Rob Reischel - 100 Things Packers Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die

To my daughters, Madison and Mia.

Youve brought me more laughter and happiness than I could have ever imagined.

And to my parents, Bob and Sherry, who showed me what hard work truly is.

Contents

1. Brett Favre

Brett Favre is the greatest Green Bay Packer of all time.

Chew on that for a second and see how it tastes.

Don Hutson certainly merits consideration. So does Bart Starr. But when the accomplishments of every Packers great are placed under the microscope, its Favre by a whisker.

Favre set virtually every NFL passing record during his 16 seasons in Green Bay. He was the NFLs first player to win three MVPs. Favre is the games all-time leader in wins with 186 and 160 of those came with the Packers. Favre never missed a start with Green Bay, and he played in more games (255) than any other Packer. Favre also led the rebirth of an organization that had gone through more than two decades of despair.

Perhaps what separates Favre more than anything is he thrived during an era when football has never been more sophisticated. Hutson (19351945) played at a time when football was a weekend event and many of the leagues greats still left for war. Starr (19561971) played with 225-pound linemen at a time many players got off-season jobs. Today, players get bigger, faster, and stronger by the year. And, remarkably, Favre maintained his greatness and never left the lineup.

Favres popularity among Packers fans took a hit when he chose to play for the Minnesota Vikings in 2009. Still, what he did in Green Bay may never be equaled. So by the narrowest of margins, Favre gets the nod.

One thing, I think its by era, said Ron Wolf, the Packers former general manager and the man who traded for Favre in February 1992. I dont think you can pinpoint, but I think certainly in his era hed be in the top five. When you think of somebody now, you think of the great tradition you guys [have] up there, youre part of that great tradition of the Green Bay Packers. So for Brett Favre to be now said to be the greatest player ever to play for the Green Bay Packers, thats rare air.

Wolf had the courage to trade a first-round draft choice to Atlanta for Favre, who was a second-rounder himself the previous year. But Wolfs deal will go down as one of the most lopsided in league history.

Favre replaced an injured Don Majkowski in Week 3 of the 1992 season and made his first NFL start the following week. Between then and his final start in the 2007 NFC Championship Game, Favre never missed a gamea remarkable run of 275 games, including playoffs. If ever the term Iron Man was invented for a player, it was Favre.

I was fortunate I got to play with Brett Favre for nine years, said former Packers guard Marco Rivera. His presence in the huddle, his leadership, it forced everybody to play better. You had to bring your A game when you were going to be in Brett Favres huddle.

Favre certainly brought his A game most weeks.

Favre and Mike Holmgrenwho coached him from 1992 to 1998butted heads early as the stubborn coach tried taming the young gunslinger. But as Favre matured, the Packers took off. Favre led the Packers to their first postseason win in 11 years in 1993, and another the following season.

Brett Favre celebrates a two-point conversion during the Packers 3521 victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. Favre won three MVPs and set numerous team and NFL records during his 16 years as the Packers quarterback.

His game then reached new heights from 1995 to 1997. Each of those three seasons, Favre was named the Associated Press MVP. In that time, Favre threw an NFL-best 112 touchdown passes against just 42 interceptions. The Packers were 3711 in that stretch, including a remarkable 231 at home. And Green Bay went 72 in the postseason, highlighted by a win in Super Bowl XXXI and a trip to Super Bowl XXXII.

He truly was as gifted a player as I have ever seen, Holmgren said.

Favre accomplished this all despite developing an addiction to Vicodin, one that led to a 46-day stay in a rehabilitation facility before the 1996 season. But he came back stronger than ever and led the Packers to their first Super Bowl win in 29 years.

I learned a lot through the 90s of [Favres] ability to take a receiver whos not even open and putting the ball in a spot where that guy can catch the football, former 49ers quarterback Steve Young said of Favre. Instead of kicking field goals, Brett Favre was throwing touchdowns when most werent.

When Holmgren left after the 1998 season, there was an enormous adjustment period for Favre. But he had the Packers back in the postseason by 2001 and led Green Bay to NFC North championships from 2002 to 2004.

Aside from the Super Bowl loss in 1997, Favres most devastating moment probably came in the 2007 NFC Championship Game. There, he threw an interception on the second play of overtime, which helped the Giants topple the Packers 2320.

Six weeks later, Favre announced his retirement. He later changed his mind, which led to his controversial trade to the New York Jets on August 6, 2008. Many fans were livid with general manager Ted Thompson for trading Favredespite the fact Favre began hinting at retirement as early as 2002 and almost seemed to make it an off-season game. But public sentiment swung back in Thompsons direction the following year, when Favre was released by the Jets and signed with archrival Minnesota.

Still, an entire generation of Packers fans grew up on Favre and was spoiled more than theyll ever know.

Hes a tremendous player. He was a joy to coach, day in and day out, said Mike McCarthy, who was Favres head coach in 2006 and 2007 and his position coach in 1999. [He has a] unique personality, the way he could affect people, the way he can walk into a room, the effect he had on the room, regardless of the age or the type of people in that room. Clearly one of the most unique individuals Ive had the opportunity to work with.

Green Bay played in three postseason games between 1968 and 1991, then played in 22 during Favres brilliant career, going 1210 in those contests. Favre led the Packers to seven division titles, and Green Bay had just one losing season during his stint. Favre was named to nine Pro Bowls as a Packer and was a first- or second-team All-Pro selection six times. He was also the NFCs Player of the Year five times and named the quarterback on the 1990s All-Decade team.

Favre holds virtually every Packers passing record, highlighted by touchdown passes (442), completions (5,377), and yards (61,655). Favre also holds the team record for interceptions (286), but he also threw nearly three times more passes (8,754) than any Packer ever. Perhaps what stands out most, though, is the Packers had a 16093 regular-season record under Favre (.632), and went 172103, including the playoffs (.625).

Brett Favre is one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of professional football, said Mike Shanahan, who coached the Broncos past Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII. Youre judged by winning, and hes won more games than any other quarterback who has ever played. He was the face of the Packers and a great credit to our game.

On top of that, Favre was a Hall of Fame teammate, as well. Those that played with Favre marveled at his ability to bring people together, no matter their walk of life.