National Football League
Green Bay Packers
NFC/North
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Packers History
The Packers rich history dates back to August of 1919 when Curly Lambeau and George Calhoun organized a football team (stemming from a corner conversation between the two a week earlier). The team finished 10-1 against other teams from Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.
In 1921, Curley Lambeau bought into a new football franchise that began a year earlier by the name of the American Professional Football Association and the team competed a shortened season going 3-2-1. One major game was the Chicago Staleys against the Packers which the Staleys won 20-0. This game would set a precedent and begin a rivalry that still stands today.
It would not be until 1929 that the Packers (who went 12-0-1) would go to their first NFL Championship game beating the New York Giants and beginning a streak of championships lasting 3 seasons (1929, 30, 31).
The 1936 season brought the Packers back to the Championship game as they faced off against the Boston Redskins. The Packers would strike first blood 3 minutes into the game as Don Huston scored on a 48 yard TD pass. The went on to collect their 4th title with a 21-6 shellacking of the Redskins.
1939 was another banner year for the Pack as the team took on the New York Giants, thrashing them 27-0 and winning their 5th title. Five years later (1944) the Pack would return to the Championship Game as they faced the New York Giants in a tight contest. The Packers held the lead for much of the game and ended up winning a squeaker 14-7.
Sixteen years later, in the 1960 season, the Packers (led by Vince Lombardi) met up against the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia the day after Christmas and fought a close game where the Eagles emerged victorious 17-10. The Pack would make it back in 1961 and whitewashed the New York Giants 37-0 in route to their 7th NFL Championship. The team would again repeat as champions as the Pack again took on the Giants in New York. This time the game was much closer and the Packers emerged victorious with a 16-7 victory.
The 1965 season would become special for the Packers as the teams original owner, Curly Lambeau passes away. The stadium the Packers play in (City Stadium II) is renamed Lambeau Field and the Packers use the passing as momentum. The team would face the Cleveland Browns on Lambeau Field for the NFL Title. The Packers defense would play a key role in the team winning its 9th NFL Title as they held superstar Jim Brown to 50 rushing yards en route to a 23-12 victory.
1966 was an almost perfect season for Green Bay Quarterback Bart Star as he led the team to a 12-2 record and won the NFL MVP Award. In the first year of Divisional playoffs the Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys for the right to play in the 1st Annual Super Bowl. The Packers faced the AFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs for the title and emerged victorious with a 35-10 win giving the team its 10th Championship and 1st Super Bowl.
The Pack returned in 1967 to Super Bowl II after finishing the season 9-4-1 and beating the Dallas Cowboys again for the NFC Title and the right to play in the Super Bowl. The game, played in frigid temperatures (down to -41 degrees), would become known as The Ice Bowl. The Super Bowl pitted the Pack against the Oakland Raiders in sunny California. The Packers would go on to easily win the game 33-14 and claim the 2nd Super Bowl and 11th Championship.
The Packers would not return to the Super Bowl for another 29 years as they faced the New England Patriots. Led by QB Brett Favre, the Packers would battle the Pats to a 35-21 victory and the 12th Championship (3rd Super Bowl).
Favre and the Packers returned to the Super Bowl the following season as they matched up against John Elway and the Denver Broncos. The game was tight until the final 24 seconds but the Packers could not overcome Denver and they lost 24-17. They have not returned to the Super Bowl since.
The Packers have had 25 Hall of Famers on their rosters: Herb Adderly 1961-1969, Tony Canadeo 1941-44, 46-52, Willie Davis 1960-1969, Len Ford 1958, Forrest Gregg 1956, 1958-1970, Ted Hendricks 1974, Arnie Herber 1930-1940, Clarke Hinkle 1932-1941, Paul Hourning 1957-62, 64-66, Cal Hubbard 1929-1933, 1935, Don Hutson 1935-1945, Henry Jordan 1959-1969, Walt Kiesling 1935-1936, Curly Lambeau Coach 1919-1949, James Lofton 1978-1986, Vince Lombardi Coach 1959-1968, John McNally 1929-33, 35-36, Mike Michalske 1929-1935, 1937, Ray Nitschke 1958-1972, Jim Ringo 1953-1963, Bart Starr 1956-1971, Jan Stenerud 1980-1983, Jim Taylor 1958-1966, Emlen Tunnell 1959-1961, Reggie White 1993-1998 and Willie Wood 1960-1971.
The team has retired 5 jerseys: #3 Tony Canadeo 1941-44, 46-1952, #14 Don Hutson 1935-1945, #15 Bart Starr 1956-1971, #66 Ray Nitschke 1958-1972, and #92 Reggie White 1993-1998.
Team Awards include: 2 Coach of the Year Awards (1961 Vice Lombardi and 1989 Lindy Infante), 1 Defensive Rookie of the Year Award (1972 Willie Buchanon), 1 Offensive Rookie of the Year Award(1971 John Brockington), 1 Defensive Player of the Year Award (1998 Reggie White), Offensive Player of the Year Award (1995 Brett Favre) and 8 NFL MVP Awards (1941 Don Hutson, 1942 Don Hutson, 1961 Paul Hornung, 1962 Jim Taylor, 1966 Bart Starr, 1995 Brett Favre, 1996 Brett Favre and 1997 Brett Favre).
| Wisconsin Professional & College Sports Teams and Events | |
|---|---|
| MLB Milwaukee Brewers | Marquette Golden Eagles Basketball |
| NBA Milwaukee Bucks | NFL Green Bay Packers |
| UW-Milwaukee Panthers | Wisconsin Badgers Basketball |
| Wisconsin Badgers Football | Wisconsin Green Bay Phoenix Basketball |
| Stadium Seating Chart |
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Lambeau Field
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