Today brings us to the 1984 Green Bay Packers Yearbook, and a change in ownership for the publication. John M. Wemple took over the reigns from longtime owner Art Daley, and would continue to publish the Yearbook into the new century. On the cover of the 1984 edition is new coach and former Packer offensive lineman Forrest Gregg. He replaced nine-year coach Bart Starr — the man he used to block for during so many championship seasons.
Starr was fired after the final game of the 1983 season, when the Packers lost to the Bears in Chicago 23-21. The next morning, Packers president Judge Robert Parins fired Starr as he was planning to attend a planning and review meeting with his coaches. According to Starr’s 1987 autobiography, “At 8:00 a.m. the day after our Bears game, Judge Parins walked into my office. ‘I want to talk to you, Bart,’ he said. ‘The coaches are waiting for me. Is this going to take long?’ I asked. ‘Not long at all,’ he replied, ‘You don’t have to worry about your meeting, because as of this moment I am relieving you of your coaching position.’ He didn’t thank me for my efforts, didn’t say a word about my twenty-six year contribution to the Green Bay Packer organization. He didn’t even express any regret about having to make the decision. He sounded as though he were delivering a cold, unemotional sentence in his circuit court. His words burned in my mind as I as he quickly turned around and walked out. I was furious about his lack of support. Finally, I felt shock, and I realized my relationship with the Packers was over. I closed the door to my office and cried.”
In the 1984 season, the Packers would equal the 8-8-0 record that got Starr fired the year before, placing them second again in the NFC Central Division. Quarterback Lynn Dickey started all but one game (rookie Randy Wright started the other game). Dickey passed for 3,195 yards, 25 TD’s, and 19 INT’s. James Lofton again led the receiving corps with 62 receptions for 1,361 yards and 7 TD’s. Tight end Paul Coffman also contributed 562 yards and 9 TD’s. Gerry Ellis was also once again the leading rusher with 581 yards on 123 carries, with 4 TD’s.
Some of the stories in the 1984 Yearbook were: “The Packer Fan — By Far the Best”... “Forrest Gregg’s Coaching Philosophy”... “Forrest Gregg — A Personal Look”... “Interceptions Bug Dickey”... “Packers Will Be Stronger”... “MO: Defense will be tough, aggressive”... “Yearbook Smacks of Silver — It’s the 25th Issue”... “Running Backs — ‘A Real Good Group’ ”... “Lofton: I’ll Stay in Green Bay”... “The Unforgettable Monday Nighter — No. 2”... “The 1983 Season in Statistics”... “The Draft — Emphasis Placed on Defense”... “Your 1984 Packers”... “Record Clip: 429 Points For, 439 Against”... “Thanks, Bart”... “Thanksgiving Day in MoTown”...
