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| The First Game |
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| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Minneapolis |
6 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
| Green Bay |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
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The Packers played independently from 1919-20. After joining the American Professional Football Association (renamed NFL in 1922), they played their first official league game Oct. 23, 1921, a 7-6 win over the Minneapolis Marines at Green Bay's Hagemeister Park.
With about six minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Marines muffed Cub Buck's punt, and Dave Hayes recovered at the Minneapolis 35. Three plays later, with the crowd chanting "throw a forward," Curly Lambeau hit Buff Wagner for 18 yards. The franchise's first completion, the play set up Art Schmael's 4-yard touchdown run. Lambeau's extra point, with Buck holding, gave the Packers their first win.
Starting Lineup: LE Bill DuMoe, LT Cub Buck, LG James Cook, C Fee Klaus, RG Sammy Powers, RT Jab Murray, RE Dave Hayes, QB Adolph Kliebhan, LHB Grover Malone, RHB Buff Wagner, FB Art Schmael.
Others who played: G Joe Carey, B Lynn Howard, B Curly Lambeau, E Lyle Wheeler, G Milt Wilson. |
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| Packers Firsts |
| Game, Win: Sunday, Oct. 23, 1921, 7-6 victory over Minneapolis Marines, Hagemeister Park, Green Bay. |
| Loss: Oct. 30, 1921, 13-3 decision to Rock Island Independents, Hagemeister Park. |
| Forward Pass: Curly Lambeau, incomplete, intended for Lyle "Cowboy" Wheeler, vs. Minneapolis, Oct. 23, 1921. |
| Reception: Buff Wagner, from Curly Lambeau, 18 yards, vs. Minneapolis, Oct. 23, 1921. |
| Touchdown: Fullback Art Schmaehl, 4-yard run, vs. Minneapolis, Oct. 23, 1921. |
| Touchdown Pass/Reception: Curly Lambeau to Bill DuMoe, 35 yards (fake kick) vs. Hammond Pros, Nov. 13, 1921, Hagemeister Park. |
| Field Goal Attempt: Curly Lambeau, good from approximately 25 yards (drop kick), vs. Rock Island Independents, Oct. 30, 1921, Hagemeister Park. |
| Point After Touchdown: Curly Lambeau with Cub Buck holding, vs. Minneapolis, Oct. 23, 1921, Hagemeister Park. |
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| First Quarterbacks |
The Green Bay Press-Gazette, in editions following the inaugural league game Oct. 23, 1921, vs. Minneapolis, listed Adolph Kliebhan as the first starting quarterback in team history. Kliebhan, however, played his only career league game that afternoon, and didn't see many plays.
While Kliebhan was the first starter, Curly Lambeau was really the team's first "field general." Lambeau would have started the Marines game had he not kept himself out after starting each of the four non-league contests. Lambeau threw both Packers passes that day. In fact, he started four of the team's remaining five games (Art Schmael started the Packers' second game, vs. Rock Island Oct. 30, 1921; Lambeau started the last four).
Toward the end of Lambeau's playing days, he turned mainly to Red Dunn. However, Arnie Herber, who played from 1930-40 and like Lambeau hailed from Green Bay, was the team's first pure passer. Don Hutson, credited with inventing pass patterns, formed the Herber-to-Hutson combination, which terrified opponents from 1935-40.
From Lambeau to Bart Starr to Brett Favre, more than 125 Packers have attempted a pass, many in the 1920s, when the snap usually went to the halfback, who also called the cadence. |
Last Updated: 12/31/07
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