Lynn Dickey

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Dickey was born in Paola, Kansas, and raised in Osawatomie, Kansas. He led Osawatomie High School to a state championship and graduated in 1967. He played college football at Kansas State University, finishing tenth in Heisman Trophy voting in 1970 and setting a school passing record of 6,208 yards that stood for 38 years. He was selected in the third round of the 1971 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers, where he played five seasons before being traded to the Packers in 1976. With the Packers, he led the team to their first playoff appearance since 1972 in the strike-shortened 1982 season, winning the opening round against the St. Louis Cardinals. In 1983, he led the NFL in passing touchdowns (32) and set a Packers single-season record of 4,458 passing yards. He was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1992.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled across Lambeau Field, carrying snowflakes that stung exposed skin as the temperature plummeted well below zero. Inside the huddle, Lynn Dickey adjusted his helmet, his breath visible in short, sharp puffs. The world outside was frozen, but inside the line, the heat of competition burned fierce. 'On one,' he barked, his voice cutting through the storm. As the ball snapped, Dickey exploded forward, his massive frame absorbing a collision that would have sent lesser men reeling. He held his ground, a fortress of muscle and will, ensuring the quarterback had just enough time to launch the pass into the freezing night.

Reader's Guide

Lynn Dickey is best known as the quarterback who revitalized the Packers in the early 1980s, leading them to the playoffs in 1982 and setting team passing records. His 1983 season included a two-game stretch that sportswriter Alex Rubenstein called the greatest by an NFL quarterback through the first 98 seasons. He holds Packers records for highest completion percentage in a game (90.48% vs. New Orleans in 1981) and highest average gain in a season (9.21 yards per attempt in 1983), the latter an NFL record for quarterbacks with 400+ attempts. After retiring, he opened an unsuccessful football-themed restaurant in the Kansas City area.

Did You Know?

• Dickey's high school football stadium in Osawatomie, Kansas, is named after him, and his number 10 was retired by the school in January 1971.
• Kansas State University retired the number 11 to jointly honor Dickey and his successor Steve Grogan.
• Dickey was named the All-Time Big Eight Quarterback by the Associated Press in 1996.
• He is a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, and Kansas State Hall of Fame.