1966 Green Bay Packers season

Offseason

The Washington Redskins made overtures to Vince Lombardi about becoming their new head coach. Lombardi refused their offer and the Redskins had to settle for Otto Graham as their new head coach. Lombardi replaced Graham in Washington in 1969.

NFL draft

In the 1966 NFL draft, held in late November 1965, the Packers selected running back Jim Grabowski of Illinois with the ninth overall pick. Common for pro football in the mid-1960s, the Packers found themselves in a bidding war for Grabowski. The expansion Miami Dolphins of the American Football League selected Grabowski with the first overall selection of the AFL draft, held the same day. Lombardi's plan was to groom Grabowski to take over for Jim Taylor at fullback. Despite being offered more money by the Dolphins, Grabowski said it was an honor to be drafted by the Packers. Grabowski signed with the Packers and landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated in August, with veteran backfield tandem Paul Hornung and Taylor on the main cover and rookies Grabowski and Donny Anderson on the foldout. The signing of Grabowski upset Taylor, who felt that he was underpaid and made it publicly known that he would leave Green Bay once his contract expired. Taylor had been given an offer by the expansion Atlanta Falcons, but agreed to honor his contract before moving to another team and played out his option in 1966.

Fellow rookie running back Anderson of Texas Tech was the seventh overall selection of the 1965 draft as an underclassman, and he stayed in school for his senior season in 1965. Due to their large contracts, signed during the height of the pre-merger bidding war with the AFL, as well as their high visibility as the apparent replacements for Hornung and Taylor, Anderson and Grabowski were nicknamed the "Gold Dust Twins."

The 1966 draft (November 1965) was the last one held separately for the two leagues. Following the merger agreement of June 1966, a common draft was conducted in March 1967.

Roster

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Preseason

Regular season

Main article: 1966 NFL season

The defending champion Packers finished the regular season with a league best record of 12–2, returning them to the NFL championship game as Western Conference champions. Until , NFL playoff sites were rotated, so the Eastern Conference champion Dallas Cowboys (10–3–1) hosted the title game in 1966 at the Cotton Bowl on January 1, 1967.

Schedule

• Saturday (September 10, December 10)
• A bye week was necessary in , as the league expanded to an odd-number (15) of teams (Atlanta); one team was idle each week.

Standings

Game summaries

Week 1 vs. Baltimore Colts

;Colts

• Johnny Unitas 14/20, 106 yards, 3 INT
• Jerry Hill 13 rush, 51 yards
• Raymond Berry 5 rec, 40 yards ;Packers
• Bart Starr 14/19, 138 yards, INT
• Jim Taylor 16 rush, 76 yards
• Boyd Dowler 6 rec, 73 yards

Week 2: at Cleveland Browns

First quarter

• CLE – Gary Collins 11-yard pass from Frank Ryan (Lou Groza kick) Second quarter
• CLE – Gary Collins 24-yard pass from Frank Ryan (Lou Groza kick)
• GB – Paul Hornung 44-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick)
• CLE – Lou Groza 42-yard field goal Third quarter
• GB – Jim Taylor 1-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Fourth quarter
• CLE – Lou Groza 46-yard field goal
• GB – Jim Taylor 9-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) Passing
• GB – Bart Starr 20/30, 238 yards, 2 TD
• CLE – Frank Ryan 15/24, 284 yards, 2 TD Rushing
• GB – Paul Hornung 14 att, 51 yards
• CLE – Ernie Green 9 att, 52 yards Receiving
• GB – Paul Hornung 3 rec, 69 yards, TD
• CLE – Gary Collins 4 rec, 70 yards, 2 TD

Week 3: vs. Los Angeles Rams

First quarter

• GB – Paul Hornung 6-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) Second quarter
• GB – Paul Hornung 4-yard run (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Don Chandler 41-yard field goal
• LA – Bruce Gossett 13-yard field goal
• LA – Bruce Gossett 35-yard field goal Third quarter
• LA – Dick Bass 8-yard run (Bruce Gossett kick) Fourth quarter
• GB – Elijah Pitts 80-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) Passing
• LA – Roman Gabriel 14/28, 124 yards, INT
• GB – Bart Starr 12/20, 257 yards, 2 TD Rushing
• LA – Dick Bass 13 att, 59 yards, TD
• GB – Jim Taylor 15 att, 42 yards Receiving
• LA – Billy Traux 7 rec, 62 yards
• GB – Elijah Pitts 1 rec, 80 yards, TD

Week 4: vs. Detroit Lions

First quarter

• GB – Marv Fleming 53-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Don Chandler 14-yard field goal Second quarter
• GB – Carroll Dale 78-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick)
• DET – Tom Nowatzke 1-yard run (Wayne Walker kick) Third quarter
• GB – Don Chandler 22-yard field goal Fourth quarter
• DET – Amos Marsh 8-yard run (Wayne Walker kick)
• GB – Don Chandler 31-yard field goal Passing
• DET – Milt Plum 15/24, 193 yards, 2 INT
• GB – Bart Starr 11/19, 212 yards, 2 TD Rushing
• DET – Amos Marsh 21 att, 89 yards, TD
• GB – Jim Taylor 12 att, 34 yards Receiving
• DET – Pat Studstill 5 rec, 89 yards
• GB – Carroll Dale 2 rec, 99 yards, TD

Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers

First quarter

• GB – Don Chandler 18-yard field goal Second quarter
• SF – John David Crow 27-yard pass from George Mira (Tommy Davis kick) Third quarter
• SF – Matt Hazeltine 22-yard fumble return (Tommy Davis kick)
• GB – Paul Hornung 43-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Don Chandler 22-yard field goal Fourth quarter
• SF – John David Crow 8-yard pass from George Mira (Tommy Davis kick)
• GB – Carroll Dale 38-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) Passing
• GB – Bart Starr 18/26, 287 yards, 2 TD, INT
• SF – George Mira 9/21, 104 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing
• GB – Jim Taylor 16 att, 54 yards
• SF – George Mira 3 att, 46 yards Receiving
• GB – Carroll Dale 4 rec, 86 yards, TD
• SF – John David Crow 5 rec, 53 yards, 2 TD

Week 6: at Chicago Bears

Third quarter

• GB – Paul Hornung 1-yard run (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Don Chandler 30-yard field goal Fourth quarter
• GB – Willie Wood 20-yard interception return (Don Chandler kick) Passing
• GB – Bart Starr 8/18, 80 yards, INT
• CHI – Rudy Bukich 12/23, 69 yards, 3 INT Rushing
• GB – Jim Taylor 17 att, 66 yards
• CHI – Gale Sayers 15 att, 29 yards Receiving
• GB – Jim Taylor 4 rec, 42 yards
• CHI – Mike Ditka 2 rec, 26 yards

Week 7: vs. Atlanta Falcons

First quarter

• GB – Elijah Pitts 3-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Second quarter
• GB – Jim Taylor 1-yard run (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Carroll Dale 51-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Donny Anderson 5-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Third quarter
• ATL – Lou Kirouac 41-yard field goal
• GB – Herb Adderley 68-yard interception return Fourth quarter
• GB – Max McGee 24-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Donny Anderson 77-yard punt return (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Doug Hart 40-yard interception return (Don Chandler kick) Passing
• ATL – Randy Johnson 5/17, 91 yards, 3 INT
• GB – Bart Starr 8/13, 220 yards, TD Rushing
• ATL – Ernie Wheelwright 8 att, 51 yards
• GB – Jim Grabowski 7 att, 52 yards Receiving
• ATL – Bill Martin 4 rec, 42 yards
• GB – Carroll Dale 4 rec, 110 yards, TD

Week 8: at Detroit Lions

Second quarter

• GB – Elijah Pitts 4-yard run (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Don Chandler 40-yard field goal
• DET – Tom Nowatzke 2-yard run (Wayne Walker kick)
• GB – Elijah Pitts 24-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) Third quarter
• GB – Jim Taylor 1-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Fourth quarter
• GB – Elijah Pitts 3-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Passing
• GB – Bart Starr 11/13, 154 yards, TD
• DET – Karl Sweetan 21/45, 271 yards, 3 INT Rushing
• GB – Elijah Pitts 21 att, 99 yards, 2 TD
• DET – Tom Nowatzke 9 att, 52 yards, TD Receiving
• GB – Carroll Dale 1 rec, 52 yards
• DET – Pat Studstill 7 rec, 164 yards

Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings

First quarter

• GB – Jim Taylor 1-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Second quarter
• MIN – Bill Brown 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick)
• GB – Don Chandler 11-yard field goal
• MIN – Fred Cox 31-yard field goal Third quarter
• GB – Elijah Pitts 2-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Fourth quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 16-yard field goal
• MIN – Bill Brown 1-yard run (Fred Cox kick) Passing
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton 16/26, 172 yards
• GB – Bart Starr 11/18, 140 yards Rushing
• MIN – Bill Brown 21 att, 51 yards, 2 TD
• GB – Elijah Pitts 18 att, 89 yards, TD Receiving
• MIN – Red Phillips 4 rec, 72 yards
• GB – Elijah Pitts 4 rec, 58 yards

Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears

Second quarter

• GB – Carroll Dale 6-yard pass from Zeke Bratkowski (Don Chandler kick) Fourth quarter
• CHI – Gale Sayers 2-yard run (kick failed)
• GB – Carroll Dale 33-yard pass from Zeke Bratkowski (kick failed) Passing
• CHI – Rudy Bukich 7/17, 79 yards, 2 INT
• GB – Zeke Bratkowski 14/25, 190 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing
• CHI – Gale Sayers 20 att, 68 yards, TD
• GB – Jim Taylor 20 att, 49 yards Receiving
• CHI – Ronnie Bull 3 rec, 33 yards
• GB – Carroll Dale 6 rec, 87 yards, 2 TD

Week 12: at Minnesota Vikings

First quarter

• MIN – Fred Cox 27-yard field goal
• GB – Elijah Pitts 1-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Second quarter
• GB – Jim Taylor 14-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Marv Fleming 10-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) Third quarter
• MIN – Fred Cox 30-yard field goal
• MIN – Fred Cox 22-yard field goal Fourth quarter
• MIN – Dave Osborn 38-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick)
• GB – Jim Grabowski 36-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Passing
• GB – Bart Starr 20/31, 149 yards, 2 TD
• MIN – Fran Tarkenton 15/27, 229 yards, TD, INT Rushing
• GB – Jim Grabowski 7 att, 61 yards, TD
• MIN – Jim Lindsey 11 att, 40 yards Bill Brown 17 att, 40 yards Receiving
• GB – Marv Fleming 4 rec, 37 yards, TD
• MIN – Red Phillips 5 rec, 98 yards

Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers

First quarter

• GB – Carroll Dale 83-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) Fourth quarter
• GB – Bart Starr 1-yard run (kick failed)
• SF – Dave Parks 65-yard pass from John Brodie (Tommy Davis kick)
• GB – Elijah Pitts 2-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Passing
• SF – John Brodie 14/33, 183 yards, TD, 2 INT
• GB – Bart Starr 13/24, 236 yards, TD Rushing
• SF – John David Crow 9 att, 52 yards Ken Willard 14 att, 52 yards
• GB – Jim Taylor 18 att, 84 yards Receiving
• SF – Dave Parks 6 rec, 138 yards, TD
• GB – Carroll Dale 3 rec, 142 yards, TD

Week 14: at Baltimore Colts

First quarter

• GB – Elijah Pitts 42-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) Second quarter
• BAL – Tony Lorick 1-yard run (Lou Michaels kick)
• BAL – Lou Michaels 26-yard field goal Fourth quarter
• GB – Elijah Pitts 2-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Passing
• GB – Bart Starr 7/15, 96 yards, TD
• BAL – Johnny Unitas 11/24, 140 yards, 3 INT Rushing
• GB – Elijah Pitts 11 att, 43 yards, TD Jim Taylor 17 att, 43 yards
• BAL – Jerry Hill 25 att, 88 yards Receiving
• GB – Elijah Pitts 4 rec, 79 yards, TD
• BAL – Raymond Berry 4 rec, 59 yards Zeke Bratkowski relieved Bart Starr, who suffered a muscle spasm in the first half. Bratkowski directed an 80-yard drive in the fourth quarter that resulted in a go-ahead touchdown run by Elijah Pitts. John Unitas then led the Colts to the Green Bay 15, but there lost a fumble which came to be known as the 'Million Dollar Fumble', to secure the Packers' win that clinched the Western Conference crown.

Week 15: at Los Angeles Rams

First quarter

• LA – Bruce Gossett 36-yard field goal
• GB – Bob Jeter 75-yard interception return (Don Chandler kick) Second quarter
• LA – Bruce Gossett 30-yard field goal
• GB – Don Chandler 10-yard field goal
• LA – Bruce Gossett 17-yard field goal
• GB – Donny Anderson 2-yard run (Don Chandler kick) Fourth quarter
• GB – Carroll Dale 23-yard pass from Zeke Bratkowski (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Don Chandler 47-yard field goal
• LA – Roman Gabriel 11-yard run (Bruce Gossett kick)
• LA – Marlin McKeever 3-yard pass from Roman Gabriel (Bruce Gossett kick) Passing
• GB – Zeke Bratkowski 13/23, 245 yards, TD, INT
• LA – Roman Gabriel 22/37, 237 yards, TD, INT Rushing
• GB – Donny Anderson 11 att, 58 yards, TD
• LA – Dick Bass 14 att, 49 yards Receiving
• GB – Carroll Dale 3 rec, 121 yards, TD
• LA – Jack Snow 2 rec, 62 yards

Postseason

NFL Championship Game

Main article: 1966 NFL Championship Game

First quarter

• GB – Elijah Pitts 17-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick)
• GB – Jim Grabowski 18-yard fumble return (Don Chandler kick)
• DAL – Dan Reeves 3-yard run (Danny Villanueva kick)
• DAL – Don Perkins 23-yard run (Danny Villanueva kick) Second quarter
• GB – Carroll Dale 51-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick)
• DAL – Danny Villanueva 11-yard field goal Third quarter
• DAL – Danny Villanueva 32-yard field goal
• GB – Boyd Dowler 16-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) Fourth quarter
• GB – Max McGee 28-yard pass from Bart Starr (kick blocked)
• DAL – Frank Clarke 68-yard pass from Don Meredith (Danny Villanueva kick) Passing
• GB – Bart Starr 19/28, 304 yards, 4 TD
• DAL – Don Meredith 15/31, 238 yards, TD, INT Rushing
• GB – Elijah Pitts 12 att, 66 yards
• DAL – Don Perkins 17 att, 108 yards, TD Receiving
• GB – Carroll Dale 5 rec, 128 yards, TD
• DAL – Frank Clarke 3 rec, 102 yards, TD Green Bay took an early 14–0 lead on two first-quarter scores; a 17-yard touchdown pass from Bart Starr to Elijah Pitts and an 18-yard fumble return by Jim Grabowski on the ensuing kickoff. The Cowboys tied the score with two touchdowns towards the end of the quarter.

Starr's third touchdown pass of the game gave the Packers a 34–20 lead with 5:20 left in the game, but the Cowboys responded with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Don Meredith to Frank Clarke. Dallas advanced to the Green Bay 22-yard line on their next drive, when a pass interference penalty gave the Cowboys a first down at the Packer 2-yard line. But Green Bay's Tom Brown intercepted a Meredith pass in the end zone with 28 seconds left to play to preserve the victory for the Packers.

With the win, the Packers earned their 10th NFL championship. It was their second in a row and fourth in six seasons.

Super Bowl I

Main article: Super Bowl I

First quarter

• GB – Max McGee 37-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) 7–0 GB Second quarter
• KC – Curtis McClinton 7-yard pass from Len Dawson (Mike Mercer kick) 7–7
• GB – Jim Taylor 14-yard run (Don Chandler kick) 14–7 GB
• KC – Mike Mercer 31-yard field goal 14–10 GB Third quarter
• GB – Elijah Pitts 5-yard run (Don Chandler kick) 21–10 GB
• GB – Max McGee 13-yard pass from Bart Starr (Don Chandler kick) 28–10 GB Fourth quarter
• GB – Elijah Pitts 1-yard run (Don Chandler kick) 35–10 GB Passing
• KC – Len Dawson 16/27, 211 yards, TD, INT
• GB – Bart Starr 16/23, 250 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing
• KC – Len Dawson 3 att, 24 yards
• GB – Jim Taylor 17 att, 56 yards, TD Receiving
• KC – Chris Burford 4 rec, 67 yards
• GB – Max McGee 7 rec, 138 yards, 2 TD The first AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later known as Super Bowl I, was played on January 15, 1967, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Packers faced the Kansas City Chiefs from the AFL, who finished their regular season at 11–2–1.

In the week prior to the game, the Packers practiced at UC Santa Barbara, and the Chiefs at Veterans Field in Long Beach.

The Packers jumped out to an early 7–0 lead with Bart Starr's 37-yard touchdown pass to reserve receiver Max McGee, who had been put into the game just a few plays earlier to fill in for injured starter Boyd Dowler. Early in the second quarter, Kansas City marched 66 yards in 6 plays to tie the game on a 7-yard pass from quarterback Len Dawson to Curtis McClinton. But the Packers responded on their next drive, advancing 73 yards down the field and scoring on fullback Jim Taylor's 14-yard touchdown run with the team's famed "Power Sweep" play. The Chiefs then cut the lead with a minute left in the half, 14–10, on Mike Mercer's 31-yard field goal.

Early in the second half Dawson was intercepted by defensive back Willie Wood. He returned the interception 50 yards to the Kansas City 5-yard line. On the next play Elijah Pitts rushed 5-yards for a touchdown, giving the Packers a 21–10 lead. Max McGee scored his second touchdown of the game with a 13-yard reception from Bart Starr. The Packers held the Chiefs' offense to 12 yards in the third quarter. Elijah Pitts scored another touchdown for the Packers in the third quarter on a one-yard touchdown run. The Packers would win the game 35–10. Quarterback Bart Starr was named the MVP of the game, completing 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

Statistics

Team leaders

Note that sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL.

League rankings

Awards and records

• Bart Starr, NFL MVP
• Bart Starr, Super Bowl most valuable player

References

References

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2. "Cold Hard Football Facts: 40 and Fabulous: in praise of passer rating".
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6. {{usurped
7. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN. 0-7611-2480-2, p. 396
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9. When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p. 384, Simon & Schuster, 1999, {{ISBN. 978-0-684-84418-3
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15. (September 2, 1972). "Jim Grabowski quits pro ball". Bryan Times.
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22. "Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers - October 9th, 1966".
23. "Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears - October 16th, 1966".
24. "Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers - October 23rd, 1966".
25. "Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions - October 30th, 1966".
26. "Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers - November 6th, 1966".
27. "Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers - November 20th, 1966".
28. "Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings - November 27th, 1966".
29. "San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers - December 4th, 1966".
30. "Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Colts - December 10th, 1966".
31. "Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams - December 18th, 1966".
32. Maule, Tex. (1966-12-19). "THE $1,000,000 FUMBLE".
33. [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.jsp?release_id=587 Pro Football Hall of Fame: Super Bowl Game-Time Temperatures]
34. (January 5, 1967). "Green Bay to train at San. Barbara". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
35. "Pre-1982 Sacks Added To Pro Football Reference".