NFL Championships (1936)

Lore & Background

There have been 15 head coaches for the Packers, however, Willard Ryan and Joseph Hoeffel both served as the head coach in name in the early 1920s. Lambeau is recognized as the first head coach though because in the early years of professional football, team captains (Lambeau's early title) called the plays, talked to the players and performed the duties that are done today by head coaches. Lambeau, as the Packers first coach, led the team for almost 30 years until he resigned in 1949 after a falling-out with the executive leadership of the Packers.

During his time as head coach, Lambeau secured six NFL championships (1936, 1939, and 1944, among others) and won almost two-thirds of his games. Lambeau is still the Packers' leader in years as head coach (29), regular season games coached (334), wins (209) and (104) losses. After Lambeau's resignation, the Packers entered a fifteen-year period of poor results on the field under the leadership of head coaches Gene Ronzani, Lisle Blackbourn and Ray McLean.

Prior to his tenure as head coach during the 1958 NFL season, McLean and Hugh Devore served as interim head coaches for the last two games of the 1953 NFL season after Ronzani resigned. McLean led the Packers to their worst season by winning percentage and total wins, going 1–10–1 for a winning percentage of .125 in 1958. Combined with his two games as interim head coach in 1953, McLean also has the lowest winning percentage of any Packers head coach (.077).

The Packers fortunes turned around with the hiring of head coach Vince Lombardi in 1959. Lombardi would go on to lead the Packers for nine seasons, winning five championships (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, and 1967) and winning almost three-fourths of his games coached. Lombardi also holds the Packers' record for highest regular season and postseason winning percentage (.746 and .900 respectively). After Lombardi resigned from coaching in 1967, the Packers again languished, this time for almost 25 years.

From 1968 to 1991, the Packers had five head coaches, none of whom had a winning percentage over .488. The coaches during the 1970s and 1980s included former three Packers who served under Lombardi: Phil Bengtson, the Packers defensive coordinator under Lombardi; Bart Starr, the Packers Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback; and Forrest Gregg, the Packers Hall of Fame offensive lineman.

Reader's Guide

Both Lambeau and Lombardi were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of their contributions as coaches (Lambeau was also recognized for his years playing in the NFL). Bart Starr and Forrest Gregg were also inducted into the Hall of Fame, although they were recognized for their contributions as players, not coaches. Four coaches have been recognized as coach of the year by major news organizations: Lombardi in 1959 and 1961, Devine in 1972, Infante in 1989 and McCarthy in 2011. The 15 head coaches of the Packers have led the team to numerous records, including the most regular season wins (819) and the most championships (13) by a team in NFL history.

Did You Know?

• The Packers are the only team to win three straight NFL championships twice (1929–1931 and 1965–1967).
• The 1966 and 1967 titles were Super Bowls, not NFL championship games.

Franchise Origins and Unmatched Longevity

Founded in 1919 by Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun, the Green Bay Packers joined the National Football League in 1921, establishing themselves as a cornerstone of professional football. Based in central Wisconsin, the team plays its home games at the iconic Lambeau Field within the NFC North division. Their championship pedigree is equally unrivaled; they have secured 13 titles, comprising nine pre-merger NFL Championships and four Super Bowls, including two additional titles won during the AFL-NFL merger era. Furthermore, the franchise has claimed 21 divisional titles and appeared in the postseason a remarkable 37 times. While tied with the New England Patriots for the second-most playoff wins in history, their consistent excellence across nearly a century of competition cements their status as the most successful organization in NFL history.

The Lambeau Era: A Dynasty of Three-Peat

The franchise's first golden age emerged under the guidance of founder Curly Lambeau, who served as head coach from 1929 to 1944. This era defined early Packers dominance, resulting in six NFL Championships and establishing a standard for consecutive success that had never been seen before. Most notably, between 1929 and 1931, Green Bay became the first team in league history to win three straight championships, setting a precedent for sustained excellence.

Lambeau's leadership laid the foundational culture of the organization, transforming it from a local club into a national powerhouse during its formative years. This period of triumph not only secured the team's place in history but also demonstrated that consistent winning was achievable over multiple seasons. The success achieved under Lambeau provided the momentum and identity that would carry the franchise through future decades, proving their resilience and competitive spirit long before the modern era of professional sports took shape.

The Lombardi Legacy and Modern Revival

Following a significant slump in the mid-century, the Packers experienced a second renaissance between 1960 and 1967 under legendary head coach Vince Lombardi. This transformative period yielded five NFL Championships and the first two Super Bowls in history, including another rare feat of three consecutive titles from 1965 to 1967. The franchise's most recent era of success began in 1993 and continues today, guided by coaches Mike Holmgren, Mike McCarthy, and Matt LaFleur.

This modern stretch has seen the team reach the playoffs 23 times with three Super Bowl appearances, securing victories in 1996 and 2010. A standout moment occurred during the 2011 season when the squad achieved a record-breaking 15 wins in a single year. These distinct periods of dominance highlight the organization's ability to reinvent itself across generations while maintaining its core identity as a championship contender.

Valleys Between Peaks: Periods of Struggle

Despite their storied history, the Packers have faced significant stretches of mediocrity and failure that tested the franchise's resolve. The first major downturn occurred between 1945 and 1958, a fourteen-year span where the team never finished higher than third in the league standings. This era culminated in 1958 with their worst record ever, finishing at just one win, ten losses, and one tie. A second prolonged period of struggle followed immediately after the Lombardi dynasty ended, lasting from 1968 to 1991. During these twenty-four years, the club made only two playoff appearances and managed merely six winning seasons overall. These challenging chapters serve as a stark contrast to their championship runs, illustrating that even the most successful teams in NFL history must navigate through difficult times before returning to prominence.