Packers-Bears in the late Sixties

Today we see action from a Packers-Bears game at Chicago’s Wrigley Field in the late 1960’s, with the original description from coach Vince Lombardi: “This is the result of good faking by the quarterback and what happens to a middle linebacker when he reacts instead of analyzing first. The back (Donny Anderson, #44) is into the hole and the linebacker (Dick Butkus, #51) is going after the fake by the fullback (Jim Grabowski, #33). The fullback, by the way, has made an excellent block on the defensive tackle.”

Taylor Leads Horning

Today’s photo doesn’t need a whole lot of commentary — just a great shot of fullback Jim Taylor (#31) leading halfback Paul Hornung (#5) following a handoff from quarterback Bart Starr. Three Pro Football Hall of Famers at work against the Cleveland Browns in the mid-1960’s.

Mercein in the Western Conference Title Game

Today we have a photo of Packers’ running back Chuck Mercein gaining hard-fought yardage in the 1967 Western Conference Championship game in Milwaukee’s County Stadium. Mercein played in 22 games for Green Bay from 1967-1969. In the game he’s pictured in today, he scored on a six yard run in the third quarter, contributing to the Packers’ 28-7 victory. The win propelled the team into the storied “Ice Bowl” NFL Championship Game eight days later.

Taylor Against the Vikings

All Green Bay fans have one eye on the Minnesota Vikings this year for obvious reasons. In the middle 1960’s, Packers running back Jim Taylor (#31) had his eyes on the Vikings with one purpose in mind — to get past them for as much yardage as he could, and maybe score a couple of touchdowns in the process. And if he put the hurt on them as well, then it was icing on the cake.

Anderson at Work vs. Rams

Green Bay Packers’ running back Donny Anderson takes the handoff from quarterback Bart Starr in this probable 1967 game vs. the Los Angeles Rams. If indeed it is from 1967, then it is most likely the December 23rd Western Conference Championship played in Milwaukee County Stadium. Longtime guard Jerry Kramer (#64) executes a block in the general direction that Anderson will head after securing the ball.

The Roadrunner

Today we feature Green Bay running back Travis WIlliams, nicknamed “the roadrunner.” Williams came to the Packers from Arizona State University to play for the team from 1967-1970. Though he was there a short time, he is remembered fondly by those who watched him play. Unfortunately, he fell on hard times later in life. The following is from his obituary in the New York Times in 1991:

“Travis Williams, who wrestled with homelessness, poverty, and alcohol after setting records as a kick returner with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League, died of heart failure Sunday. He was 45 years old. Mr. Williams died in Martinez, Calif., near his hometown of Richmond, Calif., after suffering from liver and kidney problems for a long time, said his daughter Marla Williams.

Mr. Williams returned four kickoffs for touchdowns in his rookie season with the Packers in 1967, setting an N.F.L. record that still stands. He returned two in one game that season against the Cleveland Browns to tie a league record. He played four seasons with the Packers. A knee injury prevented him from playing in 1972 and ended his career.

Mr. Williams returned to California and held a series of jobs: collecting junk, driving trucks, working as a bouncer and as a security guard. Marla Williams said her father became increasingly depressed in recent years, and joined the ranks of people living on the streets. Mr. Williams is survived by four sons and four daughters.”

Back to Work, Fellas...

Seen leaving the short break of the team huddle today are Forrest Gregg (#75), Boyd Dowler (#86), Jerry Kramer (#64), Bob Hyland (#50), and a glimpse of Gale Gillingham (#68) in this scene from a 1967 home game. These gentlemen blocked the Packers to their third consecutive NFL championship that December in the famous “Ice Bowl,” and their second consecutive Super Bowl victory in Miami.

The Golden Boy

A fine portrait image of Hall of Fame Packers running back Paul Hornung is our subject for today. In the words of coach Vince Lombardi: “Hornung was the ideal player to run the sweep. He had good speed, strong legs, a deceptive gait, could throw well, and he had the intelligence or “feel” to cut at the right time. Hornung was a super player and, in my book, the best money player I ever coached. At midfield he was a good back, but inside that 20, where you have to score, he was just the greatest at getting those points. He smelled the goal line. And, in those key games against the Colts and the Bears and the Lions, he always had good days. He always killed the Colts — in one game he scored 35 points; in another, five touchdowns!”

Another Halfback Option Play

Today we have another action photo of the Packers’ halfback option play, this time involving Donny Anderson (#44) who joined the team as a draft choice out of Texas Tech in 1966. Anderson would play in 84 games for the team from Northern Wisconsin through the 1971 season.

This image is from the exhibition season of 1967, when the Pittsburgh Steelers came to Green Bay on August 12th. In this night-time contest at Lambeau Field, the Packers prevailed by a score of 31-20 in front of 50,861 fans. In those days, each team played six preseason games, sometimes at sites where there were no NFL teams — such as Portland, Oregon, Bangor Maine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Nowadays, the League is in discussion with its owners to eventually pare the current preseason games down to two, while playing an 18-game regular season. We believe it will happen sooner rather than later.

Hornung & Gregg — Halfback Option

After a day off because of general busyness this week, we’re back with an image of Packer greats Paul Hornung (#5) and Forrest Gregg (#75). They’re in the midst of running the halfback option, as they’re turning upfield on what was hopefully to be a long gain. Below, we see the play as diagrammed by the Green Bay head coach in his “Vince Lombardi on Football” book.