1963 Green Bay Packers season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Green Bay Packers 1963 11–2–1 2nd NFL Western Vince Lombardi Vince Lombardi City StadiumMilwaukee County Stadium Won NFL Playoff Bowl(vs. Browns) 40–23 Packers seasons The 1963 Green Bay Packers season was their 45th season overall and their 43rd season in the National Football League. The two-time defending NFL champions finished with an 11–2–1 record under fifth-year head coach Vince Lombardi for a second-place finish in the Western Conference, a half game back. Both losses were inflicted by the Chicago Bears (11–1-2), the NFL champions in 1963, as the indefinite suspension of halfback Paul Hornung was too much for Green Bay to overcome.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SnRQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ahEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5474%2C520872 Milwaukee Sentinel Hornung suspended April 18, 1963 1, part 1http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1963/04/18/page/1/article/suspend-2-football-stars Chicago Tribune Associated Press Suspend 2 football stars April 18, 1963 1, section 1 The Packers had won the previous five regular season games with rival Chicago, but scored just ten points total in the two games in 1963,http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1963/09/16/page/67/ Chicago Tribune Strickler George Bears shatter Packers' invincibility September 16, 1963 1, section 3 http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1963/11/18/page/77/ Chicago Tribune Strickler George Showdown battle is all Bears, 26-7 November 18, 1963 1, section 3 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tDYaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0RAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7168%2C252509 Milwaukee Sentinel Lea Bud Bud Lea Spirited Bears maul Packers, take lead November 18, 1963 2, part 2https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2kkaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TCcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7412%2C4453696 Milwaukee Journal Johnson Chuck Bears rip Packers in showdown, 26-7 November 18, 1963 9, part 2 and needed only a tie in one of them to advance to the championship game. (The tie at Detroit on Thanksgiving did not impact the Packers' title chances; ties were omitted from the winning percentage calculation until 1972.)  Chicago's only loss was at last place San Francisco in October and they tied Pittsburgh and Minnesota in consecutive weeks after their second defeat of the Packers. Quarterback Bart Starr suffered a hairline fracture in his passing hand at St. Louis on October 20. Up 23–0 in the third quarter, Starr couldn't find an open receiver on third down and took off on a run that gained 15 yards, tackled with a late hit out of bounds by Cardinal cornerback Jimmy "Iron Claw" Hill, who was ejected.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bMMVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FBEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7066%2C2602850 Milwaukee Sentinel Lea Bud Bud Lea Packers win, 30-7; tie for 1st October 21, 1963 2, part 2 Second-string quarterback John Roach filled in for the rest of the game, a 30–7 win in 85 F -1 heat, and the next four starts. Zeke Bratkowski was acquired in late October, waived by the Rams,http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1963/10/30/page/53/article/packers-get-bratkowski-from-rams-as-insurance Chicago Tribune Hollow Cooper Packers get Bratkowski from Rams as insurance October 30, 1963 1, section 3 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=40kaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SycEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5623%2C4978690 Milwaukee Journal Johnson Chuck Packers get Rams' Bratkowski as insurance at quarterback October 30, 1963 21, part 2 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EhlWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BeMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5426%2C5102386 Eugene Register-Guard Associated Press Packers buy Bratkowski October 30, 1963 11D and saw some action, too. Starr returned a month later, in week eleven on November 24 against San Francisco in Milwaukee, a week after the second loss to Chicago.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ac0wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0RAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7352%2C1727169 Milwaukee Sentinel Lea Bud Bud Lea Starr spurs Packers of 49ers November 25, 1963 2, part 2 Following their regular season finale, a 21–17 win at San Francisco on Saturday, Green Bay needed Detroit to defeat the Bears at Wrigley Field on Sunday.http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1963/12/15/page/59/article/up-to-bears-now-packers-win Chicago Tribune Strickler George Up to Bears, now! Packers win December 15, 1963 1, section 2 The game's progress was updated to the Packers during their flight home;https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VlUaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wxAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6361%2C103017 Milwaukee Sentinel Lea Bud Bud Lea Packers are disappointed, not surprised December 16, 1963 3, part 2 Chicago's 24–14 win ended Green Bay's bid for an unprecedented third consecutive championship game win. They eventually accomplished that feat with titles in 1965, 1966 and 1967. In the third place Playoff Bowl in Miami three weeks later on January 5, the Packers overwhelmed the Cleveland Browns, 40–23.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Yg5ZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jGwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7041%2C808562 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Associated Press Packers trounce Browns in Playoff, 40–23 January 6, 1964 23 Green Bay led 28–10 at halftime and extended it to 38–10 in the fourth quarter.http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1964/01/06/page/81/article/packers-salvage-runner-up-honors-whip-browns-40-23 Chicago Tribune Segreti James Packers salvage runner-up honors; whip Browns, 40-23 January 6, 1964 1, section 3https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qUIqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_E4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4701%2C1600778 Pittsburgh Press UPI Starr outshines Browns, 40-23 January 6, 1964 27 This was the eleventh and final season for Pro Football Hall of Fame center Jim Ringo as a Packer. In May 1964, he and reserve fullback Earl Gros were traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for linebacker Lee Roy Caffey and a first round draft choice.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TuoVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7161%2C770513 Milwaukee Sentinel Lea Bud Bud Lea Gros, Ringo traded to Eagles May 6, 1964 2, part 2https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7jAaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dycEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6608%2C3166888 Milwaukee Journal Ringo, Gros traded to Eagles, Packers get a linebacker May 6, 1964 2, part 2https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cWFSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5XwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2645%2C3155306 St. Petersburg Times Florida Associated Press Packers trade Ringo, Gros May 6, 1964 2C https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WUcqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Bk8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4490%2C2364499 Pittsburgh Press UPI Packers pull trade, create new problem May 6, 1964 58 Ringo played four years with the Eagles and then went into coaching; the draft pick was used to select halfback Donny Anderson as a "future" pick in the 1965 NFL draft. Hall of Fame halfback Hornung did not play this season, suspended in April by commissioner Pete Rozelle for betting on NFL games and associating with undesirable persons.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ddAvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WvoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7210%2C2311658 Lakeland Ledger Florida Associated Press Grimsley Will All pro leagues honor suspension of Paul Hornung, Detroit's Karras April 18, 1963 28 For the thirteenth consecutive year, the Packers played on Thanksgiving Day, all against the Detroit Lions at Tiger Stadium. Their record in this holiday series was 3 9 1 y, and with Lombardi as head coach, they were 2 2 1 y, which included the sole loss in 1962 and a tie this season. Green Bay next played on Thanksgiving in 1970 at the Cotton Bowl, which was the franchise's first-ever loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Roster 1963 Green Bay Packers 12 Zeke Bratkowski 10 John Roach 15 Bart Starr 40 Earl Gros 35 Frank Mestnik 25 Tom Moore 22 Elijah Pitts 31 Jim Taylor 33 Lew Carpenter 86 Boyd Dowler 21 Bob Jeter 85 Max McGee 81 Marv Fleming 88 Ron Kramer 75 Forrest Gregg T 67 Dan Grimm G 53 Ken Iman C 64 Jerry Kramer G/K 78 Norm Masters T 51 Jim Ringo C 76 Bob Skoronski T 63 Fuzzy Thurston G 82 Lionel Aldridge DE 87 Willie Davis DE 79 Dave Hanner DT 83 Urban Henry DT 74 Henry Jordan DT 77 Ron Kostelnik DT 58 Dan Currie OLB 71 Bill Forester OLB/MLB 65 Ed Holler OLB 89 Dave Robinson OLB 26 Herb Adderley CB 46 Hank Gremminger SS 23 Jerry Norton P/FS/SS 47 Jesse Whittenton CB 24 Willie Wood FS  5 Paul Hornung RB/K (Susp.) 66 Ray Nitschke LB (IR) 7px Doug Hart CB Gary Kroner K Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 15 Chicago Bears L 3–10 0–1 City Stadium 42,327 2 September 22 Detroit Lions W 31–10 1–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 45,912 3 September 29 Baltimore Colts W 31–20 2–1 City Stadium 42,327 4 October 6 Los Angeles Rams W 42–10 3–1 City Stadium 42,327 5 October 13 at Minnesota Vikings W 37–28 4–1 Metropolitan Stadium 42,567 6 October 20 at St. Louis Cardinals W 30–7 5–1 Busch Stadium 32,224 7 October 27 at Baltimore Colts W 34–20 6–1 Memorial Stadium 60,065 8 November 3 Pittsburgh Steelers W 33–14 7–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 46,293 9 November 10 Minnesota Vikings W 28–17 8–1 City Stadium 42,327 10 November 17 at Chicago Bears L 7–26 8–2 Wrigley Field 49,166 11 November 24 San Francisco 49ers W 28–10 9–2 Milwaukee County Stadium 45,905 12 November 28 at Detroit Lions T 13–13 9–2–1 Tiger Stadium 54,016 13 December 7, 1963 at Los Angeles Rams W 31–14 10–2–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 52,357 14 December 14, 1963 at San Francisco 49ers W 21–17 11–2–1 Kezar Stadium 31,031 Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1 vs Bears Green Bay Packers 1963 2; text-align:center collapsed Week One: Chicago Bears (0–0) at Green Bay Packers (0–0) September 15, 1963 Bears 3 0 7 0 Packers 3 0 0 0 City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin 42,327 54 F C Box Score First quarter CHI – Bob Jencks 32-yard field goal. Bears 3–0. GB – Jerry Kramer 41-yard field goal. Tie 3–3. Second quarter No scoring Third quarter CHI – Joe Marconi 1-yard run (Bob Jencks kick). Bears 10–3. Fourth quarter No scoring Top passers CHI – Bill Wade – 18/24, 129 yards, INT GB – Bart Starr – 11/22, 83 yards, 4 INT Top rushers CHI – Rick Casares – 5 rushes, 27 yards GB – Jim Taylor – 12 rushes, 53 yards Top receivers CHI – Ronnie Bull – 6 receptions, 48 yards GB – Ron Kramer – 3 receptions, 35 yards Week 2 Lions 0 0 3 7 Packers 3 7 7 14 September 22 Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 45,912 56 F; wind 14 mph on yes Q1 GB Kramer 24-yard field goal GB 3–0 Q2 GB Taylor 1-yard run (Kramer kick) GB 10–0 Q3 DET Walker 36-yard field goal GB 14–3 Q3 GB Moore 15-yard run (Kramer kick) GB 21–3 Q4 DET Hall 23-yard pass from Plum (Walker kick) GB 21–10 Q4 GB Moore 77-yard run (Kramer kick) GB 28–10 Q4 GB McGee 39-yard pass from Starr (Kramer kick) GB 35–10 yes Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Aug-26. Standings Playoff Bowl The Playoff Bowl matched the runners-up of the two conferences to determine third place in the league. It was played in January at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, the week following the NFL Championship game. Game Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Playoff Bowl January 5, 1964 Cleveland Browns W 40–23 Orange Bowl 54,921 Source: References Sportsencyclopedia.com https://web.archive.org/web/20071216175609/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/gb/packers.html December 16, 2007 External links PackersHistory.net https://web.archive.org/web/20190709180923/http://www.packershistory.net/1963PACKERS.html July 9, 2019 – 1963 season Category:Green Bay Packers seasons Green Bay Packers Green