The 1979 Green Bay Packers - 5-11 (4TH - Central Division)
Head Coach: Bart Starr
1979 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (3-1)
OFF DEF
AUGUST (3-1) RESULT RECORD ATT RSH PSS RSH PSS STARTING QB LEADING RUSHER LEADING PASSER LEADING RECEIVER
4 G-KANSAS CITY CHIEFS W 14-10 1- 0-0 53,994 David Whitehurst Eddie Lee Ivery (49) Dennis Sproul (138) James Lofton (3-50)
11 at Cincinnati Bengals L 5-20 1- 1-0 44,284 David Whitehurst Jim Culbreath (45) David Whitehurst (63) Jim Culbreath (3-22)
18 G-BUFFALO BILLS W 7- 6 2- 1-0 54,857 David Whitehurst David Whitehurst (23) Lynn Dickey (126) Terdell Middleton (6-47)
25 M-ATLANTA FALCONS W 45-35 3- 1-0 55,416 David Whitehurst Eric Torkelson (35) David Whitehurst (238) Bobby Kimball (4-68)
1979 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS
SEPTEMBER (1-3)
2 at Chicago Bears (0-0) L 3- 6 0- 1-0 56,515 77 72 183 117 David Whitehurst Ivery/Middleton (24) David Whitehurst (114) Barty Smith (5-42)
9 M-NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-1) W 28-19 1- 1-0 53,184 194 115 185 259 David Whitehurst Steve Atkins (110) David Whitehurst (139) Aundra Thompson (4-49)
16 G-TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0) L 10-21 1- 2-0 55,498 89 185 235 132 David Whitehurst Barty Smith (35) David Whitehurst (214) James Lofton (7-78)
23 at Minnesota Vikings (1-2) L 21-27 * 1- 3-0 46,524 141 108 161 215 David Whitehurst Terdell Middleton (90) David Whitehurst (108) Barty Smith (3-31)
OCTOBER (2-3)
1 G-NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3-1) W 27-14 2- 3-0 52,842 118 199 162 239 David Whitehurst Terdell Middleton (80) David Whitehurst (206) Paul Coffman (6-43)
7 at Atlanta Falcons (2-3) L 7-25 2- 4-0 56,184 117 158 152 134 David Whitehurst Steve Atkins (79) David Whitehurst (209) Aundra Thompson (4-93)
14 M-DETROIT LIONS (1-5) W 24-16 3- 4-0 53,930 189 109 93 154 David Whitehurst Nate Simpson (121) David Whitehurst (132) Eric Torkelson (3-36)
21 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) L 3-21 3- 5-0 67,186 38 261 228 85 David Whitehurst Nate Simpson (35) David Whitehurst (261) Paul Coffman (7-106)
28 at Miami Dolphins (5-3) L 7-27 3- 6-0 47,741 53 143 195 280 David Whitehurst Terdell Middleton (34) David Whitehurst (163) Paul Coffman (5-116)
NOVEMBER (1-3)
4 G-NEW YORK JETS (4-5) L 22-27 3- 7-0 54,201 108 287 246 136 David Whitehurst Eric Torkelson (60) David Whitehurst (296) James Lofton (6-114)
11 M-MINNESOTA VIKINGS (4-6) W 19- 7 4- 7-0 52,706 178 115 117 230 David Whitehurst Terdell Middleton (125) David Whitehurst (147) James Lofton (5-99)
18 at Buffalo Bills (5-6) L 12-19 4- 8-0 39,679 95 195 187 213 David Whitehurst Eric Torkelson (63) David Whitehurst (205) Paul Coffman (5-73)
25 G-PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-4) L 10-21 4- 9-0 50,023 118 213 229 118 David Whitehurst Eric Torkelson (88) Lynn Dickey (144) Paul Coffman (6-50)
DECEMBER (1-2)
2 at Washington Redskins (8-5) L 21-38 4-10-0 51,682 96 178 195 242 Lynn Dickey Eric Torkelson (60) Lynn Dickey (212) Aundra Thompson (3-58)
9 G-CHICAGO BEARS (8-6) L 14-15 4-11-0 54,207 55 251 161 106 Lynn Dickey Ricky Patton (35) Lynn Dickey (283) James Lofton (6-112)
15 at Detroit Lions (2-13) W 18-13 5-11-0 57,376 195 92 156 72 Lynn Dickey Ricky Patton (99) Lynn Dickey (131) James Lofton (3-48)
G - Green Bay M - Milwaukee * - Overtime
1979 IN REVIEW
Coming off a winning season in 1978, the Packers were filled with optimism heading into the 1979 campaign. Unfortunately, the worst rushing defense in the league, the dismissal of a long-time member of the franchise, and a long list of injuries led to a dismal 5-11 record. For the first time, Bart Starr's future as head coach was being openly questioned. The only bright spots appeared to be the return of Lynn Dickey, the first win over Minnesota in five years, and the successful debut of Monday Night Football at Lambeau Field. Green Bay's defense allowed more than 150 yards rushing in 14 of the 16 games and the team went 3-11 in those contests. No other defense was rushed on as much (639 carries), and the 2,885 yards given up on the ground was the fourth-worst in NFL history up to this point. Defensive coordinator Dave Hanner was fired in December after 28 years with the Packers organization. As for injuries, the parade started in the first game when top draft choice Eddie Lee Ivery went down with a torn knee ligament. Mike Hunt, Barty Smith, Bobby Kimball and Steve Atkins were also lost for the season with various ailments. Mark Koncar (ankle), John Anderson (broken arm), Ezra Johnson (ankle), Mike Butler (elbow) and Terdell Middleton (shoulder) all missed significant playing time.
THE FIRST MONDAY NIGHT GAME IN GREEN BAY
The New England Patriots were a pre-season Super Bowl contender. The Green Bay Packers were coming off their first winning season in six years. The Packers, who some had picked to win the NFC Central, were off to a dismal 1-3 record, while the Pats were living up to their expectations at 3-1. And for the first time in franchise history, Monday Night Football was coming to Green Bay. The three previous Monday Night games in Wisconsin had all been played in Milwaukee, due to the simple fact that there were lights at County Stadium. The hype for the game was noticeable, especially since days before the game, the Brown County sheriff’s office received a death threat aimed at Cosell. With help from the FBI, Cosell was kept safe and sound. Green Bay came into the game in disarray. When Bart Starr chose to run out the clock late in a tie game in Minnesota the week before, a game the Vikings went on to win, he nearly had a locker-room mutiny on his hands. Star wide receiver James Lofton threw his pads into his locker during the Packers' postgame prayer and had words with Starr. He also dropped some passes observers felt he should have caught, leading a Green Bay newspaper to run a cartoon in which he was called a "ham-handed and overpaid receiver." Green Bay came into the Patriots game as 8 1/2 point underdogs. When Tim Fox intercepted a David Whitehurst pass in Packer territory and Steve Grogan threw a scoring pass to TE Russ Francis, it appeared the rout was on. Instead, it was the Patriots who turned into bumblers, with six turnovers. SS Johnnie Gray came up with the first of the Packers’ five interceptions, and the subsequent 41-yard, five-play drive ended FB Barty Smith dove a yard for the tying score. The Packers took the lead for good on a 74-yard drive that ended with a Whitehurst pass to WR Aundra Thompson. The victory was the highlight of a dismal 5-11 year. The season would continue to unravel, punctuated during a loss to the Jets at Green Bay in November. The fans booed Lofton for fumbling a fourth-quarter pass. His reply was a middle-finger slate. In a postgame TV interview, he said he was bleeped-off at the stupid bleeps in the stands. That prompted a Packers public-relations man to say of him, "He needs to grow up. He's a prima donna." As for the Patriots, they would bounce back to win their next three, but a losing streak late in the season sent them to a 9-7 record, and no playoff berth despite those lofty predictions.
NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR AG G HOW ACQUIRED
John Anderson 59 LB 6- 3 221 Michigan 2 2 23 7 1978 Draft-1st round
Steve Atkins 32 RB 6- 0 216 Maryland 1 1 23 7 1979 Draft-2nd round
Bob Barber 70 DE 6- 3 240 Grambling 4 4 27 16 1976 Trade-Pittsburgh
Carl Barzilauskas 75 DT 6- 6 265 Indiana 2 6 28 5 1978 Trade-NY Jets
David Beverly 11 P 6- 2 180 Auburn 5 6 29 16 1975 FA-Houston
Tom Birney 19 K 6- 4 220 Michigan 1 1 23 6 1979 FA
Mike Butler 77 DE 6- 5 265 Kansas 3 3 25 14 1977 Draft-1st round
Ron Cassidy 88 WR 6- 0 175 Utah State 1 1 22 8 1979 Draft-8th round
Paul Coffman 82 TE 6- 3 218 Kansas State 2 2 23 16 1978 FA
Jim Culbreath 31 RB 6- 0 210 Oklahoma 3 3 26 4 1977 Draft-10th round
Lynn Dickey 10 QB 6- 4 220 Kansas State 3 7 28 5 1976 Trade-Houston
Mike Douglass 53 LB 6- 0 224 San Diego State 2 2 24 16 1978 Draft-5th round
Earl Edwards 73 DT 6- 6 260 Wichita State 1 11 33 9 1979 FA-Cleve (1978)
Derrel Gofourth 57 C 6- 3 260 Oklahoma State 3 3 24 16 1977 Draft-7th round
Johnnie Gray 24 S 5-11 185 Cal St-Fullerton 5 5 25 16 1975 FA
Jim Gueno 51 LB 6- 2 220 Tulane 4 4 25 16 1976 Draft-9th round
Leotis Harris 69 G 6- 1 267 Arkansas 2 2 24 15 1978 Draft-6th round
Estus Hood 38 CB 5-11 180 Illinois State 2 2 23 16 1978 Draft-3rd round
Mike Hunt 55 LB 6- 2 240 Minnesota 2 2 22 3 1978 Draft-2nd round
Eddie Lee Ivery 40 RB 6- 1 210 Georgia Tech 1 1 22 1 1979 Draft-1st round
Mel Jackson 71 G 6- 1 267 USC 4 4 25 16 1976 Draft-12th round
Charles Johnson 99 DT 6- 1 262 Maryland 1 1 22 16 1979 Draft-2nd round
Ezra Johnson 90 DE 6- 4 240 Morris Brown 3 3 23 11 1977 Draft-1st round
Sammy Johnson 39 RB 6- 1 226 North Carolina 1 6 26 3 1979 FA-Minn (1978)
Terry Jones 63 DT 6- 2 259 Alabama 2 2 22 12 1978 Draft-11th round
Bobby Kimball 85 WR 6- 1 190 Oklahoma 1 1 22 7 1979 FA
Greg Koch 68 T 6- 4 265 Arkansas 3 3 24 16 1977 Draft-2nd round
Mark Koncar 79 T 6- 5 268 Colorado 3 3 26 12 1976 Draft-1st round
Walt Landers 42 FB 6- 0 214 Clark 2 2 26 9 1978 FA
Kit Lathrop 72 DT 6- 5 253 Arizona State 1 1 23 2 1979 FA-Denver
James Lofton 80 WR 6- 3 187 Stanford 2 2 23 16 1978 Draft-1st round
Steve Luke 46 S 6- 2 205 Ohio State 5 5 25 16 1975 Draft-4th round
Chester Marcol 13 K 6- 0 190 Hillsdale 8 8 29 10 1972 Draft-2nd round
Larry McCarren 54 C 6- 3 248 Illinois 7 7 27 16 1973 Draft-12th round
Mike C. McCoy 29 CB 5-11 183 Colorado 4 4 26 16 1976 Draft-3rd round
Joe McLaughlin 62 LB 6- 1 235 Massachusetts 1 1 22 3 1979 FA
Casey Merrill 78 DE 6- 4 255 Cal-Davis 1 1 22 11 1979 FA
Terdell Middleton 37 HB 6- 0 190 Memphis State 3 3 24 14 1977 Draft-3rd round
Henry Monroe 43 DB 5-11 180 Mississippi St 1 1 22 3 1979 FA
NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR AG G HOW ACQUIRED
Steve Odom 84 WR 5- 8 174 Utah 6 6 26 9 1974 Draft-5th round
Ricky Patton 30 RB 5-11 189 Jackson State 1 2 25 6 1979 FA-Atlanta
Paul Rudzinski 66 LB 6- 1 220 Michigan State 2 2 23 11 1978 FA
Howard Sampson 36 DB 5-10 185 Arkansas 2 2 23 16 1978 FA
Davie Simmons 61 LB 6- 4 218 North Carolina 1 1 22 16 1979 Draft-6th round
Nate Simpson 48 RB 5-11 190 Tennessee State 3 3 24 15 1977 Draft-5th round
Barty Smith 33 FB 6- 3 240 Richmond 6 6 27 6 1974 Draft-1st round
Steve Stewart 58 LB 6- 3 215 Minnesota 1 2 23 3 1979 FA-Atl (1978)
Tim Stokes 76 T 6- 5 252 Oregon 2 6 29 16 1978 Trade-Washington
Aundra Thompson 89 WR 6- 0 186 E. Texas State 3 3 26 15 1976 Draft-5th round
John Thompson 83 TE 6- 3 228 Utah State 1 1 22 16 1979 Draft-9th round
Eric Torkelson 26 RB 6- 2 194 Connecticut 6 6 27 14 1974 Draft-11th round
Walter Tullis 87 WR 6- 0 170 Delaware State 2 2 26 16 1978 FA
Wylie Turner 20 CB 5-10 182 Angelo State 1 1 22 12 1979 FA
Steve Wagner 21 S 6- 2 208 Wisconsin 4 4 25 12 1976 FA
Gary Weaver 52 LB 6- 1 225 Fresno State 5 7 30 14 1975 FA-Oak (1974)
Mike Wellman 65 C 6- 3 253 Kansas 1 1 23 16 1979 Trade-L. Angeles
David Whitehurst 17 QB 6- 2 204 Furman 3 3 24 13 1977 Draft-8th round
Rich Wingo 50 LB 6- 1 230 Alabama 1 1 23 16 1979 Draft-7th round
NO - Jersey Number POS - Position HGT - Height WGT - Weight YR - Years with Packers PR - Years of Professional Football AGE - Age on September 1 G - Games Played FA - Free Agent
1979 PACKERS DRAFT (May 3-4, 1979)
RND-PCK NAME POS COLLEGE NOTES
1 15 Eddie Lee Ivery RB Georgia Tech
2 44 Steve Atkins RB Maryland
3 71 Charles Johnson DT Maryland
4 98 Traded to New York Jets in Carl Barzilauskas trade
5 125 Traded to New York Jets in Carl Barzilauskas trade
6 153 Davie Simmons LB North Carolina
7a 180 Henry Monroe DB Mississippi State
7b 184 Rich Wingo LB Alabama (A)
8a 193 Ron Cassidy WR Utah State (B)
8b 208 Rick Partridge P Utah
9 235 John Thompson TE Utah State
10 264 Frank Lockett WR Nebraska
11 290 Mark Thorson DB Ottawa (Kan.)
12 318 Bill Moats P South Dakota
A-From San Diego in Willie Buchanon trade B-From San Francisco in Steve Knutson trade
1979 PACKER TRADES - TRANSACTIONS
APRIL 26 - Traded CB Willie Buchanon to SAN DIEGO for a 1979 7th-round draft choice (LB Rich Wingo) and a 1980 1st-round selection (LB George Cumby)
AUGUST 6 - Traded an undisclosed draft choice to DALLAS for OG Mike Salzano
AUGUST 14 - Traded a 1981 5th-round draft choice to LOS ANGELES for C Mike Wellman