1981 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

8  at Dallas Cowboys                     W 21-17    1- 0-0 55,087                 Lynn Dickey         Eddie Lee Ivery (42)     Lynn Dickey (196)      Aundra Thompson (5-51)

15 M-OAKLAND RAIDERS                     W 34-14    2- 0-0 54,710                 Lynn Dickey         Steve Atkins (53)        Lynn Dickey (143)      James Lofton (5-142)

22 at Denver Broncos                     L  7-17    2- 1-0 72,450                 Lynn Dickey         Steve Atkins (33)        Lynn Dickey (72)       Eddie Lee Ivery (4-25)

29 G-CLEVELAND BROWNS                    W 35-18    3- 1-0 56,191                 Lynn Dickey         Eddie Lee Ivery (56)     Lynn Dickey (250)      James Lofton (5-76)

1981 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS

SEPTEMBER (1-3)

6  at Chicago Bears (0-0)                W 16- 9    1- 0-0 62,411 193 153 145 161 Lynn Dickey         Gerry Ellis (94)         Lynn Dickey (165)      James Lofton (5-84)

13 G-ATLANTA FALCONS (1-0)               L 17-31    1- 1-0 55,382  96 300 116 219 Lynn Dickey         Gerry Ellis (59)         Lynn Dickey (342)      James Lofton (8-179)

20 at Los Angeles Rams (0-2)             L 23-35    1- 2-0 61,286 122  78 177  26 Lynn Dickey         Terdell Middleton (45)   Lynn Dickey (125)      James Lofton (5-73)

27 M-MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-2)             L 13-30    1- 3-0 55,012  71 245 157 253 Lynn Dickey         Jim Jensen (35)          Lynn Dickey (251)      James Lofton (8-101)

OCTOBER (1-3)

4  at New York Giants (2-2)              W 27-14    2- 3-0 73,684 148 215  41 221 Lynn Dickey         Harlan Huckleby (88)     Lynn Dickey (208)      Paul Coffman (6-92)

11 G-TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-2)          L 10-21    2- 4-0 55,264  95 203 172 199 Lynn Dickey         Harlan Huckleby (57)     Lynn Dickey (219)      Gerry Ellis (6-48)

18 M-SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (4-2)           L  3-13    2- 5-0 50,171  78 163 126 211 Lynn Dickey         Gerry Ellis (50)         Lynn Dickey (156)      Gerry Ellis (5-50)

25 at Detroit Lions (3-4)                L 27-31    2- 6-0 76,063  75 307 171 238 Lynn Dickey         Gerry Ellis (32)         David Whitehurst (243) Gerry Ellis (7-89)

NOVEMBER (4-1)

1  G-SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-6)              W 34-24    3- 6-0 49,467 182 195 119 102 David Whitehurst    Gerry Ellis (127)        David Whitehurst (205) James Lofton (4-63)

8  M-NEW YORK GIANTS (5-4)               W 26-24    4- 6-0 54,138  82 185  88 233 Lynn Dickey         Gerry Ellis (75)         Lynn Dickey (143)      Paul Coffman (4-68)

15 G-CHICAGO BEARS (3-7)                 W 21-17    5- 6-0 55,338 114 133 165  88 David Whitehurst    Harlan Huckleby (71)     David Whitehurst (140) James Lofton (5-80)

22 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6)         L  3-37    5- 7-0 63,251  70 212 210 138 David Whitehurst    Gerry Ellis (55)         Rich Campbell (168)    Gerry Ellis (11-76)

29 at Minnesota Vikings (7-5)            W 35-23    6- 7-0 46,025 115 294  28 376 Lynn Dickey         Gerry Ellis (77)         Lynn Dickey (294)      James Lofton (7-159)

DECEMBER (2-1)

6  G-DETROIT LIONS (7-6)                 W 31-17    7- 7-0 54,481  68 265 143 217 Lynn Dickey        Gerry Ellis (46)         Lynn Dickey (279)       John Jefferson (8-113)

13 at New Orleans Saints (4-10)          W 35- 7    8- 7-0 45,518 116 202  87 165 Lynn Dickey        Gerry Ellis (64)         Lynn Dickey (218)       Gerry Ellis (5-26)

20 at New York Jets (9-5-1)              L  3-28    8- 8-0 56,340  45  39 153 240 Lynn Dickey        Gerry Ellis (44)         Lynn Dickey (96)        Gerry Ellis (4-14)

G - Green Bay  M - Milwaukee * - Overtime

1981 IN REVIEW

Having gone 10-21-1 over the past two years, the pressure was on Bart Starr to win or else. Green Bay opened the season with a 2-6 record, marking the sixth time in seven years the Packers had a losing record at the midway point of the season under Starr. Squandering a 17-0 lead to Atlanta in Week 2 and losing Eddie Lee Ivery for the season in the opener for the second time in three years appeared to point the way toward a new head coach. In October, 90 percent of the respondents to a Racine newspaper's poll said it was time for a change. On September 17, Green Bay sent three draft picks (1981 first-round, 1982 second-round and 1983 first-round) and WR Aundra Thompson to San Diego for star WR John Jefferson and a 1981 first-round draft choice. Finally, in Week 9, the Packers began to show signs of life. Following a week of community events, Green Bay crushed Seattle 34-24. By Week 15, the Packers were 8-7 and in the playoff hunt. A 28-3 loss to the New York Jets in the season finale ended the playoff hopes, but an 8-8 record gave Packer fans hope.

​

ONE GAME FROM THE PLAYOFFS

By all accounts, the Green Bay Packers were well on their way to another losing record at the midway point of the 1981 season. With a 2-6 record, the team appeared to be in complete disarray, with many calling for the ouster of head coach Bart Starr, following the two previous seasons' combined 10-21-1 record. Then, as shocking as anything in the NFL that season, the Packers won six of their next seven games, and found themselves on the cusp of their first playoff berth since 1972. Thanks to Philadelphia's blowout win over St. Louis, the Packers only needed to beat the New York Jets in the season finale to wrap up the last wildcard slot in the NFC. The Jets found themselves in a similar position. After going 4-12 in 1980, New York started the season 0-3, with a quarterback controversy, an altercation between quarterback Richard Todd and sports writer Steve Serby and speculation about head coach Walt Michaels' job. Then, the Jets roared in the second half, winning six of seven before their season-ending game with the Packers. Led by their vaunted ‘Sack Exchange’ defensive line, the Jets sacked Lynn Dickey nine times and held Green Bay to 84 total yards. The Packer coaching staff put OG Arland Thompson in the starting lineup, and he was a basket case. The Packers elected to run behind him on consecutive plays at a critical point in the game. Second and 1 at the Jets' 13 quickly turned into a fourth-and-2 situation, and the season was lost. On offense, Richard Todd threw two touchdown passes, one each to Wesley Walker and Johnny (Lam) Jones. When the game was over, hundreds of fans charged the field, with dozens tearing down both goalposts in celebration.

​

RICH CAMPBELL - THE HEIR NOT SO APPARENT

Lynn Dickey was only 30 years old in 1980, but his body had been through the football wars and showed the scars. In a move which haunted the franchise for many years, Green Bay elected to draft Rich Campbell with the 6th pick in the 1981 draft. Hailed as a strong-armed quarterback who would be the team's future, it was quickly determined there was a flaw in Campbell's delivery. He would hardly ever see the field though and in four seasons attempted only 68 passes throwing nine interceptions to only three touchdown passes, completing less than 45% of his attempts. He could never unseat, who responded with the best year of his career in 1983, even though it wouldn't prove enough to save Starr's coaching career. One year later, Campbell was gone too. As for who the Packers passed on? LB and future Pro Bowler Hugh Green went next in the draft  to Tampa Bay, and San Francisco then selected future Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott.

NAME                NO  POS  HGT WGT COLLEGE         YR PR AG  G HOW ACQUIRED

Kurt Allerman       60   LB 6- 2 222 Penn State       2  5 26 16 1980 FA-St.L (1979)

John Anderson       59   LB 6- 3 221 Michigan         4  4 25 16 1978 Draft-1st round

Charlie Ane         61    C 6- 1 237 Michigan State   1  7 29 16 1981 FA-KC (1980)

Steve Atkins        32   RB 6- 0 216 Maryland         3  3 25  3 1979 Draft-2nd round

Byron Braggs        73   NT 6- 4 290 Alabama          1  1 21 16 1981 Draft-5th round

Mike Butler         77   DE 6- 5 265 Kansas           5  5 27 16 1977 Draft-1st round

Rich Campbell       19   QB 6- 4 224 California       1  1 22  2 1981 Draft-1st round

Ron Cassidy         88   WR 6- 0 185 Utah State       3  3 24 11 1979 Draft-8th round

Paul Coffman        82   TE 6- 3 218 Kansas State     4  4 25 16 1978 FA

George Cumby        52   LB 6- 0 215 Oklahoma         2  2 25 16 1980 Draft-1st round

Lynn Dickey         12   QB 6- 4 220 Kansas State     5  9 30 13 1976 Trade-Houston

Mike Douglass       53   LB 6- 0 224 San Diego State  4  4 26 16 1978 Draft-5th round

Gerry Ellis         31   FB 5-11 216 Missouri         2  2 23 15 1980 FA

Derrel Gofourth     57    C 6- 3 260 Oklahoma State   5  5 26 15 1977 Draft-7th round

Johnnie Gray        24    S 5-11 185 Cal St-Fullerton 7  7 28  9 1975 FA

Leotis Harris       69    G 6- 1 267 Arkansas         4  4 26 16 1978 Draft-6th round

Maurice Harvey      23    S 5-10 190 Ball State       1  3 25 16 1981 FA-Denver (1980)

Estus Hood          38   CB 5-11 180 Illinois State   4  4 25 16 1978 Draft-3rd round

Harlan Huckleby     25   HB 6- 1 199 Michigan         2  2 23 16 1980 FA

Tim Huffman         74    T 6- 5 277 Notre Dame       1  1 22  4 1981 Draft-9th round

Eddie Lee Ivery     40   RB 6- 1 210 Georgia Tech     3  3 24  1 1979 Draft-1st round

John Jefferson      83   WR 6- 1 198 Arizona State    1  4 25 13 1981 Trade-San Diego

Jim Jensen          33   RB 6- 3 235 Iowa             1  5 27 15 1981 FA-Denver (1980)

Ezra Johnson        90   DE 6- 4 240 Morris Brown     5  5 25 16 1977 Draft-1st round

Terry Jones         63   DT 6- 2 259 Alabama          4  4 24 16 1978 Draft-11th round

Syd Kitson          64    G 6- 4 252 Wake Forest      2  2 22 11 1980 Draft-3rd round

Greg Koch           68    T 6- 4 265 Arkansas         5  5 26 16 1977 Draft-2nd round

Mark Koncar         79    T 6- 5 268 Colorado         5  5 28 14 1976 Draft-1st round

Mark Lee            22   CB 5-11 187 Washington       2  2 23 16 1980 Draft-2nd round

Cliff Lewis         56   LB 6- 1 226 S. Mississippi   1  1 21 16 1981 Draft-12th round

Gary Lewis          81   TE 6- 5 234 Texas-Arlington  1  1 21 16 1981 Draft-2nd round

James Lofton        80   WR 6- 3 187 Stanford         4  4 25 16 1978 Draft-1st round

Larry McCarren      54    C 6- 3 248 Illinois         9  9 29 16 1973 Draft-12th round

Mike C. McCoy       29   CB 5-11 183 Colorado         6  6 28 16 1976 Draft-3rd round

Casey Merrill       78   DE 6- 4 255 Cal-Davis        3  3 24 16 1979 FA

Terdell Middleton   34   HB 6- 0 195 Memphis State    5  5 26 12 1977 Draft-3rd round

Mark Murphy         37    S 6- 2 199 West Liberty St  2  2 23 16 1980 FA

NAME                NO  POS  HGT WGT COLLEGE         YR PR AG  G HOW ACQUIRED

Fred Nixon          84   WR 5-11 191 Oklahoma         2  2 22  8 1980 Draft-4th round

Brad Oates          72    T 6- 6 270 BYU              1  6 27  1 1981 FA-Cincinnati

David Petway        47    S 6- 2 207 North Illinois   1  1 25  5 1981 FA

Guy Prather         51   LB 6- 2 230 Grambling        1  1 23 16 1981 FA

Randy Scott         55   LB 6- 1 220 Alabama          1  1 22 16 1981 FA

Ray Stachowicz      16    P 5-11 185 Michigan State   1  1 22 16 1981 Draft-3rd round

Jan Stenerud        10    K 6- 2 190 Montana State    2 15 37 16 1980 FA-KC (1979)

Tim Stokes          76    T 6- 5 252 Oregon           4  8 31  7 1978 Trade-Washington

Karl Swanke         67    T 6- 6 251 Boston College   2  2 23  4 1980 Draft-6th round

Arland Thompson     71    G 6- 4 265 Baylor           1  2 23 10 1981 FA-Denver (1981)

Aundra Thompson     89   WR 6- 0 186 E. Texas State   5  5 28  3 1976 Draft-5th round

John Thompson       87   TE 6- 3 228 Utah State       4  4 25  2 1979 Draft-9th round

Eric Torkelson      26   RB 6- 2 210 Connecticut      7  7 29  8 1974 Draft-11th round

Rich Turner         75   NT 6- 2 260 Oklahoma         1  1 22 16 1981 Draft-4th round

Bill Whitaker       30    S 6- 0 182 Missouri         1  1 21 16 1981 Draft-7th round

David Whitehurst    17   QB 6- 2 204 Furman           5  5 26  2 1977 Draft-8th round

Delvin Williams     20   RB 6- 0 195 Kansas           1  8 30  1 1981 FA-Miami (1980)

Rich Wingo          50   LB 6- 1 230 Alabama          2  2 25 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

1981 PACKERS DRAFT (April 28-29, 1981)

RND-PCK NAME                POS COLLEGE       NOTES

1     6 Rich Campbell        QB California 

2    35 Gary Lewis           TE Tex-Arlington 

3    62 Ray Stachowicz        P Michigan St

4a   90 Traded to Washington

4b  105 Richard Turner       DT Oklahoma      (A) 

5   117 Byron Braggs         DT Alabama       (B) 

6   145 Traded to NY Giants in Randy Dean trade

7   172 Bill Whitaker        DB Missouri 

8   200 Lerry Werts          LB Jackson State 

9   227 Tim Huffman           T Notre Dame 

10  255 Nickie Hall          QB Tulane 

11  282 Forrest Valora       LB Oklahoma 

12  311 Cliff Lewis          LB S.Mississippi 

A-From Washington B-From Washington through LA from Green Bay