1989 Green Bay Packers season

Offseason

Draft

The Green Bay Packers selected Tony Mandarich with their first pick of the 1989 NFL draft, passing on prospects such as Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders. Mandarich was a first-team All-American, an Outland Award finalist and a two-time Big Ten Lineman of the Year. Mandarich would later hold out most of the preseason, playing most of the regular season on special teams. Four years after signing Mandarich, the Packers cut him. ESPN rated Mandarich as the third biggest sports flop in the past 25 years. Main article: 1989 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Personnel

Staff

• President and chief executive officer – Bob Harlan

• Executive vice-president of football operations – Tom Braatz

• Head coach – Lindy Infante

• Offensive backs – Willie Peete

• Wide receivers – Wayne "Buddy" Geis

• Tight ends – Virgil Knight

• Offensive line – Charlie Davis

• Offensive assistant – Joe Clark

• Defensive coordinator – Hank Bullough

• Defensive line – Greg Blache

• Outside linebackers – Dick Moseley

• Defensive backs – Dick Jauron

• Special teams – Howard Tippett

• Strength and conditioning – Virgil Knight

Roster

47 active, 7 inactive, 5 practice squad

Regular season

Although the Packers failed to make the Playoffs, they recorded their best record since 1972. The Packers finished 10–6, placing them second in the NFC Central. The Minnesota Vikings also finished 10–6, but held the tiebreaker due to a better division record. The team finished with a 10–6 record for their first winning season since the strike shortened the 1982 season. It was also the first club to record 4 1-point victories in a season. The club was 6–2 at home and 4–4 on the road. The Packers offense had success due to a strong passing game, headed by quarterback Don Majkowski. Majkowski finished first in the NFL in passing yards and completions. He earned a bid to the NFL Pro Bowl. Wide receiver Sterling Sharpe finished the season first in receptions, and second in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Sharpe would also earn a bid to the Pro Bowl.

The Herschel Walker trade and the Packers

On October 8, 1989, the Packers hosted the Dallas Cowboys, featuring star running back Herschel Walker. Four days later, the Cowboys traded Walker to the Minnesota Vikings, the next team on the Packers' schedule. Walker's debut with the Vikings occurred three days after the trade, on October 15, 1989, against the Packers. The Packers faced Walker for a third time during the regular season, on November 26, 1989, when the Packers played the Vikings again. These regular season games between the Packers and Walker occurred in three different cities: Green Bay, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee.

The Instant Replay game

Main article: Instant Replay Game

On November 5, 1989, the Packers beat the Bears 14–13, but not without controversy. Don Majkowski led the Packers to a comeback and a game-winning touchdown pass to Sterling Sharpe with less than a minute left to play. Initially the play was called a touchdown, but line judge Jim Quirk had called a penalty on Majkowski for being beyond the line of scrimmage when he threw the pass. With a nervous and tense crowd at Lambeau Field, the call went up to the instant replay official, Bill Parkinson. Several minutes later the call came down and the touchdown was awarded as recorded by instant replay. The Lambeau faithful and Packer players erupted with joy because it marked the first time since 1984 that the Packers had beaten their long-time rivals. The Packers would later beat the Bears again in the season. The game was broadcast on CBS with Dick Stockton and Dan Fouts on the call.

The last team to beat San Francisco

On November 19, 1989, the Packers traveled to Candlestick Park and beat Joe Montana and the San Francisco 49ers. It would be one of only two losses for the 49ers, and the last before the 49ers finished out the season 8–0, including a 55–10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV. In that game, the Packers matched their win total from the previous season (4–12). Although regarded at the time as a fluke, Green Bay would proceed to win 13 of the next 15 contests with San Francisco over the next 21 seasons.

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Season summary

Week 1: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

;Top passers

• TAM – Vinny Testaverde – 22/27, 205 yards, TD
• GB – Don Majkowski – 21/32, 313 yards, TD, INT ;Top rushers
• TAM – William Howard – 17 rushes, 67 yards
• GB – Brent Fullwood – 8 rushes, 54 yards ;Top receivers
• TAM – Mark Carrier – 6 receptions, 73 yards
• GB – Keith Woodside – 6 receptions, 49 yards

Week 4: vs. Atlanta Falcons

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

;Top passers

• ATL – Hugh Millen – 20/29, 294 yards, TD, INT
• GB – Don Majkowski – 19/35, 295 yards, TD, 2 INT ;Top rushers
• ATL – John Settle – 15 rushes, 49 yards, TD
• GB – Brent Fullwood – 19 rushes, 84 yards ;Top receivers
• ATL – Shawn Collins – 5 receptions, 126 yards
• GB – Perry Kemp – 5 receptions, 80 yards

Week 5: vs. Dallas Cowboys

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

;Top passers

• DAL – Steve Walsh – 18/29, 193 yards, TD, INT
• GB – Don Majkowski – 21/32, 313 yards, 4 TD ;Top rushers
• DAL – Herschel Walker – 12 rushes, 44 yards
• GB – Brent Fullwood – 28 rushes, 119 yards ;Top receivers
• DAL – Michael Irvin – 6 receptions, 72 yards, TD
• GB – Sterling Sharpe – 6 receptions, 132 yards, TD

Week 6 at Minnesota Vikings

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

;Top passers

• GB – Don Majkowski – 9/24, 198 yards, TD, 2 INT
• MIN – Tommy Kramer – 14/24, 172 yards, 2 TD, INT ;Top rushers
• GB – Keith Woodside – 3 rushes, 36 yards
• MIN – Herschel Walker – 18 rushes, 148 yards ;Top receivers
• GB – Sterling Sharpe – 2 receptions, 82 yards
• MIN – Hassan Jones – 4 receptions, 68 yards

Week 8: vs Detroit Lions

First quarter

• GB – Chris Jacke 49-yard field goal, 7:58. ''Green Bay 3–0 '''Drive: 12 plays, 43 yards, 5:18.'''''
• DET – Richard Johnson 6-yard pass from Rodney Peete, 0:50. ''Detroit 7–3 '''Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 7:08.''''' Second quarter
• DET – Eddie Murray 42-yard field goal, 10:39. ''Detroit 10–3 '''Drive: 11 plays, 48 yards, 4:12.'''''
• GB – Jeff Query 4-yard pass from Don Majkowski (Chris Jacke kick good), 0:15. ''Tied 10–10 '''Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 1:42.''''' Third quarter
• GB – Chris Jacke 21-yard field goal, 10:46. ''Green Bay 13–10 '''Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 4:14.'''''
• GB – Sterling Sharpe 2-yard pass from Don Majkowski (Chris Jacke kick good), 4:08. ''Green Bay 20–10 '''Drive: 12 plays, 67 yards, 5:24.''''' Fourth quarter
• DET – Eddie Murray 46-yard field goal, 11:36. ''Green Bay 20–13 '''Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:04.'''''
• DET – Rodney Peete 14-yard run (Eddie Murray kick good), 3:59. ''Tied 20–20 '''Drive: 2 plays, 1 yard, 0:55.''''' Overtime
• GB – Chris Jacke 38-yard field goal, 12:46. ''Green Bay 23–20 '''Drive: 4 plays, 5 yards, 2:03.'''''

Top passers

• GB – Don Majkowski – 29/45, 367 yards, 2 TD, INT
• DET – Rodney Peete – 14/28, 201 yards, TD, INT

Top receivers

• GB – Sterling Sharpe – 7 receptions, 105 yards, TD
• DET – Richard Johnson – 5 receptions, 85 yards, TD

Top rushers

• GB – Brent Fullwood – 12 rushes, 35 yards
• DET – Barry Sanders – 30 rushes, 184 yards

Week 9 vs Chicago Bears

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

;Top passers

• CHI – Jim Harbaugh – 16/30, 203 yards
• GB – Don Majkowski – 23/40, 299 yards, 2 TDs, INT ;Top rushers
• CHI – Neal Anderson – 15 rushes, 58 yards
• GB – Brent Fullwood – 10 rushes, 38 yards ;Top receivers
• CHI – Brad Muster – 6 receptions, 68 yards
• GB – Brent Fullwood – 2 receptions, 76 yards

Week 14: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

;Top passers

• KC – Steve DeBerg – 15/19, 203 yards, 2 TD
• GB – Don Majkowski – 14/34, 123 yards, INT ;Top rushers
• KC – Christian Okoye – 38 rushes, 313 yards, TD
• GB – Brent Fullwood – 10 rushes, 39 yards ;Top receivers
• KC – Jonathan Hayes – 4 receptions, 53 yards, TD
• GB – Perry Kemp – 3 receptions, 29 yards

Week 15 at Chicago Bears

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

;Top passers

;Top rushers

;Top receivers

Standings

Season statistical leaders

• Passing yards: Don Majkowski 4,318 yards
• Passing touchdowns: Don Majkowski 27 TDs
• Rushing yards: Brent Fullwood, 821 yards
• Rushing touchdowns: Brent Fullwood, 5 TDs
• Receiving yards: Sterling Sharpe, 1,423 yards
• Receiving touchdowns: Sterling Sharpe, 12 TDs
• Points: Chris Jacke, 108 points
• Kickoff return yards: Vince Workman, 547 yards
• Punt return yards: Jeff Query, 247 yards
• Sacks: Tim Harris, 19.5 sacks
• Interceptions: Dave Brown, 6 interceptions

Awards and records

• Sterling Sharpe, NFL leader in receptions (90)
• Sterling Sharpe, second in NFL in receiving yards (1,423)

Milestones

• Don Majkowski, first 4,000 yard passing season
• Sterling Sharpe, first 1,000 yard receiving season

Hall of Fame Inductions

• In 1989 Packer great Willie Wood was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Zeke Bratkowski and Ron Kostelnik were inducted to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

References

References

1. ''Pro Football Reference''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1989/probowl.htm 1989 NFL Pro Bowlers]
2. [https://www.espn.com/espn/espn25/story?page=listranker/25biggestflops ESPN 25 Biggest Sports Flops]
3. "All Time Coaches Database". Packers.com.
4. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN. 0-7611-2480-2, p. 266
5. [http://www.profootballreference.com/years/leaders1989.htm 1989 League Leaders – NFL] {{Webarchive. link. (2004-10-11 from Pro-Football-Reference)
6. [http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2004/10/05/2/ "Majik" Act Still A Big Hit With Packers Fans] {{Webarchive. link. (2007-09-29 from 10/05/2004)
7. See [[1989 San Francisco 49ers season]]
8. [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/stats.nsf/Annual/1989-gb 1989 Green Bay Packers Stats] obtained 12/03/2006