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ESPN currently did a series about the defining moments in a teams franchise. I am taking it a step further and will proflie a teams entire franchise history. That includes their best player, coach, best draft gem, biggest draft bust, and of course their defining moment. Lets go by the 2011 draft order and start with the Super Bowl XLV Champions, the Green Bay Packers.

Best Coach: Vince Lombardi (1959-1967)

You can't talk about the Packers without mentioning Vince Lombardi. He is arguably the greatest coach in NFL history and is a model to present and future coaches in sports. He led the Packers to a win in the 1967 NFL Championship game against the Cowboys that was later nicknamed "The Ice Bowl." That was just the beginning of his succes in the NFL. In the first ever Super Bowl against the Chiefs, the Packers thrashed Kansas City 35-10 and became the first ever Super Bowl Champions. Lombardi wasn't done yet as the following year Green Bay returned to the Super Bowl and beat the Raiders 33-14. Lombardi was more of a coach though. He was a motivator of men. You ask anybody who played for him and they would tell you that they wouldn't of played for any other coach. In 1970 Lombardi died, but his legend still lives on. The Super Bowl trophy later became known as the Vince Lombardi trophy.



Everybody just went, "Not this guy again!" Don't worry he is not coming back this time, I think. No matter how much you hate his antics during the offseason, you can not argue that Favre is one of the greatest players of all time. #4 is an 11 time Pro Bowl selection and has captured nearly every record that was previously set by any QB. Favre won his only Super Bowls with the Packers and all three of his MVP's. My greatest memory of Brett Favre, however, was on a Monday Night Football game the day after his father died. Despite this personal tragedy, Favre tossed four touchdown passes and led the Packers to a 41-7 victory. So Packers fans, for this moment try to remember Brett Favre not for his offseason antics, but instead for his legacy that he built as a cheesehead. Remember him as the greatest Packer of all time. Click here to look at Favre's stats.

Biggest Draft Gem: Aaron Rodgers

In the 2005 NFL Draft, Aaron Rodgers was projected to go #1 to the 49ers (I know I am still shaking my head about it). Instead Alex Smith went #1 and Rodgers fell to the Packers at #25. Nearly two seasons later, Rodgers became the first man to replace Brett Favre. His first season as QB was nothing to be proud of as the Packers went 6-10, despite a fantastic year statistically. In Rodgers second year, he led the Packers to an 11-5 season and a playoff berth. That season was highlighted by the fact Rodgers lost two times to former friend Brett Favre. In the NFC Wild Card game against the Cardinals, Rodgers fumbled the ball in overtime that led to the game winning touchdown. His third year became know as his best. Despite having the most players on DL then any other team, the Packers went all the way to Super Bowl XLV. There Rodgers did something Brett Favre never could, he won the Super Bowl MVP award. Rodgers also led the first ever #6 seed in the NFC team to a Super Bowl victory. Click here to look at Rodgers stats.


Time to get away from all the happy things that has blessed the Packers franchise. Every team makes mistakes right? Well the Packers made a big one in 1989 by drafting someone who would become one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history, Tony Mandarich. Mandarich's football career was questioned by steriod use, but despite this the Packers drafted him #2 overall. Mandarich did not admitt to taking steriods until 2008. Until this, he blamed his work ethic as a factor of why he never succeded in Green Bay. After four seasons with Green Bay, Mandarich was cut. What really hurts about this pick is the Packers missed out on Barry Sanders and Deion Sanders, among other great players. Ouch. If it means anything, Mandarich did have a pretty good career with the Indianapolis Colts.

Defining Moment: The Ice Bowl (December 31, 1967)

The hiring of Vince Lombardi was also a great moment, but the Ice Bowl defies what the Packers franchise stands for: winning. Probably the greatest thing about this game was the weather (game time temperature was at -15 degrees). The buildup of the game was great to, due to the fact that this was a rematch of the 1966 NFL Championship Game. At first the game was lopsided when the Packers jumped out to an early 14-0 lead. Of course due to two costly Green Bay turnovers by Bart Starr and Willie Wood, the game was 14-10 at halftime. The Cowboys then took the lead when Dan Reeves tossed a 50 yard touchdown pass to Lance Rentzel. On the final offensive drive of the game, Bart Starr showed his brilliant clutchness by leading the Packers 55 yards to the three yard line. With 16 seconds left, Starr used Green Bay's last timeout. Starr and Lombardi agreed to call 31 wedge and have the QB run in the ball. To which Lombardi responded, "Run it! And lets get the hell out of here." Starr did and the Packers won the game 20-17. This win proved that the Packers had a "win no matter what" attitude and that attitude has stuck with the franchise ever since.