The Ice Bowl (1967 NFL Championship)

Lore & Background

The Dallas Cowboys (9–5), champions of the Eastern Conference, traveled north to meet the Western champion Green Bay Packers (9–4–1), the two-time defending league champions. It was a rematch of the previous year's title game, and pitted two future Hall of Fame head coaches against each other, Tom Landry of the Cowboys and Vince Lombardi of the Packers. Because of the adverse conditions, the rivalry, and the game's dramatic climax, it has been immortalized as the Ice Bowl and is considered one of the greatest games in NFL history. NFL 100 Greatest Games ranked this game as the 3rd greatest game of all time. With the temperature at kickoff at -13 F, it is still the coldest game ever played in NFL history.

Reader's Guide

The game-time temperature at Lambeau Field was about -15 F, with an average wind chill around -48 F; under the revised National Weather Service wind chill index implemented in 2001, the average wind chill would have been -36 F. Lambeau Field's turf-heating system malfunctioned, and when the tarpaulin was removed from the field before the game, it left moisture on the field. The field began to freeze gradually in the extreme cold, leaving an icy surface that became worse as more and more of the field fell into the shadow of the stadium.

The heating system, made by General Electric, cost $80,000 and was bought from the nephew of George Halas, George S. Halas. On the sidelines before the game, some Dallas players believed that Lombardi had purposely removed power to the heating coils. The heating system would eventually be given the moniker Lombardi's Folly. The prior convention to prevent the football field from icing up was to cover the field with hay.

Did You Know?

• Packers safety Willie Wood left his home Sunday morning to find his car's battery frozen and dead. When a local service-station attendant was summoned to start the car, Wood told him, 'It's just too cold to play.
• During the game, an elderly spectator in the stands died from exposure.
• The Las Vegas betting line listed the Packers as 6½-point favorites.

Historic Three-Peat Legacy

The 1967 campaign secured an unprecedented milestone for Green Bay, marking the first time a franchise won three consecutive championship games within the modern playoff era established in 1933. While the team had achieved this feat previously between 1929 and 1931 under founder Curly Lambeau, no other squad has replicated this dominance through 2024. This victory represented the fifth world championship secured under head coach Vince Lombardi during his ninth year leading the organization. The triumph over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Championship Game solidified their status as champions before they went on to defeat the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II. Notably, that final contest against the Raiders served as the last game Lombardi ever coached for Green Bay, capping off a legendary tenure defined by this historic three-peat achievement.

The Ice Bowl Conditions and Climax

Played on December 31, the NFL Championship Game at Lambeau Field became infamous for its brutal weather conditions. The official temperature sat at minus thirteen degrees Fahrenheit with a wind chill reaching nearly forty-eight below zero. These extreme elements overwhelmed the stadium's new turf heating system, leaving the surface hard and slick like ice. Even officials struggled as whistles froze to their lips during play.

Despite an early fourteen-point lead, Green Bay fell behind seventeen-to-fourteen after Dallas running back Dan Reeves connected with Lance Rentzel for a touchdown pass. With under five minutes remaining, quarterback Bart Starr orchestrated a drive from his own thirty-two-yard line. After two failed runs by Donny Anderson, Starr executed a decisive quarterback sneak on third down. Blocked effectively by Ken Bowman and Jerry Kramer against Jethro Pugh, the play secured a twenty-one-to-seventeen victory.

Roster Turnover and Leadership

The season began with significant roster adjustments following the league's expansion to include the New Orleans Saints. Coach Vince Lombardi was forced to leave eleven players unprotected for the expansion draft, including future Hall of Famer Paul Hornung. Although the Saints selected Hornung, he never played a down due to a previous neck injury and retired during training camp. Fullback Jim Taylor also departed for New Orleans, feeling underpaid and underappreciated in Green Bay despite his own Hall of Fame status.

In the first common draft with the AFL, Green Bay added guard Bob Hyland and quarterback Don Horn. Despite these departures, veteran leadership remained steady. Quarterback Bart Starr entered his twelfth season guiding the offense, while Lombardi continued his ninth year as head coach. This stability allowed the team to navigate personnel changes and maintain their competitive edge throughout the challenging campaign leading up to the playoffs.

Season Progression and Super Bowl II

The Packers finished the regular season with a nine-win record, clinching the Central Division title at Wrigley Field on November 26 while holding an eight-and-two mark. This victory granted them home-field advantage for the initial playoff round under the rotational system used until 1975. In the Western Conference Championship held at Milwaukee County Stadium, they defeated the Los Angeles Rams twenty-eight-to-seven, with Travis Williams accounting for two touchdown runs. This win propelled them to the NFL Championship and eventually Super Bowl II against the Oakland Raiders. The team dominated that final contest thirty-three-to-fourteen, securing their place in history as world champions before Lombardi retired from coaching duties following the victory.