We begin the decade of the Eighties today with the 1980 Green Bay Packers Yearbook. On the cover is a close head (helmet) shot of linebacker Rich Wingo during the Packer-Bear game in Green Bay on December 9, 1979. The Bears won that game 15-14.
In 1980, the Packers would stumble to a 5-10-1 record, for last (fifth) place in the NFC Central. Quarterback Lynn Dickey would be the starter for the whole season, passing for 3,529 yards, 15 TD’s, and 25 INT’s. Running back Eddie Lee Ivery was the team’s leading rusher, with 831 yards on 202 carries and 3 TD’s. James Lofton led the receivers with 1,226 yards on 71 completions for 4 TD’s. This season started off on a wacky note when, in overtime against the Bears, kicker Chester Marcol’s game-winning-attempted field goal was blocked right back into his hands and he scampered to the left for the wining touchdown.
Some of the stories featured in the 1980 Yearbook were: ““Packers Are Optimistic”... “Tale of Two QBs” (Whitehurst and Dickey)...“A New Look on Defense”... “Rich Wingo — Hard Part’s Over”... “Pack Progressing Via Draft — Bart”... “Packers Put Draft Emphasis on Defense”... “The Only Winning Coaches”... “A New Decade — And a Look Back”... “The Pack’s First Six Decades — A Capsule”... “Yearbook Builds Tradition”... “Sports Illustrated Covers”... “45 Years of Packer Team Statistics”... “The Unforgettable Monday Nighter”... “Herb (Adderley) Gains Canton Berth”... “Coffman Finds Security”... “Running Backs Healthy and Experienced”... “Your 1980 Packers”... “Changes in the Packer Family“... “Packer Schedule Tough Despite Foes’ .476 Record”...
