NFL Team History - the Green Bay Packers

On August 11th, 1919, Curly Lambeau and George Calhoun structured a football team with a group of athletes in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The team was referred to as the 'Packers' because Lambeau's employer at the Indian Packing Company allowed the team finances for equipment and other necessities. The Packers would win 10 out of their first11 games.

In 1921, the National Football League added the Green Bay Packers to their list of competing teams. The Packers were victorious in their introductory NFL game as they defeated the Minneapolis Marines by a score of 7-6 over at Hagemeister Park on October 23. They concluded their inaugural season in the NFL with a 3-2-1 record.

Curly Lambeau would reclaim the franchise in 1922 with assistance from an association of financial supporters.

In 1923, the Packers played their home games at Bellevue Park. In 1926, the Packers moved their home games to what was considered a 'real' football stadium, City Stadium.

The Packers claimed their first NFL Championship in 1929 after posting an undefeated record of 12-0-1. They would repeat their champion feat in 1930 and 1931. They would encounter their first losing season in the NFL in 1933 with a record of 5-7-1.

The Packers franchise would nearly go bankrupt after a spectator fell from the grandstands, which consequently resulted in a $5,000 lawsuit. An alliance of local businessmen would rescue the franchise by raising $15,000.

The Packers claimed their fourth NFL Championship in 1936 by defeating the Boston Redskins 21-6 in New York. Three years later, they would be crowned champions of the NFL for a fifth time after blanking the New York Giants 27-0. It was not until 1944 when the Packers won the NFL title for a sixth time. This time, they conquered the title by defeating the Giants 14-7.

In 1949, the Packers experienced their worst season in their early history as they finished the season with a dismal record of 2 wins and 10 losses. Their gridiron inadequacies continued on into the 1950's, which resulted in a personnel revamping in 1954.

In 1957, the Packers relocated to their new state of the art facility, also known as City Stadium.

The Packers unveiled their new stadium with a 21-17 victory over their bitter rivals, the Chicago Bears. However, the Packers continued to struggle against the competition.

Following an abysmal 1-10-1 record in 1958, the Packers hired Vince Lombardi to guide the team as head coach.

He would lead the Packers to a 7-5 record in 1959, which was the team's first winning season since 1948. This would begin a decade of preeminence for the Green Bay franchise.

In 1960, the Packers returned to their first NFL Championship game since 1944 as they were matched-up against the Philadelphia Eagles; however they would lose by a marginal score of 17-13.

A year later, the Packers earned their 7th overall NFL Championship with a 37-0 pasting of the New York Giants. They would duplicate their championship mastery in 1962 with a 16-7 over the Giants.

Regrettably, Green Bay Packers founder Curly Lambeau passed away prior to the 1965 season. The death of their beloved owner inspired the franchise to rename City Stadium as Lambeau Field. That same year, the Packers claimed their ninth NFL Championship with a 23-12 win over the Cleveland Browns.

After defeating the Dallas Cowboys 34-27 in the 1966 NFL Championship Game, the Packers earned the right to play in the inaugural Super Bowl, the championship game between the best team in the NFL and the best team in the American Football League. The soundly favored Packers pounded the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 to become the first team to win the highly-regarded Super Bowl Championship.

The Packers would repeat their ascendancy in the NFL as they defeated the Dallas Cowboys for the second successive season to claim their third consecutive NFL Championship, and their second straight Super Bowl trip. The prevailing Packers would thrash the AFL Champion Oakland Raiders 33-14 as they were guided by quarterback Bart Starr, who would eventually be named as the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player.

After a substandard season in which the Packers finished with a 6-7-1 record in 1968, Vince Lombardi would step down from his head coach position. However, he would recommence his career as head coach of the Washington Redskins, as well as a part-owner. Mournfully, he passed away due to cancer prior to the 1970 NFL season.

The Packers would not return to the post-season until 1972 when they were earned the NFC Central Division title. Their Super Bowl aspirations were spoiled by the Washington Redskins in the divisional playoff game.

Throughout the late 1970's and 1980's, ineptness shadowed the Green Bay Packers. Their only post-season berth of the decade occurred in 1982. The once mighty Green Bay Packers would fall victim to the Dallas Cowboys 37-26 in the playoff bout.

The 1992 season was a key season for the Packers franchise. Mike Holmgren was hired as the new head coach, and they acquired quarterback Brett Favre via trade with the Atlanta Falcons. Favre has become the cornerstone of the Packers franchise.

In 1993, the Packers signed former Philadelphia Eagles Pro Bowl defensive end Reggie White. Following a 9-7 season, the Packers would clinch their first post-season berth since 1982. They would defeat the Detroit Lions 28-24 for. However, they were defeated by the Dallas Cowboys 27-17 a week later.

The Packers returned to the post-season in 1994, but their Super Bowl hopes came crashing down after a piercing 35-9 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

In the 1995 post-season, the Packers faced the Cowboys for the third successive season. However, this time, it was for the NFC Championship. Once again, the Cowboys continued their vice-like grip over the Packers with a thwarting 38-28 victory.

The Packers sailed to a 13-3 record in 1996, which was the best record in the NFL. They returned to the NFC Championship showdown, but this time they would face the upstart Carolina Panthers. Following a 30-13 victory, the Packers earned their first trip to the Super Bowl since 1967.

They would secure their third Super Bowl Championship, and an NFL best 12th overall championship, following a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots.

In 1997, the Packers returned to the Super Bowl, and seemed to be on the verge of reclaiming their title as the NFL's paramount franchise. Conversely, they were defeated by the underdog Denver Broncos 31-24.

Their endeavor for a third straight Super Bowl arrival was tarnished by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1998 Wild Card Game. Following the season, Holmgren, their most successful coach since Vince Lombardi, decided to resign as the Packers head coach in order to accept a head coach position as well as a General Manager position with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers would clinch playoff berths and division titles in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, but failed to reappear in the Super Bowl.

In 2005, the Packers would endure a 4-12 record, and finish last in the NFC North Division.

On September 30, 1997, Brett Favre surpassed former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino for the most touchdown passes with 421. The record-breaking pass was caught by wide receiver Greg Jennings, and was against the Minnesota Vikings.