History of the Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers got their start in 1919 when a shipping clerk for the Indian Packing Company. His name was Earl Lambeau, he needed uniforms and equipment for a new football team he was forming. He asked his employers if they could help with the cost of outfitting his team. They said yes, under one condition: the team must be named for them.
Thus, we have the Green Bay Packers, the oldest team in the NFL. They have played under one continuous nickname. They began as an independent team playing against teams in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. They were invited to join the NFL in 1921, where they have been for 101 uninterrupted years of professional football.
Those have also been some very successful years of football. Including three NFL championships in their first 11 NFL seasons. They won the title again in 1936, 1939, and 1944. In 1961 they began a new era of dominance under new head coach Vince Lombardi. Where for first time that year Green Bay was given the moniker “Titletown.”
Green Bay Packers Early Championships
Following up the 1961 championship with titles in 1962, 1965. Also, wins in the first two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967, the moniker stuck.
The Packers have since added two more Super Bowls – XXXI and XLV. Bringing their total number of league championships to 13. That is the most in NFL history, and four better than the second place Chicago Bears.
The Packers also have 25 players in the Hall of Fame. Including greats like Paul Hornung, Bart Starr, Ray Nitschke, and Jerry Kramer. More recent additions include three-time MVP Brett Favre, Reggie White, who retired with 198 sacks. The second-most in NFL history, and cornerback Charles Woodson, who was the Defensive Player of the Year with the Packers in 2009.
Also in the Hall of Fame is founder, head coach, and halfback Earl “Curly” Lambeau. Who won six titles as a player and coach, as well as the namesake of the Super Bowl trophy, legendary coach Vince Lombardi.
NFL Big Changes from Last Season – Green Bay Packers
As long as Aaron Rodgers remains the quarterback the Packers should be able to weather almost any change, including the rather large changes that have happened since they were eliminated in the playoffs last January.
The biggest is the departure of Davante Adams, a top-five wide receiver in the NFL and a favorite target of Rodgers. Over the last four seasons Adams had 5,310 yards receiving, and that’s with missing eight games over that span. Last year he had 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns, after finishing with 18 touchdowns the season before.
The Packers drafted Christian Watson in the second round and with the 34th overall pick, and he will be a fine wide receiver. Maybe as early as this year. But he is no Davante Adams, whose presence will be missed.
Not the Packers Offense We Know
Also missing on offense is the offensive coordinator who helped lead Rodgers to his back-to-back MVP awards, Nathaniel Hackett. He is now the new head coach in Denver. Also leaving the offensive staff in Green Bay is the quarterbacks coach for Rodgers the last two years, Luke Getsy. He is now the offensive coordinator in Chicago.
The new OC in Green Bay is Adam Stenavich, who was the offensive line coach and run game coordinator last year in Green Bay. The rest of his resume includes offensive line coaching stops in college and with the 49ers.
The changes on offense aren’t great for the Packers, but they did have two first round draft picks that should help upgrade the defense. Quay Walker is a linebacker out of Georgia who weighs 240 pounds and runs a 4.5. Devonte Wyatt, a college teammate of Walker’s, is an athletic 300-pounder who shores up the middle of the defensive line.
* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
NFC North
