The Green Bay Packers are the most storied franchise in the NFL, maybe even in all of sports. So many players have worn the green and gold, (even blue and gold long ago). But who are the best?
I've compiled a list, including 18 Hall of Fame members, of what I think are the best players to play in Green Bay, and two legendary coaches.
Coaches:
*Earl "Curly" Lambeau (1919-1949); Co-founder, player and coach. 212-106-21 overall record (.656) as coach. Curly began the team two years before the NFL took form. Plus, the field in Green Bay is named after him.
*Vince Lombardi (1959-67); Five titles in nine years with a 9-1 record in the playoffs. 98-30-4 overall record (.758). If you weren't fired with enthusiasm under Lombardi, you'd be fired, with enthusiasm by Lombardi. The creator of the Packer Power Sweep.
Offense:
*QB - Bart Starr (1956-71); I know, how can I not pick Favre? Easy, Starr's management of the game was second to none. Five NFL titles to one; both played 16 years as a Packer, but Favre takes a backseat to the true "Starr" in Green Bay.
*RB - Tony Canandeo (1941-44, '46-52); He ran, threw and caught passes, returned kicks and punted. He truly did it all, plus he missed 1945 to fight in WWII.
*RB - Johnny "Blood" McNally (1929-33); The nickname alone gets him on the list. Was great on the field, but if half the stories are true, just as amazing off it.
*RB - Paul Hornung (1956-66); Ran and kicked which allowed him to lead the league in scoring three years in a row. Scored 176 points in '60, (15 TD, 15 FG, 41 PAT). The Golden Boy was suspended for all of the '63 season, but he was the key factor in that Power Sweep.
*FB - Jim Taylor (1958-66); A fullback who leads the franchise in rushing yards with 8,207, even after he's been gone for over 40 years. A tough as nails runner, who was even tougher to tackle.
*WR - James Lofton (1978-86); 530 catches for 9,656 yards and 49 TD. Went to seven straight Pro Bowls, starting in his rookie year. Lofton gets overshadowed in Green Bay because he was a standout out player on a horrible team in his nine years.
*WR - Don Hutson (1935-45);Pretty much invented the WR position in the NFL. Don't believe me? Led the league in receiving yards seven times, (four consecutive); lead in TD receptions nine times, (five consecutive); led in receptions eight times, (five consecutive). Caught 99 total touchdowns, and supposedly developed his great hands by catching rattlesnakes back in Alabama.
WR - Sterling Sharpe (1988-94); Only played 112 games, but had 65 TD, with 8,134 yards on 595 catches. Could have been really great if a neck injury didn't force him to retire early. The go-to guy during his seven years.
TE - Mark Chmura (1993-99); I don't care what he may or may not have done in a hot tub with teenage girls. There was no one better at the tight end position for the Packers.
*OL - Forrest Gregg (1956, '58-70);
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