Green Bay Packers

Lore & Background

The Packers are the last of the 'small-town teams' that were common in the NFL during the league's early days of the 1920s and 1930s. Founded in 1919 by Earl 'Curly' Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun, the franchise traces its lineage to other semi-professional teams in Green Bay dating back to 1896. Between 1919 and 1920, the Packers competed against other semi-pro clubs from around Wisconsin and the Midwest, before joining the American Professional Football Association (APFA) in 1921. In 1933, the Packers began playing part of their home slate in Milwaukee until changes at Lambeau Field in 1995 made it more lucrative to stay in Green Bay full-time; Milwaukee is still considered a home media market for the team. Although Green Bay is the smallest major league professional sports market in North America, Forbes ranked the Packers as the world's 23rd-most-valuable sports franchise in 2025, with a value of $6.65 billion.

In Their Own Story

The cold wind howled off Lake Michigan as the Buccaneers' defense lined up against the Packers' offense in a crucial late-season matchup. The stadium lights cut through the gray sky, illuminating the vibrant red and pewter of Tampa Bay against the iconic green and yellow of Green Bay. Every snap felt heavier than usual, the weight of history pressing down on the players. As the quarterback dropped back, the crowd roared, a mix of Bucs fans traveling north and Packers loyalists hoping to uphold their legacy. In that moment, it wasn't just about points; it was about the soul of two franchises colliding.

Reader's Guide

The Packers have won 13 league championships, with nine pre-Super Bowl NFL titles and four Super Bowl victories. The Packers, under coach Vince Lombardi, won the first two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967; they were the only NFL team to defeat the American Football League (AFL) before the AFL–NFL merger. After Lombardi died, the Super Bowl trophy was named for him, but the team struggled through the 1970s and 1980s. The team's performance shifted after acquiring Brett Favre in 1992 and his eventual successor Aaron Rodgers in 2005, beginning a new ongoing era which has been characterized by consistent regular-season success, with 25 playoff appearances and two Super Bowl wins in 1996 and 2010, under head coaches Mike Holmgren and Mike McCarthy, respectively. In addition to the most wins, the Packers hold the second-highest win–loss record (.571) in NFL history, including both regular season and playoff games.

Did You Know?

• The Packers are the only non-profit, community-owned major league professional sports team based in the United States.
• The Packers have won 13 league championships, including four Super Bowl victories.
• The Packers' home stadium, Lambeau Field, has been in use since 1957.
• The Packers are the third-oldest franchise in the NFL, established in 1919.