutout of Washington on November 22 was the last Packers game to date that did not sell out.
In 1960, the Packers finished 8-4 and won their first division title since 1944. They also contested the championship game for the first time since that year against Philadelphia. The Eagles were playing on their home turf at Franklin Field however, and they won the championship game 17-14. It would be Vince Lombardi's only postseason loss.
After an 11-3 record in the newly-expanded 14-game season, the Packers again won their division and went to the 1961 championship game, this time at New City Stadium. They shut out the Giants 27-0 for the team's first title since 1944 and their 7th total.
The Packers would do even better in 1962, winning 13 of 14 games, including 11 in a row. This included a rematch with the Eagles in Franklin Field. Green Bay avenged the 1960 championship game by snuffing their opponent 41-0 in a game widely referred to as "Lombardi's Revenge". It would be the last Packers victory in Philadelphia until 2010. They reached the championship game again, this time in Yankee Stadium. On a frigid December day, Green Bay ground down the Giants 16-7 to win a second straight title.
A three-peat eluded Green Bay in 1963 as RB Paul Hornung was suspended by the league for betting on games. Without him, the team still finished 11-2-1, but was swept by the Bears, who won the division and ultimately the championship. The Packers were then forced into the embarrassing situation of having to go to Miami for the so-called "Playoff Bowl", an exhibition game the NFL held every January during 1960-69 between the second-place finishers of each conference. They beat Cleveland 40-23, but Vince Lombardi was not happy about it, calling the Playoff Bowl "The Shit Bowl. A loser's game for losers. Because that's all second place is."
The Packers appeared to have run out of gas in 1964, winning only eight games, losing five, and having one tie. Once again they had to contest the meaningless Playoff Bowl in Miami, this time with the Cardinals, who won 24-17. Lombardi was again infuriated, calling it "a rinky-dink game in a rinky-dink town between two rinky-dink teams."
During the 1965 off-season, Curly Lambeau died and the Packers renamed New City Stadium Lambeau Field in his honor. The Packers rebounded by winning ten games and losing three, but the season ender with San Francisco was a tie, forcing them to play the Colts in Baltimore to determine the conference champion. In a close defensive struggle, the two teams tied at 10-10 and went into overtime, where Green Bay won it on a 25-yard FG. Afterwards, they returned home to host Cleveland for the championship games, winning it 23-12.
The Packers of the 1960s were one of the most dominant NFL teams of all time. Coach Vince Lombardi took over a last-place team in 1959 and built it into a juggernaut, winning five league championships over a seven-year span culminating with victories in 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. During the Lombardi era, The Packers had a group of legendary stars: the offense was led by quarterback Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr 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 ....
, Jim Taylor, Carroll Dale
Carroll Dale
Carroll Wayne Dale is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Virginia Tech from 1956–59. Dale was named second-team All American in 1958 and 1959....
, Paul Hornung
Paul Hornung
Paul Vernon Hornung is a retired Hall of Fame professional football player who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1957-66...
and Jerry Kramer
Jerry Kramer
Gerald Louis "Jerry" Kramer is a former professional football player, author and sports commentator, best remembered for his 11-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers as an offensive lineman...
; the defense was led by the likes of Willie Wood, 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....
, Dave Robinson, and Herb Adderley
Herb Adderley
Herbert Allen Adderley is a former American football cornerback who played for the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League....
.
The greatness of the Packers of the '60s really began one year earlier with the hiring of head coach Vince Lombardi. In their first game under Lombardi on September 27, 1959, the Packers beat the heavily favored Chicago Bears
1959 Chicago Bears season
The 1959 Chicago Bears season was their 40th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted yet another 8-4 record under the coaching of George Halas.-Schedule:-Standings:...
at Lambeau Field. The Packers got off to a 3–0 start but lost the next five and then won their last four games to achieve their first winning season since 1947
1947 Green Bay Packers season
The 1947 Green Bay Packers season was their 27th season in the National Football League. The club posted a 6-5-1 record under coach Curly Lambeau, earning a third-place finish in the Western Conference.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-Roster:...
.
The next year, the Packers, led by Paul Hornung's 176 points, won the NFL West Title and played in the NFL Championship
NFL Championship Game, 1960
The 1960 National Football League championship game was the 28th NFL title game. The game was played on Monday, December 26, 1960 at Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
against 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:...
at Philadelphia
Franklin Field
Franklin Field is the University of Pennsylvania's stadium for football, field hockey, lacrosse, sprint football, and track and field . It is also used by Penn students for recreation, and for intramural and club sports, including touch football and cricket, and is the site of Penn's graduation...
. In a see-saw game the Packers trailed the Eagles by four points late in the game. The Packers began their final drive, aiming for glory, but it was not to be as Chuck Bednarik
Chuck Bednarik
Charles Philip Bednarik is a former professional American football player, known as one of the most devastating tacklers in the history of football and the last two-way player in the National Football League...
tackled Jim Taylor just nine yards short of the goal line as time ran out. In the locker room after the game, Lombardi told his men that this would be the last time the Packers would lose the championship game with him at the helm. That prediction became fact, as the Packers would never again lose the NFL Championship game under Lombardi.
The Packers returned to the 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...
the following season
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...
, as they faced the New York Giants
1960 New York Giants season
The 1960 New York Giants season was the 36th season for the club in the National Football League. The Mara family was opposed to the AFL adding a team in New York, but received an indemnity fee of ten million dollars.-Offseason:...
. This time the game was no contest as the Packers exploded for 24 2nd quarter points as Paul Hornung, having recently returned from the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, scored an NFL Championship record 19 points as the Packers beat the Giants to win their first NFL Championship since 1944
NFL Championship Game, 1944
The 1944 National Football League Championship Game was the 12th NFL title game. The game was played on December 17, 1944 at New York's Polo Grounds. The attendance for the game was 46,016. The game featured the Green Bay Packers , champions of the Western Division versus the Eastern Division...
.
Not resting on their 1961 Championship, the Packers stormed back the following season
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;...
, jumping out to a 10–0 start en route to an amazing 13–1 season. The Packers
1963 Green Bay Packers season
The 1963 Green Bay Packers season was their 43rd season in the National Football League. The club posted a 11-2-1 record under coach Vince Lombardi, earning them a second-place finish in the Western Conference. Both losses were inflicted by the eventual 1963 NFL Champions, the Chicago...
faced the Giants
1963 New York Giants season
The 1963 New York Giants season was the 39th season for the club in the National Football League.-Offseason:A familiar figure on the offensive line, four-time Pro Bowl selection Wietecha, retired after a decade of service, and Greg Larson took over his job at center...
in a much more brutal championship game than the previous year, but the Packers prevailed on the surprising foot of Jerry Kramer
Jerry Kramer
Gerald Louis "Jerry" Kramer is a former professional football player, author and sports commentator, best remembered for his 11-year NFL career with the Green Bay Packers as an offensive lineman...
and the determined running of Jim Taylor. The Packers beat the Giants 16–7 and Titletown U.S.A. reigned supreme.
1965 season
After a two-year absence from championship football, the Pack was back in 19651965 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...
. They won some crucial games, including a 42–27 win over the Baltimore Colts
1965 Baltimore Colts season
The 1965 Baltimore Colts season was the 13th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1965 season with a record of 10 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie, tied for first in the Western Conference with the Green Bay Packers...
, a contest in which Paul Hornung (coming back from a betting scandal and injuries) scored five touchdowns. The Packers would again beat the Colts in a playoff for the Western Conference title. The game would be remembered for Don Chandler
Don Chandler
Donald Gene "Don" Chandler was an American college and professional football player who was a punter and placekicker in the National Football League for twelve seasons in the 1950s and 1960s...
's controversial field goal in which the ball possibly went wide right, but the official raised his arms to grant the three points. That disputed win earned the Packers a trip to the NFL Championship game, where Hornung and Taylor ran through the Cleveland Browns
1965 Cleveland Browns season
The 1965 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 16th season with the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Exhibition schedule:-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:-References:...
, helping the Packers defeat the Browns to earn their 3rd NFL Championship under Lombardi.
1966 would prove one of the most important years ever for both the Packers and the NFL as a whole. In 1959, Lamar Hunt and several others, frustrated at the league's lack of interest in expansion, began a rival organization, the American Football League. The AFL was initially laughed at by the NFL, but by 1965 were a serious competitor and began engaging in bidding wars for top college players. This culminated in the New York Jets offering Alabama QB Joe Namath a then unheard of $400,000 contract. During the spring of 1966, NFL and AFL heads met and agreed to an eventual merger into one big league, but only when the latter was deemed up to parity. Until then, the champions of both leagues would meet on a neutral site in January to determine the ultimate champion.
The Packers meanwhile had one of the finest seasons in franchise history, finishing 12-2 and with Bart Starr being named league MVP. They met the Eastern Conference winner Cowboys in Lambeau Field for the NFL championship. This celebrated game saw the Packers win 34-27.
1967 marked Vince Lombardi's final triumph. The Packers team was visibly aging, and they finished 9-4-1. However, they still proved all-but-invincible at home as they beat the 12-1 Rams in Lambeau Field to again contest the league championship with Dallas. This game became known as the "Ice Bowl" due to the frigid weather conditions. But once again, Green Bay prevailed with a score of 21-17. They now had to face the AFL champions (this time the Oakland Raiders) in Miami's Orange Bowl. By this point, Lombardi and the team were much more confident of victory as they easily beat Oakland 33-14.
After the game was over, Vince Lombardi announced that he was stepping down as head coach, although he would retain the title of general manager. Phil Bengston took his place.
Predictably, the 1968 season did not see an impressive performance from the Packers (6-7-1) as Bengston proved unable to fill Lombardi's shoes and key players retired. Meanwhile, an exhausted Vince Lombardi announced his retirement from football altogether, and Phil Bengston assumed the GM position. The Packers improved to 8-6 in 1969, but players continued to retire.
Green Bay only won six games in 1970. Meanwhile, Vince Lombardi had been seduced out of retirement by the Redskins, who made him HC and 50% owner of that team. He led them to an 8-6 record in 1969, thus preserving his streak of having never coached a team to a losing season. However, Lombardi fell ill with cancer during the 1970 off-season and died at the age of 57.
The newly-merged NFL named the Super Bowl trophy in his honor, and the street in front of Lambeau Field was named Lombardi Avenue. Meanwhile, the Packers finished 1970 6-8, which included being shut out by Detroit twice. Dejected at his inability to match the standards of his illustrious predecessor, Phil Bengston resigned as HC. Dan Devine assumed the job and began the task of replacing the '60s players with fresh, young talent. Bart Starr himself was the last to go after starting in only four games during 1971 in which he threw three interceptions, scored one rushing touchdown, and had 24 completions in 45 attempts. Most of the work in 1971 was done by newly drafted QB Scott Hunter, and at the close of the season, Starr retired at the age of 36.
The second "Dark Ages" (1972-1991)
For over a quarter century after Lombardi left the Packers, they had little success. Poor drafting of players was a key reason. To cite a few examples, in the first round of the 1972 draft1972 NFL Draft
The 1972 National Football League Draft was held on February 1–2, 1972.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
, when future Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris
Franco Harris
Franco Harris is a former American football player. He played his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.In the 1972 NFL Draft he was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round, the 13th selection overall...
was still available, the Packers instead chose mediocre quarterback Jerry Tagge. In 1981
1981 NFL Draft
The 1981 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1981...
, when no fewer than three future Hall of Fame defenders were still available -- Ronnie Lott
Ronnie Lott
Ronald Mandel "Ronnie" Lott is a former American football player who starred as a cornerback, free safety, and strong safety in college football and the NFL. He is most well known for his crushing hits on opposing players...
, Mike Singletary
Mike Singletary
Michael "Mike" Singletary is an American football coach and former professional football player. He is currently the linebacker coach and assistant head coach for the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL....
, and Howie Long
Howie Long
Howard "Howie" Matthew Moses Long is an American former National Football League defensive end and actor. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000...
, the Packers chose another mediocre quarterback, Rich Campbell
Rich Campbell (American football)
Richard Delano Campbell is a former National Football League quarterback who played for the Green Bay Packers . Campbell attended high school at Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, California. He was an All-American his senior season in 1980 at the University of California...
. Finally, in 1989
1989 NFL Draft
The 1989 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24 , 1989...
, when such future legends as Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
, Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders
Deion Luwynn Sanders , nicknamed "Prime Time" and "Neon Deion", is a former National Football League cornerback and Major League Baseball outfielder who currently works as an NFL Network analyst...
, and Derrick Thomas
Derrick Thomas
Derrick Vincent Thomas , nicknamed D.T., was an American football linebacker and defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . He played his entire 11-year career for the Chiefs after being drafted fourth overall in the 1989 NFL Draft...
were available, the Packers chose offensive lineman Tony Mandarich
Tony Mandarich
Ante Josip "Tony" Mandarich is a former football offensive lineman of the NFL. He was the first round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1989, second overall behind quarterback Troy Aikman, and ahead of the third selection, running back Barry Sanders, the fourth selection, linebacker Derrick...
. Though rated highly by nearly every professional scout at the time, Mandarich's performance failed to meet expectations.
Although the Packers would not have winning success until 1992
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
, there were moments when the Packers at times resembled the old Packer days of the 1960s. In 1972
1972 NFL season
The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins became the first NFL team to finish a championship season undefeated and untied when they beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl VII.-Major rule changes:...
, led by workhorse running backs John Brockington
John Brockington
John Stanley Brockington is a former American football running back. He was the National Football League's Green Bay Packers' 1st round draft choice out of the Ohio State University, and was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1971.-College career:Brockington played halfback and fullback for...
and new Packer MacArthur Lane
MacArthur Lane
MacArthur Lane is a former professional American football player who was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1st round of the 1968 NFL Draft. A 6'0", 220-lb...
, and a sturdy defense that featured rookie 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...
, the Packers
1972 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...
clinched the NFC Central Division Title with a 10–4 record. That team would lose to the Washington Redskins 16-3. In 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:...
under new head coach Bart Starr the Packers
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:...
won only 4 games, but one of those wins came at home, as the Packers beat the eventual 1975 NFC Champion Dallas Cowboys 19–17 on October 19.
1976 was another losing campaign, with the Packers only achieving a 5-9 record, the lowest in their division. The team dropped back to a 4-10 season in 1977. The frequent changes of quarterbacks during this period was indicative of Green Bay's troubles. When the NFL expanded the regular season to 16 games the following year, the team won six of its first seven matches, but largely due to an easy schedule. After the Packers began facing tougher opponents, the wins dried up and the final record for 1978 was 8-7-1.
The Packers
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...
had another 1,000 yard rusher in Terdell Middleton
Terdell Middleton
Terdell Middleton is a former professional American football player who played running back for seven seasons in the NFL. Originally a third round pick in the 1977 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, Middleton was traded to the Green Bay Packers in the preseason...
: he rushed for 1,116 yards. In the early 1980s, the Packers had a star-studded aerial attack led by quarterback Lynn Dickey
Lynn Dickey
Clifford Lynn Dickey is a retired National Football League quarterback, who played for the Houston Oilers and the Green Bay Packers in the 1970s and 1980s.-High school:...
and wide receivers James Lofton
James Lofton
James David Lofton is a former American football player and coach. He is a former American football coach for the San Diego Chargers but is best known for his years in the National Football League as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers , Los Angeles Raiders , the Buffalo Bills...
and John Jefferson
John Jefferson
John Jefferson is a retired American football wide receiver in the National Football League . He was selected out of Arizona State University in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He played three seasons in San Diego, where he became the first NFL player to gain...
.
While the 1978 season had raised the morale of Packers fans, it did not last, for 1979 saw the team finish with a 5-11 record, and a 5-10-1 showing during the injury-plagued 1980 season. In 1981, the Packers came close to the playoffs, but lost the final game of the season, a road match against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and ending up with an 8-8 record.
After the 1982 season was reduced to nine games by a players' strike, the NFL held a special playoff tournament with the eight best teams in each conference. The 5-3-1 Packers qualified for this, routing the Cardinals 41-16, but in the next round lost to the Cowboys 36-27. Another 8-8 season the following year led to the dismissal of Bart Starr as head coach. 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...
succeeded him, but after two more 8-8 seasons, he decided to cut several aging players and start over with fresh rookies. The rejuvenated Packers produced a 4-12 record in 1986, as was typical of a rebuilding period.
Another strike affected the NFL in 1987, resulting in a 15-game season. During the strike, the league used substitute players. The Packers fill-ins won one game and lost two before the regulars returned, but in the end the struggling team managed only a 5-9-1 record. Afterwards, Forrest Gregg resigned and was replaced by Lindy Infante. Still did the team struggle, going 4-12 in 1988.
With such a weak record, the Packers gained the privilege of first-round draft picks during the 1989 off-season. They selected Michigan State offensive tackle Tony Mandarich
Tony Mandarich
Ante Josip "Tony" Mandarich is a former football offensive lineman of the NFL. He was the first round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1989, second overall behind quarterback Troy Aikman, and ahead of the third selection, running back Barry Sanders, the fourth selection, linebacker Derrick...
, who was getting considerable publicity due to his huge 325-pound frame. Mandarich (who later admitted to using steroids in college) proved a poor choice in the end, and after three seasons of mediocre performance was cut. The 1989 campaign was the best in 17 years, with the Packers compiling a 10-6 record (including a victory over the eventual Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers), but still missing the playoffs. There followed another two losing seasons, with 6-10 and 4-12 records. A general overhaul took place during the 1992 off-season, with Mike Holmgren replacing Lindy Infante. Most importantly however, the Packers acquired second-year quarterback Brett Favre from the 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...
.
A new golden era
Favre would get off to a slow start, losing five of his first seven games, but afterwards won six in a row. The Packers finished 1992 with a 9-7 record. In the 1993 off-season, the team signed free-agent defensive end Reggie WhiteReggie 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...
. After another slow start, the Packers swept ahead for a 9-7 record, reaching the playoffs for the first time in eleven years. In the NFC wild card round, they faced the Detroit Lions, who had beaten them earlier in the season. In a close game, Favre led the team to a 24-28 victory, but in the divisional playoff round Green Bay was overwhelmed 27-17 by the Dallas Cowboys, the eventual Super Bowl winner. Brett Favre would also make the Pro Bowl following that season, although he would committ 2 penalties and throw an interception on the same play.
The 1994 season was a near-rerun of the previous year. Again the Packers went 9-7, beat the Lions 16-12 in the NFC wild card round, and lost the divisional game 35-7 to the Cowboys. In 1995, Favre continued to cement his reputation as one of the NFL's finest quarterbacks, passing for 4,413 yards and scoring 38 touchdown passes during the team's 11-5 regular season. The Packers reached the top of the NFC Central division for the first time since 1971. However, they still had to go through the wildcard round, overpowering Atlanta 27-10. The divisional round saw them knock out the defending Super Bowl champion 49ers 27-17, but were once again frustrated by the Cowboys, who beat them 38-27 in the NFC Championship game and went on to win another Super Bowl title.
As the 1996 season began, the Packers were more determined than ever to reach the Super Bowl. Beginning with an eight-game winning streak, they faced the hated Cowboys during Week 11 on a Monday Night game. The Packers suffered a smarting loss, the score being 21-6. After this, they won the last five regular season games, finishing with a record of 13-3. Reaching the top of the NFC Central division, they were able to skip the wild card round this time. In the divisional playoff, they easily defeated San Francisco at Lambeau, with a score of 35-14. Meanwhile, the Cowboys had lost to the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
, and so the Packers would have to face this two-year old expansion team in the NFC Championship match. The Packers easily beat them 30-13 to advance to Super Bowl XXXI.
Super Bowl XXXI
Facing Green Bay in the New Orleans Superdome were the AFC champion New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
. In a see-saw game, the Packers gained a 27-14 lead at halftime, which they never lost despite a valiant effort by their opponent. The final score was 35-21, and Green Bay had won its first championship since 1967.
The defending champions would have an easy go of the 1997 season, which saw a record of 13-3. Brett Favre passed for 3,867 yards and was named the league's MVP third year in a row. In their fifth consecutive playoff appearance, the Packers rolled over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
27-7 in the divisional round, then beat the 49ers 23-10 in the NFC Championship to make the Super Bowl for the second year in a row.
Super Bowl XXXII
Playing in San Diego, the Packers would this time engage the Denver BroncosDenver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, who had lost in all their previous Super Bowl appearances. In a game that was even more see-saw than SB XXXI, Denver had taken the lead in the fourth quarter, with a score of 24-17. Denver took its final lead with under 2 minutes in the game when Head Coach Mike Holmgren intentionally allowed Terrell Davis to score the go ahead touchdown. In the final minute of the game, Brett Favre threw a desperate pass at wide receiver Bill Schroeder
Bill Schroeder
William Fredrich Schroeder is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL. He attended Sheboygan South High School and then went on to the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse, where he starred in track and field. He last played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004...
, but it failed and the Broncos walked home with the Lombardi Trophy.
1998-2005: Near Misses
Green Bay rebounded nicely in 2001, going 12-4 and returning to the playoffs as a wild card. Per established practice, they challenged the 49ers and beat them 25-15, avenging their playoff loss three years earlier. There would be no Super Bowl appearance though, as Green Bay was crushed by the St. Louis Rams in the divisional round 45-17. Favre threw a record six interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. The following year began strongly, with the Packers starting 8-1. Divisional realignment had placed them along with Minnesota, Chicago, and Detroit in the new NFC North. Being the only team in their division to achieve a record above .500 in 2002, the Packers seemed a virtual shoo-in for the first-round bye. However, the final game of the season was lost at home to the Jets
2002 New York Jets season
The 2002 New York Jets season was the 43rd season for the team, and the 33rd in the National Football League. The team tried to improve upon its 10–6 record from 2001...
, which gave Green Bay the #3 NFC seed and forced them to go through the wild card round. The playoffs would have a humiliating end as the Packers were routed 27-7 by the Atlanta Falcons
2002 Atlanta Falcons season
The 2002 Atlanta Falcons season was their 37th in the league. The team improved upon their previous season's output of 7-9 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in four years. The team was also involved in a rare tie, matching the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-34 at the end of overtime...
on a snow-covered Lambeau Field for the franchise's first-ever home playoff loss.
2003 began rather badly. Lambeau Field had been renovated that year, but in the season opener, the Packers lost to the Vikings
2003 Minnesota Vikings season
2003 was the 43rd year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 84th regular season of the National Football League.The Vikings began 2003 with a fast 6-0 start...
30-25. Brett Favre suffered several injuries during the season as well as the death of his father on the eve of a Monday Night trip to Oakland which he won in impressive fashion, trouncing the Oakland Raiders
2003 Oakland Raiders season
The 2003 Oakland Raiders season was the teams's 44th in the National Football League. They were unable to improve upon their previous season's output of 11–5, instead winning only four games. The team had a five game losing streak in the middle of the season, and they lost seven games by a...
41-7. The Packers went into the final week needing to win and for the Vikings to lose to win the NFC North and to get the last playoff spot. The Packers beat the Denver Broncos while the Arizona Cardinals rallied in the final seconds to beat the Vikings, giving the Packers the NFC North championship with an 11-5 record. The wild card round saw a fierce struggle with the Seattle Seahawks
2003 Seattle Seahawks season
The 2003 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 28th season with the National Football League.-2003 NFL Draft:-Regular season:-Playoffs:-External links:* *...
, which tied 27-27 and went into overtime. Defensive back Al Harris caught a pass from Seattle and ran for a 52-yard touchdown, giving the Packers the win. In the divisional round however, the Packers lost to Philadelphia
2003 Philadelphia Eagles season
The 2003 Philadelphia Eagles season was their 71st in the league. They matched their previous season's record, going 12–4, however, they were again upset in the NFC Conference Championship...
. The game was tied 17-17 at the end of the 4th quarter and went into overtime, where Favre threw a pass up into the air that was intercepted by Eagles FS Brian Dawkins
Brian Dawkins
Brian Patrick Dawkins is an American football safety for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft...
. Several plays later, the Eagles kicked a field goal and won 20-17.
In 2004, Green Bay compiled a 10-6 season and reached the playoffs as a wildcard, but lost to the Vikings
2004 Minnesota Vikings season
2004 was the 44th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 85th regular season of the National Football League.The Vikings finished the 2004 season going 3-7 over the final 10 weeks just like they did in 2003. However, they made the playoffs with an 8-8 record...
31-17 in the first-ever playoff meeting between the two rivals.
During the 2005 off-season, the team drafted QB 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...
from California. Rodgers was intended to be the eventual successor to Brett Favre, by now 36 and showing his age by turning in a poor performance that year. Despite a devastating 52-3 win over New Orleans in Week 5, Favre threw a NFL-record 29 interceptions. Injuries caused the team further problems, and the season ended with a 4-12 record, the worst since 1991. This season was notable for two bizarre incidents. The first was during the Week 8 game in Cincinnati where a fan ran out onto the field and grabbed the ball from Favre, and during Week 12 in Philadelphia where another fan ran out and scattered the ashes of his dead mother into the air.
Head Coach Mike Sherman was fired at the end of the 2005 season.
2006-present: Titletown Reborn
It was widely expected that Brett Favre would retire in the 2006 off-season, but he eventually decided to continue playing. In addition, the team hired a new coach, Mike McCarthy. The regular season started badly, with the Packers being shut out at home by the Bears. An uneven stretch followed, and again Green Bay would not reach the playoffs, going 8-8.2007 witnessed a remarkable resurgence of the Packers. Getting off to a four-game winning streak, he would see a loss to the Bears in Week 5, six straight wins afterwards, a loss to the Dallas Cowboys, and a heavy 35-7 defeat in Chicago. With a 13-3 record, Green Bay emerged at the top of the NFC North and gained a first-round bye in the playoffs. In the divisional round, they rolled over the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
42-20 in a snowy home game, then advanced to the NFC Championship. Also played at Lambeau, this game pitted Green Bay against the New York Giants. With below zero temperatures, it was one of the coldest in NFL history, and undoubtedly affected the 38-year old Favre's performance. The game was tied 20-20 at the end of the fourth quarter and went into overtime. After two failed attempts, combined with an interception by Favre, the Giants managed a field goal, bringing the final score to 23-20 and going on to win the Super Bowl.
In March 2008, Brett Favre announced his retirement, and as planned, Aaron Rodgers stepped up as starting quarterback. Before the team publicly declared Aaron Rodgers their quarterback of the future, however, the team asked Favre if he was certain about retirement. If not, he would be welcome to play another year as the face of their franchise. At the time he said he was comfortable with his decision and that he would not be returning to football. But as the summer approached, Favre suddenly decided that he wasn't ready to retire after all, and petitioned NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for a comeback. Goodell granted his request, but the Packers were ready to begin anew with Aaron Rodgers and had no interest in taking Favre back. They went so far as to offer him $25 million to stay in retirement, but he rejected it. There followed a three-week war of words between Favre and the Packers management until he threatened to sign with the Minnesota Vikings. The thought of that caused Green Bay's front office to panic, and they decided that he could join the New York Jets in exchange for a conditional draft pick. Favre complied, signaling the end of his reign in Green Bay and the beginning of the Aaron Rodgers era.
The new quarterback got off to a slow start, winning his first two games as starter over Minnesota and Detroit, then losing the next three. Then Green Bay won two against the Seahawks and Colts, afterwards losing to the Titans and Vikings. Aside from a 37-3 victory over Chicago, the rest of the season was one of losses, with a final 6-10 record. Green Bay closed the year on an upbeat note, winning a 31-21 victory over the Lions on a clear, freezing day at Lambeau and giving Detroit a 0-16 winless season.
In August 2009, Brett Favre, after his stint with the Jets, signed with Minnesota, provoking outrage among Packers fans. The regular season got off to a poor start, as the Packers were unable to defeat any opponents with a winning record. In Week 4, the team travelled to the Metrodome to face their former quarterback, losing 30-23. Following easy wins over Detroit and Cleveland, they hosted the Vikings in Week 8. Packers fans burned effigies of Favre, who was greeted by a chorus of boos and obscenities as he stepped onto Lambeau Field in the uniform of Green Bay's hated rival. Minnesota won the game handsomely, the final score being 38-26. The lowest point came a week later, when the Packers lost to the then winless Buccaneers 38-28. After that however, they recovered and swept through the next five games. Following a one-point loss to Pittsburgh, they defeated the Seahawks and Cardinals to secure a wild card in the playoffs. This was the 16th time in the last 17 years that they had won their regular season finale. Having to face Arizona again in the wild card round, the Packers waged a monumental struggle and managed to tie 45-45 at the end of the fourth quarter, sending the game into overtime. Two minutes in, the Cardinals scored a touchdown and ended Green Bay's playoff run. With a final score of 51-45, the game set a record for the highest-scoring playoff game in NFL history. Throughout the season, the Packers struggled with their O-line, which was rated the worst in the league. Aaron Rodgers was sacked 51 times in the regular season and hit 93 times. In the playoff match with Arizona, he took another five sacks and ten hits.
Green Bay's 2010 off-season was mainly concentrated on improving their faulty O-line. On the season opener, the Packers faced an Eagles team that was playing without QB Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
for the first time in a decade. However, the O-line failed to deliver again as Aaron Rodgers took three sacks in the first half and also threw an interception. Meanwhile, Philadelphia's new QB Kevin Kolb
Kevin Kolb
Kevin Benjamin Kolb is an American football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Houston....
was pulled with a concussion and replaced by Michael Vick
Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick is an American football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League...
. After a while, the Packers' defense adjusted to him and Green Bay pulled off a 27-20 win, their first in Philadelphia since 1962. Second-year LB Clay Matthews (who knocked Kolb down) delivered an impressive performance in the game. After an easy win over Buffalo in Week 2, the Packers traveled to Chicago for a Monday Night match with their oldest rival. However, Green Bay exhibited very poor discipline and was plagued by numerous penalties, which had been a persistent problem ever since Mike McCarthy became head coach in 2006. The Packers lost the game 20-17. After this loss, the team returned home to face the 0-3 Lions in Week 4. They escaped with a 28-26 win, but it was an embarrassment to have given up that many points to a team that had not won in Green Bay since 1991 and which had won just two games over the last two seasons. The Packers' woes continued in Washington the next week. Clay Matthews ran Donovan McNabb down repeatedly in the first half of the game, but was then pulled with a hamstring sprain. This took most of the pressure off the Redskins' offense and the game tied at 13-13. Two minutes into overtime, Aaron Rodgers threw an interception and was knocked to the ground by Redskins DE Jeremy Jarmon with a concussion. Redskins kicker Graham Gano then booted a 33-yard FG to win the game 16-13. Clay Matthews and other key defensive players were missing from the Week 6 game at home versus Miami, leading to another overtime loss (score of 23-20).
In Week 7, the injury-thinned team hosted Minnesota on Sunday Night. Once again, Brett Favre was booed by the crowd at Lambeau, but the outcome would be different this time as Green Bay took advantage of their opponent's miscues (including three Favre interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown) to win 28-24. Following this emotional game, the Packers gained a surprise 9-0 win over the 6-1 New York Jets by kicking three field goals and shutting an opponent out on the road for the first time since 1991.
In Week 9, the Packers returned home for another Sunday Night match, this time with the struggling 1-7 Cowboys. Green Bay quickly marched out to two touchdowns in the first quarter, en route to a 45-7 crushing of their opponent. Following their bye week, the Packers headed to Minnesota for a rematch with the Vikings, who virtually laid down in much the same manner as Dallas. Green Bay quickly buried them 31-3, causing their coach Brad Childress to be fired. It was the second consecutive game in which the team that lost to the Packers fired their head coach afterwards, as Wade Phillips had been fired by the Cowboys after their loss to the Packers.
Next came a difficult road battle with the 8-2 Falcons, in which the Packers lost a close one 20-17. After routing San Francisco, the Packers headed to Detroit. What looked like an easy win proved anything but when Aaron Rodgers was knocked out with a concussion during a QB sneak and replaced by Matt Flynn. The latter was unable to get anything going as Green Bay lost a defensive struggle 7-3, falling to the Lions for the first time since 2005. Rodgers was then ruled out for the Week 15 game at New England.
Despite dire predictions, the Packers marched out to an early lead and the game remained close throughout. Matt Flynn threw three touchdown passes, but in the end, Tom Brady's greater experience prevailed as the Patriots won 31-27. This game was nonetheless a turning point for the Packers, having been inspired by nearly beating the best team in the NFL when no one gave them a remote chance.
With an 8-6 record, the Packers needed to win their last 2 games to gain the #6 seed, the last seed, in the NFL playoffs. The Packers easily beat the New York Giants at home 45-17 and then hosted the rival Bears for the final game of the season. The Packers won the defensive struggle 10-3, sealing the Packers playoff berth.
In the wild card round, the Packers had to travel to Philadelphia to play the hot Eagles, led by Michael Vick. Aaron Rodgers threw for 3 touchdowns and rookie half back James Starks had a 100+ yard running game. Tramon Williams had an interception in the closing minutes sealing a Packer victory, 21-16.
The next game was against the Falcons in Atlanta. Atlanta was the #1 seed and was favored to beat Green Bay, but the Packers shocked the Atlanta fans by having a 28-14 lead at halftime, with Tramon Williams returning an interception for a touchdown in the final seconds of the first half. The Packers scored on the opening drive of the second half and the Falcons never recovered, as Green Bay rolled to a 48-21 win, sending the Packers to the NFC Championship game.
The NFC Championship game would be against the Bears in Chicago, in what was considered by almost everyone the biggest game ever in the Packers-Bears 90-year old rivalry. The Packers scored on the opening drive on a touchdown run by Aaron Rodgers, and scored again in the second quarter on a run by James Starks, giving the Packers a 14-0 lead at halftime. The defense was able to knock starting quarterback Jay Cutler out of the game with a knee injury and soon after also knocked out back-up Todd Collins. In the 4th quarter, the Bears rallied with 3rd-string quarterback Caleb Hanie. However, two key interceptions, one by B.J. Raji returned for a touchdown, and another by Sam Shields with less than a minute left, sealed the NFC championship for the Packers, who won 21-14.
Super Bowl XLV
The Packers would play the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV
Super Bowl XLV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers and the National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers to decide the National Football League champion for the 2010 season. The game was held at Cowboys Stadium in...
in Arlington, Texas. The Packers struck first with two touchdowns near the end of the first quarter, one on a Jordy Nelson touchdown catch and the other on a Nick Collins interception return. Collins' touchdown marked the 3rd consecutive playoff game in which the Packers had an interception returned for a touchdown. The first half ended with the Packers leading 21-10, but had lost both Charles Woodson and Donald Driver to injury. The Steelers started to rally back, but the Packers defense was able to cause a key fumble late in the game and then stopped the Steelers on their final drive, winning their 4th Super Bowl and their record 13th NFL championship, 31-25. With the win, the Packers joined the Steelers, the 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...
and the 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...
as the only NFL teams to win at least four Super Bowls.
Despite a lack of practices and training due to a lockout in the off-season, the Packers won a fine victory over New Orleans 42-34 hosting the first game of the 2011 season. After a touch-and-go battle with Carolina in Week 2, the Packers came out on top 30-23. Week 3 saw the rematch with Chicago, in which Green Bay once again prevailed 27-17 to get off to a 3-0 start. Green Bay breezed to another easy win over the Broncos to remain unbeaten at 4-0. The Packers became the only undefeated team in Week 5 when Detroit lost to San Francisco and they beat a winless Rams squad. The Packers then go on to win 4 in a row, and end the first half of the season with a record of 8-0. They continued their winning streak into the second half of the season, bringing them to 11-0.