The 1997 Green Bay Packers (13-3)

NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR AG G HOW ACQUIRED

Don Beebe 82 WR 5-11 185 Chadron State 2 9 32 10 1996 UFA - Carolina

Steve Bono 13 QB 6- 4 212 UCLA 1 12 35 2 1997 FA - K City (1996)

Bucky Brooks 22 CB 6- 0 195 North Carolina 2 3 26 3 1996 FA - Buff (1994)

Robert Brooks 87 WR 6- 0 180 South Carolina 6 6 27 15 1992 Draft - 3rd round

Gilbert Brown 93 NT 6- 2 345 Kansas 5 5 26 12 1993 FA - Minnesota

LeRoy Butler 36 S 6- 0 200 Florida State 8 8 29 16 1990 Draft - 2nd round

Mark Chmura 89 TE 6- 5 253 Boston College 5 5 28 15 1992 Draft - 6th round

Shannon Clavelle 91 DE 6- 2 287 Colorado 3 3 28 6 1995 FA - Buffalo

Mark Collins 26 CB 5-10 202 Cal St-Fullerton 1 12 33 1 1997 FA - K City (1996)

Chris Darkins 44 RB 6- 0 210 Minnesota 1 1 23 14 1996 Draft - 4th round

Rob Davis 60 LS 6- 3 288 Shippensburg 1 2 28 7 1997 FA - Chi (1996)

Tyrone Davis 81 TE 6- 4 245 Virginia 1 3 25 13 1997 Trade - NY Jets

Jeff Dellenbach 67 C 6- 6 300 Wisconsin 2 13 34 14 1996 FA - New England

Earl Dotson 72 T 6- 3 315 Texas A&I 5 5 26 13 1993 Draft - 3rd round

Santana Dotson 71 DT 6- 5 285 Baylor 2 6 27 16 1996 UFA - Tampa Bay

Doug Evans 33 CB 6- 1 190 Louisiana Tech 5 5 27 15 1993 Draft - 6th round

Brett Favre 4 QB 6- 2 225 S. Mississippi 6 7 27 16 1992 Trade - Atlanta

Paul Frase 97 DE 6- 5 267 Syracuse 1 9 32 8 1997 FA - Jack (1996)

Antonio Freeman 86 WR 6- 0 190 Virginia Tech 3 3 25 16 1995 Draft - 3rd round

Bernardo Harris 54 LB 6- 2 243 North Carolina 3 3 25 16 1995 FA

Aaron Hayden 24 RB 6- 0 216 Tennessee 1 3 24 14 1997 FA - SD (1996)

William Henderson 30 FB 6- 1 248 North Carolina 3 3 26 16 1995 Draft - 3rd round

Craig Hentrich 17 P 6- 3 200 Notre Dame 4 4 26 16 1993 FA-Jets (PS-1993)

Darius Holland 90 DT 6- 4 320 Colorado 3 3 23 12 1995 Draft - 3rd round

Lamont Hollinquest 56 LB 6- 3 250 USC 2 4 26 16 1996 FA - Wash (1994)

Travis Jervey 32 RB 5-11 222 The Citadel 3 3 25 16 1995 Draft - 5th round

Reggie Johnson 88 TE 6- 2 256 Florida State 2 7 29 4 1997 FA - KC (1996)

Seth Joyner 54 LB 6- 2 245 UTEP 1 12 32 11 1997 FA - Ari (1996)

Randy Kinder 43 CB 6- 1 213 Notre Dame 1 1 22 6 1997 FA

George Koonce 53 LB 6- 1 243 East Carolina 6 6 28 4 1992 FA

Bob Kuberski 94 NT 6- 4 295 Navy 3 3 26 11 1993 Draft - 7th round

Dorsey Levens 25 RB 6- 1 230 Georgia Tech 4 4 27 16 1994 Draft - 5th round

Ryan Longwell 8 K 6- 0 185 California 1 1 23 16 1997 FA - San Francisco

Derrick Mayes 80 WR 6- 0 205 Notre Dame 2 2 23 12 1996 Draft - 2nd round

Blaine McElmurry 38 S 6- 0 187 Montana 1 1 23 1 1997 FA

Keith McKenzie 95 DE 6- 3 255 Ball State 2 2 23 16 1996 Draft - 7th round

John Michels 77 T 6- 7 304 USC 2 2 24 9 1996 Draft - 1st round

Terry Mickens 88 WR 6- 0 201 Florida A&M 4 4 26 11 1994 Draft - 5th round

Roderick Mullen 28 CB 6- 1 204 Grambling State 3 3 24 16 1995 FA

Craig Newsome 21 CB 6- 0 190 Arizona State 3 3 26 1 1995 Draft - 1st round

Doug Pederson 18 QB 6- 3 215 NE Lousiana 2 3 29 1 1996 FA - Miami (1993)

Roell Preston 88 WR 5-10 195 Mississippi 1 3 25 1 1997 FA - Atl (1996)

Mike Prior 45 S 6- 0 208 Illinois State 5 12 33 16 1993 UFA - Indianapolis

Marco Rivera 62 G 6- 4 295 Penn State 1 1 25 14 1996 Draft - 6th round

Eugene Robinson 41 S 6- 0 197 Colgate 2 13 34 16 1996 Trade - Seattle

Bill Schroeder 84 WR 6- 2 198 UW-La Crosse 1 1 26 15 1996 FA - New England

Darren Sharper 42 DB 6- 2 205 William & Mary 1 1 21 14 1997 Draft - 2nd round

Wayne Simmons 59 LB 6- 2 248 Clemson 5 5 27 6 1993 Draft - 1st round

TRADES AND TRANSACTIONS

APRIL 20 - Traded a 1997 6th-round choice to OAKLAND for a 1997 7th-round draft choice (WR Chris Miller)

AUGUST 26 - Traded past considerations to NY JETS for TE Tyrone Davis

OCTOBER 7 - Traded LB Wayne Simmons to KANSAS CITY for a 1998 5th-round draft choice (WR Corey Bradford)

1997 IN REVIEW

The Packers entered the 1997 season with an opportunity to win back-to-back Super Bowls for the second time - and came breathtakingly close to achieving their objective. Sweeping to a second consecutive 13-3 mark, their victory total equaling a club record, they primed for the playoffs by closing out the regular season with a five-game winning streak, their second of the campaign. Having earned home-field advantage for their initial postseason test by winning a third straight NFC Central Division title, they launched their bid in workmanlike fashion turning back Tampa Bay in a divisional playoff for the third straight time in the year, 21-7, thereby padding their all-time home postseason record to 12-0 and extending the longest such winning streak in pro football history. Faced with the need to win on the road to assure a return trip to the ultimate game, the Packers proceeded to smother the 49ers on a soggy, rain-swept afternoon in San Francisco's 3Com Park a week later, holding them without an offensive touchdown en route to a 23-10 victory in the NFC Championship Game and a berth in Super Bowl XXXII at San Diego. The latter subsequently proved to be a see-saw affair, one which found the Green and Gold trailing Denver at halftime, 17-14. Hopes of a repeat were high, however, when quarterback Brett Favre guided them 85 yards to a third touchdown and a 24-24 tie early in the fourth quarter. But the Broncos later scored with only 1:45 remaining and a last-minute Packers drive for a deadlock fell short when a Favre pass for tight end Mark Chmura was incomplete inside the Denver 20-yard line with only 28 seconds remaining, sealing a 31-24 Denver win.

BRETT FAVRE'S BACKUPS - PART TWO

FOR MORE FAVRE BACKUPS, GO TO THE 1996 PACKERS

* STEVE BONO (1997) - Bono played for Minnesota (1985-86), Pittsburgh (1987-88) and San Francisco (1989-93), before the 49ers traded him to Kansas City. He led the Chiefs to a 13-3 record and was selected for the AFC Pro Bowl team in 1995. The Chiefs turned the starting job over to Elvis Grbac and released Bono in 1997. He signed as a free agent with the Packers and appeared in two games, completing 5 of 10 passes for 29 yards. He spent the 1998 season with the Rams and 1999 backing up Steve Beuerlein in Carolina before retiring.

* RICK MIRER (1998) - Mirer was selected second in the 1993 draft by the Seahawks. He was traded to the Bears (with a 4th-round pick) for a 1st-round choice. Mirer signed a three-year, $11.4 million contract with the Bears, but played sparingly and was cut in the beginning of the 1998 season. He signed with the Packers, but did not appear in a game. They traded him to the Jets in 1999, where he replaced the injured Vinny Testaverde. He spent 2000 and 2001 in San Francisco, then two season with Oakland. Mirer was a starter for part of 2003. The Lions signed him in 2004, but he never threw a pass.

* MATT HASSELBECK (1999-2000) - Hasselbeck spent the 1998 season on the practice squad and then backed up Brett Favre for two seasons, throwing two touchdowns passes. He was traded to Seattle, and holds several franchise records, including leading the team to a franchise-best 13-3 record in 2005.

* AARON BROOKS (1999) - Brooks spent 1999 as a third-string backup, before the Packers traded him to New Orleans. He left the Saints after the 2005 season as the franchise leader in season and career touchdown passes. He spent an injury-riddled 2006 season with Oakland before retiring.

* DANNY WUERFFEL (2000) - The 1996 Heisman Trophy winner played seven seasons in the NFL for the Saints, Packers, Bears, and Redskins. He never threw a pass for the Packers. His pro highlight was winning the MVP award in World Bowl 2000 while playing for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europa.

* HENRY BURRIS (2001) - After a break-out season with Saskatchewan (2000), Burris spent several weeks as the Packers' third-string quarterback and on the practice squad in 2001. After spending 2002 with the Bears, he returned to the CFL, where he led Calgary to a 22-14 Grey Cup victory in 2008.

* CRAIG NALL (2002-05, 2007) - Nall started for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe in 2003 and was the league's leading passer. In 2004, he played in 5 games for Green Bay, throwing for 4 touchdowns and a passer rating of 139.4. He went to Buffalo (2005) and Houston (2006), before he returned to Green Bay in December 2007. He went back to Houston in 2008, and then the UFL (2009).

* J.T. O'SULLIVAN (2004) - After two season in New Orleans, he was traded to the Packers in 2004, where he took a knee twice to end the game. Since then, he has been with the Bears (2005, 2007), Vikings (2005), Patriots (2006), Panthers (2006), Lions (2007), 49ers (2008) and Bengals (2009).

* AARON RODGERS (2005-07) - Rodgers spent 2005 as the Packers' #2 quarterback, and saw time in a win over the Saints and in a loss to the Ravens. In November 2006, Rodgers broke his left foot against the Patriots while filling in for an injured Brett Favre and missed the remainder of the season. Rodgers replaced an injured Favre against the Cowboys in November 2007. Rodgers completed 18 passes for 201 yards. He also threw his first touchdown pass.

* INGLE MARTIN (2006) - Martin spent 2006 as the Packers 3rd-string quarterback. After being released, he was with the Titans (2007-08), Chiefs (2008), Broncos (2009) and UFL (2009). He never threw an NFL pass.

* TODD BOUMAN (2006) - He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 1997, and remained there until 2002. He also played for the Saints, Packers, Rams, Ravens and Jaguars. He never appeared in a Packer game.

NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR AG G HOW ACQUIRED

Jermaine Smith 99 DT 6- 3 289 Georgia 1 1 25 9 1997 Draft - 4th round

Aaron Taylor 73 G 6- 4 305 Notre Dame 3 3 24 14 1994 Draft - 1st round

Jeff Thomason 83 TE 6- 4 250 Oregon 3 5 27 13 1995 FA - Cin (1993)

Adam Timmerman 63 G 6- 4 295 South Dakota St 3 3 26 16 1995 Draft - 7th round

Ross Verba 78 T 6- 4 299 Iowa 1 1 23 16 1997 Draft - 1st round

Reggie White 92 DE 6- 5 304 Tennessee 5 13 35 16 1993 UFA - Philadelphia

Bruce Wilkerson 64 T 6- 5 310 Tennessee 2 11 33 14 1996 FA - Jack (1995)

Gabe Wilkins 98 DE 6- 4 295 Gardner-Webb 4 4 25 16 1994 Draft - 4th round

Brian Williams 51 LB 6- 1 240 USC 3 3 24 16 1995 Draft - 3rd round

Gerald Williams 96 DL 6- 3 290 Auburn 1 12 33 4 1997 FA - Carolina

Tyrone Williams 37 CB 5-11 195 Nebraska 2 2 24 16 1996 Draft - 3rd round

Frank Winters 52 C 6- 3 300 West Illinois 6 11 33 13 1992 Plan B - K City

NO - Jersey Number POS - Position HGT - Height WGT - Weight YR - Years with Packers PR - Years of Professional Football AGE - Age on September 1 G - Games Played FA - Free Agent

1997 PACKERS PRACTICE SQUAD

NAME POS COLLEGE HOW ACQUIRED

Ronnie Anderson WR Allegheny College 1997 FA

Anthony Fogle CB Oklahoma 1997 FA

Randy Kinder CB Notre Dame 1997 FA

Jim Kitts FB Ferrum 1997 FA - Miami

Steve Lee FB Indiana 1997 FA - Baltimore

Billy Lyon DE Marshall 1997 FA

Blaine McElmurry S Montana 1997 FA

Joe Rowe CB Virginia 1997 FA

Kyle Wachholtz QB USC 1996 Draft - 7th round

Bold Italics - Made Active Roster

1997 PACKERS DRAFT (April 19-20, 1997)

RND-PCK NAME POS COLLEGE NOTES

1 30 Ross Verba T Iowa

2 60 Darren Sharper DB William & Mary

3 90 Brett Conway K Penn State

4 126 Jermaine Smith DT Georgia

5 160 Anthony Hicks LB Arkansas

6 193 Traded to Oakland

7a 213 Chris Miller WR USC (A)

7b 231 Jerald Sowell FB Tulane

7c 240 Ronnie McAda QB Army (B)

A-From Oakland B-Free agency compensatory pick

Bold Italics - Played for the Green Bay Packers

FREE AGENCY - UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

PLAYERS SIGNED - S Brad Edwards (Atlanta), LS Harper Le Bel (Atlanta), WR Qadry Ismail (Minnesota)

PLAYERS LOST - WR/KR Desmond Howard (Oakland)

FREE AGENCY - RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

PLAYERS LOST - None

TRANSISTION PLAYER DESIGNATION

None

1997 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (5-0)

JULY (2-0) RESULT RECORD ATT STARTING QB LEADING RUSHER LEADING PASSER LEADING RECEIVER

26 MIAMI DOLPHINS W 20- 0 1- 0-0 59,089 Brett Favre Travis Jervey (76) Steve Bono (99) Qadry Ismail (5-66)

31 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS W 7- 3 2- 0-0 60,778 Brett Favre Aaron Hayden (27) Doug Pederson (134) Qadry Ismail (5-81)

AUGUST (3-0)

8 at Oakland Raiders W 37-24 3- 0-0 42,956 Brett Favre Chris Darkins (112) Steve Bono (164) Derrick Mayes (12-139)

16 vs Buffalo Bills at Toronto W 35- 3 4- 0-0 53,896 Brett Favre Aaron Hayden (56) Doug Pederson (82) Antonio Freeman (4-40)

22 MADISON-NEW YORK GIANTS W 22-17 5- 0-0 76,704 Brett Favre Chris Darkins (46) Doug Pederson (101) Jeff Thomason (5-33)

1997 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS (13-3)

SEPTEMBER (3-2)

1 CHICAGO BEARS (0-0) W 38-24 1- 0-0 60,766 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (80) Brett Favre (226) Jeff Thomason (5-58)

7 at Philadelphia Eagles (0-1) L 9-10 1- 1-0 66,803 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (91) Brett Favre (279) Robert Brooks (6-90)

14 MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-0) W 23-18 2- 1-0 60,075 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (121) Brett Favre (253) William Henderson (7-60)

21 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-1) W 38-32 3- 1-0 60,115 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (79) Brett Favre (266) Antonio Freeman (7-122)

28 at Detroit Lions (2-2) L 15-26 3- 2-0 78,110 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (107) Brett Favre (295) Robert Brooks (9-164)

OCTOBER (3-0)

5 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-0) W 21-16 4- 2-0 60,100 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (44) Brett Favre (191) Dorsey Levens (8-61)

12 at Chicago Bears (0-6) W 24-23 5- 2-0 62,212 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (74) Brett Favre (177) Antonio Freeman (7-86)

27 at New England Patriots (5-2) W 28-10 6- 2-0 59,972 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (100) Brett Favre (239) Dorsey Levens (7-40)

NOVEMBER (3-1)

2 DETROIT LIONS (4-4) W 20-10 7- 2-0 60,126 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (59) Brett Favre (181) Robert Brooks (6-67)

9 ST. LOUIS RAMS (2-7) W 17- 7 8- 2-0 60,093 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (81) Brett Favre (306) Antonio Freeman (7-160)

16 at Indianapolis Colts (0-10) L 38-41 8- 3-0 60,928 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (103) Brett Favre (363) Antonio Freeman (5-93)

23 DALLAS COWBOYS (6-5) W 45-17 9- 3-0 60,111 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (190) Brett Favre (203) Mark Chmura (5-52)

DECEMBER (4-0)

1 at Minnesota Vikings (8-4) W 27-11 10- 3-0 64,001 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (108) Brett Favre (196) Antonio Freeman (6-85)

7 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4) W 17- 6 11- 3-0 73,523 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (54) Brett Favre (280) Dorsey Levens (8-64)

14 at Carolina Panthers (7-7) W 31-10 12- 3-0 70,887 Brett Favre Aaron Hayden (86) Brett Favre (256) Antonio Freeman (10-166)

20 BUFFALO BILLS (6-9) W 31-21 13- 3-0 60,108 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (71) Brett Favre (156) Antonio Freeman (6-63)

1997 PLAYOFFS (2-1)

JANUARY - NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF

4 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (11-6) W 21- 7 60,327 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (112) Brett Favre (190) Antonio Freeman (4-75)

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

11 at San Francisco 49ers (14-3) W 23-10 68,987 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (114) Brett Favre (222) Antonio Freeman (4-107)

SUPER BOWL XXXII AT SAN DIEGO

25 Denver Broncos (15-4) L 24-31 68,912 Brett Favre Dorsey Levens (90) Brett Favre (256) Antonio Freeman (9-126)

BELOW - If you were a Packers fan eagerly reading all you could get your hands on back in 1996-1997, you may have a few copies of Packer Profiles in your collection (if your wife hasn’t thrown all of that “junk” away). We liked the publication’s mix of then current-day and historic articles, and wish they had put out more issues. We’re going to feature some of the October 1997 issue, starting with this article on the state of the Packers’ season ticket waiting list and more at that time. Mark Wagner, seen above, is still the Packers’ Director of Ticket Operations in 2012. (SOURCE: Packerville, USA)

Coming on the heels of a Super Bowl win (and immediately before a second consecutive Super Bowl appearance), the Packers raised more than $24 million towards the 2003 renovation. Although 105,989 new shareholders joined the ranks of NFL owners, 279,090 shares remained unsold, and those unsold shares form the basis of the current offering. (SOURCE: The Wearing of the Green and Gold Blog)

The Green Bay Packers visited the White House in 1997, following their Super Bowl XXXI victory in New Orleans. President Bill Clinton congratulated the team on its accomplishment. When it was time for the Super Bowl Champs to visit the White House, Jim McMahon wore his Chicago Bears #9 jersey, which did not go over too well with Green Bay Packer fans. McMahon would later explain that the reason behind this was that the Bears never got to go to the White House after they won Super Bowl XX, due to the event being canceled after the Challenger tragedy. The 1985 Bears would have to wait until October 2011 for the official visit.

May 21st 1997 – Packers defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur couldn’t hide his excitement at having Wayne Simmons back in the fold. “I’m glad to have him back. There’s not a better player in the league over the tight end, and that’s where we need him,” Shurmur says of the linebacker, who agrees to terms on a one-year contract. A first-round draft choice in 1993, Simmons started 32 straight games from 1995 through 1996. Less than five months after signing his new deal, however, Simmons is traded to the Kansas City Chiefs for a fifth-round draft choice after losing his starting job to Seth Joyner. (SOURCE: Packer Hall of Fame)

July 16th 1997 –The low bid doesn’t often land the linebacker, but veteran Seth Joyner spurns more lucrative offers to sign with the defending NFL champion Green Bay Packers. According to Joyner’s agent, Jim Solano, Green Bay’s offer was not as sweet as those presented by the Bengals and Cowboys, but the 32-year-old was looking for the best avenue to reach a Super Bowl. “That’s what it was,” Solano says of his client’s decision to join the Packers. “They’re a great organization. Reggie White is there. They have a great coach. All of the above.” Green Bay reaches the Super Bowl in 1997 and Joyner records two tackles in the game, but Denver spoils Green Bay’s chances for a second consecutive title with a 31-24 victory. Ironically, the Packers traded the 33-year-old linebacker to the Broncos the following August for "past considerations". He had been hampered by leg injuries during the preseason. (SOURCE: Packer Hall of Fame)

NFC CHAMPIONS

The 1997 Green Bay Packers - 13-3 (1st - NFC Central)

Head Coach: Mike Holmgren

From the book description: “Mooney offers a straightforward account of Favre's football career. Part of the Football Legends series, Brett Favre opens with information about Favre's family (his father was his first coach, and his brother was one of the first athletes that he looked up to) and continues chronologically into his high-school and college football days. However, the focus is on Favre's professional sports career, with detailed accounts of yards run and passes thrown. His family history and determination are what got him named MVP in 1995 and made him the quarterback to take the Green Bay Packers to victory in the 1997 Super Bowl. A Brett Favre chronology, a statistics sheet up to 1996, and an index of names close the book. This is a good choice for fans of Favre, the Green Bay Packers, or football in general.” Another “geared for kids” book like the Favre version, this volume on head coach Vince Lombardi acquaints children with the greatest pro football coach of all time. Giving an overview of his life, it covers all of his years of success in Green Bay, and later with the Redskins in Washington, D.C.

SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

From the book description: “There is something refreshing about Dick Schaap's ready admission that he's had a long-standing romance with Green Bay and its football team. "I do not come to this book with clean journalistic hands," he cops. And so much the better. In an era of cold, corporate sports and cold, cynical sportswriters, the Packers are the nation's only civically owned major franchise, and Schaap, one of the best observers of the sporting scene, adores them for it. Green Bay Replay: The Packers’ Return to Glory, his chronicle of the 1997 Super Bowl championship campaign, warmly examines the town's special relationship with its team, and the team's special relationship with its past as it affectionately links current stars such as Brett Favre and Reggie White with their spiritual ancestors — Bart Starr and Willie Davis — from the dynasties of the Vince Lombardi-led '60s. A little soppy? Sure. But so what? There's no law that says baseball's the only sport allowed to split the uprights of emotion.” SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

Focusing on the editorial cartoons of Lyle Lahey, The Packer Chronicles: Waiting for the Pack to Come Back is a compilation from the days when Green Bay had two daily newspapers. Today, only the Green Bay Press-Gazette remains, but the Green Bay News-Chronicle gave it a valiant fight for readership for many years. You can read about this former publication here. The book has cartoons from the end of the Lombardi era through it’s publication in 1997, after the Super Bowl XXXI championship. SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

Originally published in 1971, Lombardi: His Life and Times was added to our archives upon it's re-publishing in 1997, cashing in on the Packers’ post-Super Bowl XXXI hysteria. It is another re-telling of Lombardi’s life, from his New York upbringing to the years of glory in Green Bay, and the end in Washington. Since we add any books we find on Lombardi to our library, we think you probably should too. SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

This commemorative synopsis of the Packers’ 1996 season was published along with the others in February 1997 to celebrate the Wolf-Holmgren championship team. Brought to us by the fine folks at the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Titletown: The Unforgettable Story of the Green Bay Packers' Road to Super Bowl XXXI is a must add to your Packers collection. Besides summaries of each game in that season, there are also interesting stories on things such as the replacement of the Lambeau Field sod prior to the playoff games. Looking back, it was a great time to be a fan. SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

From the book description: “For the first time, more than 150 of the best photos from Vernon Biever's historic archive have been gathered into one keepsake volume. The Glory of Titletown is a celebration of both sports photography and the game of football, a sincere appreciation of a gifted photographer, and an inspiring tribute to a spectacular team.” There is not much else to say. In terms of Packers historical photography, Vernon Biever was THE MAN. SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

One of the many Brett Favre-related publications to come out after the Packers “returned to glory,” Brett Favre: Uncovered is photo-filled and features stories and anecdotes by his family, friends, and teammates. An oversized volume, it is harder to scan, and so we’ re only featuring the front and back covers. SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

Capitalizing on the recent Super Bowl XXXI victory, Brett Favre: Huck Finn Grows Up tells the story of Packers ’ QB Brett Favre up to that point, which was after his fifth season on the team. One of the early biographies that are out there. The official book description: “Named the Green Bay Packers' Most Valuable Player for his performance in last season's Super Bowl, Brett Favre's illustrious career with the team is profiled in this fascinating book.” SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

From the book description: “Who holds the Super Bowl record for the longest kickoff return? Who was the Pack's first Turkey Day opponent? Which famous Packer QB was sacked the most times in a single game? Whose NFC records did Brett Favre break when he threw 39 TD passes in 1996? You'll find the answers to these and 425 more questions in this clever book which has been revised and updated to include trivia from the early 21st century. Use it at Packer parties, at Lambeau tailgate parties, on car trips — any place where the Green-and-Gold faithful meet. Green Bay Packers Titletown Trivia Teasers is the most fun you can have without actually bonding to a bench at Lambeau Field in January!” SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

From the book description: “In the twenty-five years since his death, Coach Vince Lombardi has continued to be known for his ability to motivate and inspire those around him. Strive to Excel: The Will and Wisdom of Vince Lombardi brings together the best of the legendary coach’s quotations and insights that have challenged many on and off the field.” SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

From the book description: “They are, for the most part, normal people who mow their lawns, pay their taxes and return their video rentals on time. But deep down, they are anything but normal. They are Green Bay Packers fans. They wear cheese wedges on their heads and are convinced it's normal attire. They paint their faces green and gold and can't figure out why everyone else doesn't. The Green Bay Packers Pocket Primer is the guide for Packers fans, for those who think they're Packers fans and for those who want to know if they have what it takes to join this very elite, very unique fraternity.” SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

Leap of Faith 2 is Part II of the story of the Green Bay Packers, their fans, and their faith… by author and speaker Steve Rose. SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

From the original book description of Favre: For the Record: “Superstar Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre has the arm of Dan Marino, the agility of Steve Young, the field presence of Joe Montana and the brashness of Jim McMahon. Born the son of an indomitable high school football coach in hardscrabble Kiln, Mississippi, Favre has gone on to become the NFL's most valuable player two years running (a feat equaled only by the legendary Joe Montana) and, after twenty-nine years, has brought the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay, Wisconsin.” SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

One of the many books published following the Packers’ Super Bowl XXXI victory was this compendium of dates from the team’s long and storied history. Listed in a day-by-day format, This Day in Green Bay Packers History will enlighten you on many facts that you did not know previously. Also included is statistical data at the rear of the book. SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

From the book description: “Mudbaths and Bloodbaths is the inside story of the Bears-Packers rivalry by Gary D'Amato and Cliff Christl. It is filled with classic stories and statistics by two award-winning veteran sports writers for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The decades-long history of the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers grudge match is told for a new generation of football fans. Covering Bears-Packers games since 1921, the book unfolds the history of the teams and their rivalry with all the passion and intensity of the series itself. This is a can't-put-it-down book for every Bears and Packers fan.” SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

This is the follow-up book to an earlier edition, which you can see here. As we stated in the earlier post, we normally like to show what the inside of each book looks like, but we want to maintain the integrity of the spine. Besides having, for each season, a summary of that year’s team, action photos, team and individual stats, team roster, that year’s draft choices, and the official team photo — Packers Legends In Facts: Volume II serves as a kind of record book and historical compendium as well. In addition, there is plenty of coverage of Super Bowl XXXI. SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

This is the second of two books about the 1967 NFL Championship game — better known as “The Ice Bowl.” From the original book description: “The day of the Ice Bowl game was so cold, the referees' whistles wouldn't work; so cold, the reporters’ coffee froze in the press booth; so cold, fans built small fires in the concrete and metal stands; so cold, TV cables froze and photographers didn't dare touch the metal of their equipment; so cold, the game was as much about survival as it was about skill and strategy. On New Year's Eve, 1967, the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers met for a classic NFL championship game, played on a frozen field in sub-zero weather. The "Ice Bowl" challenged every skill of these two great teams. The Ice Bowl: The Cold Truth about Football's Most Unforgettable Game based on dozens of interviews with people who were there — on the field and off — told by author Ed Gruver with passion, suspense, wit, and accuracy.” SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

This is the first of two books about the 1967 NFL Championship game — better known as “The Ice Bowl” — that we’ll bring to you here in our continuing series on books about the Green Bay Packers. The timing of both books was for the game’s 30th anniversary. From the description of The Ice Bowl: The Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers 1967 Season: “In 1966, the Green Bay Packers beat the Dallas Cowboys for the NFL championship. The teams’ intense rivalry in the following 1967 season would culminate in one of the most classic football games of all time — the Ice Bowl. Now one of the most irreverent sportswriters in the business brings the final game of the ’67 season to life, vividly profiling the players' distinctive personalities on and off the field.” SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

Titletown Again: The Super Bowl Season of the 1996 Green Bay Packers follows the familiar format of our last two posts, with summaries of each game of the season through Super Bowl XXXI, and plenty of photos. This book was the official commemorative offering from the team itself, and, like the others, deserves to reside in your collection. From the book description: “There was a feeling, even from the sultry days of training camp,that these Green Bay Packers were special. There was nothing anyone could put a finger on exactly, just a premonition that the 1996 Packers were destined for something big. And the inklings of July turned into the reality of January as the Packers rolled to their first Super Bowl title in 29 years. “It is a story that chronicles the determination of quarterback Brett Favre, who stunned the NFL by voluntarily committing himself to a rehab clinic to kick an addiction to painkillers. He responded by simply winning his second straight MVP award.” SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)

When the Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XXXI after the 1996 season, the avalanche of commemorative books and magazines began in earnest. The Road to Glory: The Inside Story of the Packers' Super Bowl XXXI Championship Season was put together by the folks at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel to celebrate the end of the team’s 29-year drought. SOURCE: Packerville U.S.A. (For more information - click here)