A Comprehensive Guide to the History of Green Bay Packers Running Backs

Early Years: The Birth of a Tradition

The Green Bay Packers, one of the NFL's most storied franchises, have a rich history of running backs who have contributed to their success. In the early years, running backs like Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung were key members of the Packers' dominant teams.

Taylor, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, rushed for 8,207 yards and 80 touchdowns during his career with the Packers, including an NFL-record 1,474 yards in 1962.

Hornung, also a Hall of Famer, was a versatile player who excelled as both a running back and a placekicker. He rushed for 5,007 yards and 50 touchdowns and also kicked 196 field goals and 171 extra points during his career.

The Starr Era: Success Fueled by a Balanced Attack

In the 1960s, the Packers continued their success under head coach Vince Lombardi, and running backs played a crucial role in their dominant offense.

Led by quarterback Bart Starr, the Packers' offense was one of the most balanced and efficient in the NFL. Running backs such as Elijah Pitts and Donny Anderson provided a solid running attack to complement Starr's passing.

Pitts is considered one of the best blocking backs in NFL history, while Anderson was a speedy and elusive runner who averaged 4.8 yards per carry during his career with the Packers.

The Super Bowl Era: A New Generation of Stars

The Packers won the first two Super Bowls in 1967 and 1968, and running backs played a key role in their success.

Fullback Jim Grabowski and halfback Boyd Dowler were both key contributors to the Packers' offense during this era.

Grabowski was a powerful runner and a key blocker for Starr, while Dowler was a versatile player who could run, catch, and block.

The Post-Lombardi Era: Struggles and a New Approach

After Lombardi left the Packers in 1968, the team struggled to maintain its success, and running backs were no exception.

The Packers went through a number of running backs in the 1970s and 1980s, with none able to match the success of their predecessors.

However, in the 1990s, the Packers began to rebuild their running game under head coach Mike Holmgren.

The Holmgren Era: A Return to Dominance

Holmgren's Packers were known for their powerful running game, and running backs such as Dorsey Levens and Ahman Green were key contributors to their success.

Levens rushed for 1,435 yards and 13 touchdowns in 1996, helping the Packers win the NFC Championship Game.

Green, inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame, rushed for 8,322 yards and 55 touchdowns during his career with the team, including a franchise-record 1,883 yards in 2003.

The McCarthy Era: Continued Success

When Mike McCarthy took over as head coach of the Packers in 2006, he continued the team's tradition of strong running backs.

Ryan Grant and Eddie Lacy were both key contributors to the Packers' success during this era.

Grant rushed for 1,257 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2009, helping the Packers win the Super Bowl XLV.

Lacy rushed for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2014, helping the Packers win the NFC Championship Game.

The LaFleur Era: A New Era of Packers Running Backs

Matt LaFleur became the Packers' head coach in 2019, and he has continued the team's tradition of strong running backs.

Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon have both emerged as key contributors to the Packers' offense under LaFleur.

Jones has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of the past three seasons, and Dillon has provided a powerful complement to Jones with his physical running style.

Conclusion: A Legacy of Excellence

Throughout their history, the Green Bay Packers have had a long line of successful running backs who have contributed to the team's success.

From the early days of Taylor and Hornung to the present day with Jones and Dillon, the Packers have always relied on their running backs to be a key part of their offense.

As the Packers continue to build their team for the future, they will undoubtedly look to add more talented running backs to their legacy of excellence.