ONE
The Green Bay Packers - one of the NFL’s most storied franchises - are based in a small city in Wisconsin. Co-founded by Curly Lambeau and George Calhoun in 1919, the Packers take their name from the Indian Packing Company which originally funded the team. Green Bay joined the American Professional Football Association in 1921 but were soon removed from the league after a fellow team accused them of fielding ineligible college players. After an appeal, the Packers re-joined the league (now named the NFL) and soon discovered the complaint was made by George Halas of the Chicago Staleys, now known as the Chicago Bears - kickstarting the NFL’s most iconic rivalry.
Lambeau Field
TWO
Curly Lambeau enjoyed an early period of sustained success in Green Bay - leading his team to the first of three consecutive Championships in 1929. In 1935, receiver Don Hutson joined Lambeau’s ‘Super Team’ - revolutionising the wide receiver position thanks to his extraordinary speed, size and catching ability. Hutson led the league in receptions a staggering eight times in his career - playing an integral role in three championship-winning teams in 1936, 1939 and 1944. Hutson’s No. 14 jersey was the first to be retired by the Packers, and Green Bay’s training facility was named after the legendary receiver.
The Don Hutson Center
THREE
Following a notable decline in results after Curly Lambeau’s departure in 1950, the Packers hired former New York Giants assistant Vince Lombardi as their head coach in 1959 - a decision Green Bay fans frowned upon due to his inexperience. Lombardi, not afraid of the challenge, insisted on complete control of the franchise and soon impressed Packers fans across the country - thanks to his intense training sessions, demand for perfection and defeating the Chicago Bears 9-6 in his first game as head coach. Despite a turbulent first season in charge, Lombardi led the Packers to a 7-5 record in ‘59, winning the NFL’s Coach of the Year Award.
Vince Lombardi, Head Coach 1959-1967
FOUR
Despite Vince Lombardi losing his first NFL Championship Game in 1960, the ‘golden era’ of Green Bay Packers football had begun - with the Packers dismantling the New York Giants 37-0 the following season to claim their first championship in 17 years. When the Packers and Giants faced off in a Championship rematch just twelve months later, the Giants were heavily favoured. However, Lombardi’s men upset the odds and left Yankee Stadium with another championship. While Lombardi won his third title as Green Bay head coach in 1965, franchise co-founder, Curly Lambeau passed away that same year - prompting the Packers to rename their stadium, ‘Lambeau Field’.
Lambeau Field
FIVE
The Packers have remained at the heart of the Green Bay community ever since their inception - with the team proudly holding the title of America’s only fan-owned professional sports franchise. In the early sixties the relationship between the people of Green Bay and Packers’ players was further reinforced when players began riding young fans’ bikes to practice - a tradition that continues to take place annually. Green Bay was also given the nickname ‘Titletown’ in the 1960s - due to their unlikely, but relentless, success.
British Green Bay Packers Fans
SIX
Littered with Pro Football Hall of Famers - such as quarterback Bart Starr and linebacker Ray Nitschke - the Packers were reigning NFL champions when the AFL and NFL announced their merger in 1966. The team continued their dominance as they won the first two Super Bowls - defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in Super Bowl I, and the Oakland Raiders 33-14 in Super Bowl II. Sadly, the latter would end up being Vince Lombardi’s final game as the team’s head coach. The Packers icon passed away in 1970, and, in his honour, the NFL renamed the Super Bowl trophy the ‘Lombardi Trophy’.
Lombardi Trophy
SEVEN
In the 24 seasons following Lombardi’s departure, the Packers only managed five winning seasons and just one playoff win. A huge departure from the days of Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi. The 1989 NFL Draft was a perfect example of Green Bay’s futility. With future Hall of Famers Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders and Derrick Thomas all available, the Packers selected offensive lineman, Tony Mandarich - who failed to live up to expectations. The Packers opted for a major shake-up to start the 1990s - naming Mike Holmgren as the team’s new head coach and trading for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Brett Favre in 1992.
Brett Favre, Quarterback 1992-2007
EIGHT
After winning the starting job, Brett Favre’s overwhelming confidence and aggressive play-style gave Packers fans the boost they had been looking for. With this new lease of life in 1993, safety Leroy Butler leapt into the crowd following a ‘scoop-and-score’ to give rise to the now-iconic, ‘Lambeau Leap’ celebration. The excitement reached new heights later that year when the most sought-after free agent in NFL history, pass-rusher Reggie White, joined Green Bay. Together, Favre and White finally ended the Packers Super Bowl drought in the ‘96 season - defeating the New England Patriots 35-21 to win Super Bowl XXXI. Despite a crushing defeat the following season in Super Bowl XXXII, the Packers had become perennial contenders with Favre under center - even after White and Holmgren’s departures in 1999. In 2005, Favre’s position was surprisingly placed under threat when the team drafted quarterback Aaron Rodgers with the 24th overall pick - raising eyebrows and disgruntling fans. Were the Packers moving off of their three-time MVP quarterback for Rodgers?
Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback 2005-2022
NINE
In 2018, the Vikings signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to an $84 million contract that made him the then-highest-paid player in NFL history. Cousins led Minnesota to a dramatic Wild Card Round winin overtime against New Orleans in the 2019 playoffs, before being joined by electric receiver Justin Jefferson in 2020. By the 2022 season, Jefferson had blossomed into arguably the best receiver in the league - helping Minnesota - and new head coach Kevin O'Connell - to put together an NFC North-leading 13-4 season. A season which featured the biggest comeback in NFL history - with the Vikings coming back from a 33-point deficit, in Week 15, to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 39-36.Despite the impressive regular season, the Vikings fell short of the Super Bowl yet again before going 7-10 in 2023. Desperate to capitalise on the young talent on their roster, Minnesota made the decision not to re-sign Kirk Cousins - choosing to instead target a promising signal caller in the 2024 NFL draft. The Vikings ended up drafting..with the.. overall pick. A new era in Minnesota begins.
Jordan Love, Quarterback 2020-Present
BEFORE YOU GO
Green Bay’s waiting list for season tickets contains over 140,000 names, as the Packers’ ‘Cheeseheads’ are some of the most fanatical supporters in the NFL.
The ‘Cheesehead’ nickname originates from the ‘80s when rival fans poked fun at Wisconsin’s long history of cheese production. However, the Packers fans embraced the nickname and fans are still seen wearing Cheesehead hats at games.
Green Bay lead their fiercest rivals, the Chicago Bears, with 107 wins to 95.
