top of page
PACKERBANNER.jpg
PACKERBANNER.jpg

NFC CHAMPIONS

The 1997 Green Bay Packers - 13-3 (1ST-NFC Central Division)

Head Coach: Mike Holmgren

NFL-Packers-1980-.gif
NFL-Packers-1980-.gif

1997 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (5-0)

                                                                                                                                                               OFF     DEF

JULY (3-1)                               RESULT     RECORD    ATT RSH PSS RSH PSS STARTING QB         LEADING RUSHER           LEADING PASSER         LEADING RECEIVER

26 MIAMI DOLPHINS                       W 20- 0     1- 0-0 59,089                 Brett Favre         Travis Jervey (76)       Steve Bono (99)        Qadry Ismail (5-66)

31 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS                 W  7- 3     2- 0-0 60,778                 Brett Favre         Aaron Hayden (27)        Doug Pederson (134)    Qadry Ismail (5-81)

AUGUST (3-0)

8  at Oakland Raiders                   W 37-24     3- 0-0 42,956                 Brett Favre         Chris Darkins (112)      Steve Bono (164)       Derrick Mayes (12-139)

16 vs Buffalo Bills at Toronto          W 35- 3     4- 0-0 53,896                 Brett Favre         Aaron Hayden (56)        Doug Pederson (82)     Antonio Freeman (4-40)

22 MADISON-NEW YORK GIANTS              W 22-17     5- 0-0 76,704                 Brett Favre         Chris Darkins (46)       Doug Pederson (101)    Jeff Thomason (5-33)

1997 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS

SEPTEMBER (3-2)

1  CHICAGO BEARS (0-0)                  W 38-24     1- 0-0 60,766 107 208 164 172 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (80)       Brett Favre (226)      Jeff Thomason (5-58)

7  at Philadelphia Eagles (0-1)         L  9-10     1- 1-0 66,803 107 273 100 158 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (91)       Brett Favre (279)      Robert Brooks (6-90)

14 MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-0)                 W 23-18     2- 1-0 60,075 142 250  59 240 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (121)      Brett Favre (253)      William Henderson (7-60)

21 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-1)              W 38-32     3- 1-0 60,115  93 257 185 208 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (79)       Brett Favre (266)      Antonio Freeman (7-122)

28 at Detroit Lions (2-2)               L 15-26     3- 2-0 78,110 107 289 173 203 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (107)      Brett Favre (295)      Robert Brooks (9-164)

OCTOBER (3-0)

5  TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-0)           W 21-16     4- 2-0 60,100  64 170 217 155 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (44)       Brett Favre (191)      Dorsey Levens (8-61)

12 at Chicago Bears (0-6)               W 24-23     5- 2-0 62,212 100 177 121 232 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (74)       Brett Favre (177)      Antonio Freeman (7-86)

19 Bye Week

27 at New England Patriots (5-2)        W 28-10     6- 2-0 59,972 144 227  69 255 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (100)      Brett Favre (239)      Dorsey Levens (7-40)

NOVEMBER (3-1)

2  DETROIT LIONS (4-4)                  W 20-10     7- 2-0 60,126  81 163 125 131 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (59)       Brett Favre (181)      Robert Brooks (6-67)

9  ST. LOUIS RAMS (2-7)                 W 17- 7     8- 2-0 60,093  96 291  66 203 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (81)       Brett Favre (306)      Antonio Freeman (7-160)

16 at Indianapolis Colts (0-10)         L 38-41     8- 3-0 60,928 107 334 147 320 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (103)      Brett Favre (363)      Antonio Freeman (5-93)

23 DALLAS COWBOYS (6-5)                 W 45-17     9- 3-0 60,111 220 189  93 120 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (190)      Brett Favre (203)      Mark Chmura (5-52)

DECEMBER (4-0)

1  at Minnesota Vikings (8-4)           W 27-11    10- 3-0 64,001 139 187  99 154 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (108)      Brett Favre (196)      Antonio Freeman (6-85)

7  at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4)        W 17- 6    11- 3-0 73,523  82 280  67  94 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (54)       Brett Favre (280)      Dorsey Levens (8-64)

14 at Carolina Panthers (7-7)           W 31-10    12- 3-0 70,887 218 240 140  32 Brett Favre         Aaron Hayden (86)        Brett Favre (256)      Antonio Freeman (10-166)

20 BUFFALO BILLS (6-9)                  W 31-21    13- 3-0 60,108 102 170  51 274 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (71)       Brett Favre (156)      Antonio Freeman (6-63

1997 POST-SEASON RESULTS (2-1)

JANUARY 1998 - NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

4  TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (11-6)         W 21- 7             60,327 118 171  90 173 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (112)      Brett Favre (190)      Antonio Freeman (4-75)

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

11 at San Francisco 49ers (14-3)       W 23-10             68,987 106 219  33 224 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (114)      Brett Favre (222)      Antonio Freeman (4-107)

SUPER BOWL XXXII

25 Denver Broncos (15-4)               L 24-31             68,912  95 255 179 123 Brett Favre         Dorsey Levens (90)       Brett Favre (256)      Antonio Freeman (9-126)

* - Overtime

1997 IN REVIEW

The Packers entered the 1997 season with an opportunity to win back-to-back Super Bowls for the second time - and came breathtakingly close to achieving their objective. Sweeping to a second consecutive 13-3 mark, their victory total equaling a club record, they primed for the playoffs by closing out the regular season with a five-game winning streak, their second of the campaign. Having earned home-field advantage for their initial postseason test by winning a third straight NFC Central Division title, they launched their bid in workmanlike fashion turning back Tampa Bay in a divisional playoff for the third straight time in the year, 21-7, thereby padding their all-time home postseason record to 12-0 and extending the longest such winning streak in pro football history. Faced with the need to win on the road to assure a return trip to the ultimate game, the Packers proceeded to smother the 49ers on a soggy, rain-swept afternoon in San Francisco's 3Com Park a week later, holding them without an offensive touchdown en route to a 23-10 victory in the NFC Championship Game and a berth in Super Bowl XXXII at San Diego. The latter subsequently proved to be a see-saw affair, one which found the Green and Gold trailing Denver at halftime, 17-14. Hopes of a repeat were high, however, when quarterback Brett Favre guided them 85 yards to a third touchdown and a 24-24 tie early in the fourth quarter. But the Broncos later scored with only 1:45 remaining and a last-minute Packers drive for a deadlock fell short when a Favre pass for tight end Mark Chmura was incomplete inside the Denver 20-yard line with only 28 seconds remaining, sealing a 31-24 Denver win.

BRETT FAVRE'S BACKUPS - PART TWO

FOR MORE FAVRE BACKUPS, GO TO THE 1996 PACKERS

* STEVE BONO (1997) - Bono played for Minnesota (1985-86), Pittsburgh (1987-88) and San Francisco (1989-93), before the 49ers traded him to Kansas City.  He led the Chiefs to a 13-3 record and was selected for the AFC Pro Bowl team in 1995. The Chiefs turned the starting job over to Elvis Grbac and released Bono in 1997. He signed as a free agent with the Packers and appeared in two games, completing 5 of 10 passes for 29 yards. He spent the 1998 season with the Rams and 1999 backing up Steve Beuerlein in Carolina before retiring.

* RICK MIRER (1998) - Mirer was selected second in the 1993 draft by the Seahawks. He was traded to the Bears (with a 4th-round pick) for a 1st-round choice. Mirer signed a three-year, $11.4 million contract with the Bears, but played sparingly and was cut in the beginning of the 1998 season. He signed with the Packers, but did not appear in a game. They traded him to the Jets in 1999, where he replaced the injured Vinny Testaverde. He spent 2000 and 2001 in San Francisco, then two season with Oakland. Mirer was a  starter for part of 2003. The Lions signed him in 2004, but he never threw a pass.

* MATT HASSELBECK (1999-2000) - Hasselbeck spent the 1998 season on the practice squad and then backed up Brett Favre for two seasons, throwing two touchdowns passes. He was traded to Seattle, and holds several franchise records, including leading the team to a franchise-best 13-3 record in 2005.

* AARON BROOKS (1999) - Brooks spent 1999 as a third-string backup, before the Packers traded him to New Orleans. He left the Saints after the 2005 season as the franchise leader in season and career touchdown passes. He spent an injury-riddled 2006 season with Oakland before retiring.

* DANNY WUERFFEL (2000) - The 1996 Heisman Trophy winner played seven seasons in the NFL for the Saints, Packers, Bears, and Redskins. He never threw a pass for the Packers. His pro highlight was winning the MVP award in World Bowl 2000 while playing for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europa.

* HENRY BURRIS (2001) - After a break-out season with Saskatchewan (2000), Burris spent several weeks as the Packers' third-string quarterback and on the practice squad in 2001. After spending 2002 with the Bears, he returned to the CFL, where he led Calgary to a 22-14 Grey Cup victory in 2008. At the time of his retirement Burris was third in all-time CFL passing yards (63,369) and passing touchdowns (373).

* CRAIG NALL (2002-05, 2007) - Nall started for the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe in 2003 and was the league's leading passer. In 2004, he played in 5 games for Green Bay, throwing for 4 touchdowns and a passer rating of 139.4. He went to Buffalo (2005) and Houston (2006), before he returned to Green Bay in December 2007. He went back to Houston in 2008, and then the UFL (2009).

* J.T. O'SULLIVAN (2004) - After two season in New Orleans, he was traded to the Packers in 2004, where he took a knee twice to end the game. Since then, he has been with the Bears (2005, 2007), Vikings (2005), Patriots (2006), Panthers (2006),  Lions (2007), 49ers (2008) and Bengals (2009).

* AARON RODGERS (2005-07) - Rodgers spent 2005 as the Packers' #2 quarterback, and saw time in a win over the Saints and in a loss to the Ravens. In November 2006, Rodgers broke his left foot against the Patriots while filling in for an injured Brett Favre and missed the remainder of the season. Rodgers replaced an injured Favre against the Cowboys in November 2007. Rodgers completed 18 passes for 201 yards. He also threw his first touchdown pass.

* INGLE MARTIN (2006) - Martin spent 2006 as the Packers 3rd-string quarterback. After being released, he was with the Titans (2007-08), Chiefs (2008), Broncos (2009) and UFL (2009). He never threw an NFL pass.

* TODD BOUMAN (2006) - He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 1997, and remained there until 2002. He also played for the Saints,  Packers, Rams, Ravens and Jaguars. He never appeared in a Packer game.

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

Don Beebe           82   WR 5-11 185 Chadron State    2  9 32 10 1996 UFA-Carolina

Steve Bono          13   QB 6- 4 212 UCLA             1 12 35  2 1997 FA-K City (1996)

Bucky Brooks        22   CB 6- 0 195 North Carolina   2  3 26  3 1996 FA-Buffalo (1994)

Robert Brooks       87   WR 6- 0 180 South Carolina   6  6 27 15 1992 Draft-3rd round

Gilbert Brown       93   NT 6- 2 345 Kansas           5  5 26 12 1993 FA-Minnesota

LeRoy Butler        36    S 6- 0 200 Florida State    8  8 29 16 1990 Draft-2nd round

Mark Chmura         89   TE 6- 5 253 Boston College   5  5 28 15 1992 Draft-6th round

Shannon Clavelle    91   DE 6- 2 287 Colorado         3  3 28  6 1995 FA-Buffalo

Mark Collins        26   CB 5-10 202 Cal St-Fullerton 1 12 33  1 1997 FA-K City (1996)

Chris Darkins       44   RB 6- 0 210 Minnesota        1  1 23 14 1996 Draft-4th round

Rob Davis           60   LS 6- 3 288 Shippensburg     1  2 28  7 1997 FA-Chicago (1996)

Tyrone Davis        81   TE 6- 4 245 Virginia         1  3 25 13 1997 Trade-NY Jets

Jeff Dellenbach     67    C 6- 6 300 Wisconsin        2 13 34 14 1996 FA-New England

Earl Dotson         72    T 6- 3 315 Texas A&I        5  5 26 13 1993 Draft-3rd round

Santana Dotson      71   DT 6- 5 285 Baylor           2  6 27 16 1996 UFA-Tampa Bay

Doug Evans          33   CB 6- 1 190 Louisiana Tech   5  5 27 15 1993 Draft-6th round

Brett Favre          4   QB 6- 2 225 S. Mississippi   6  7 27 16 1992 Trade-Atlanta

Paul Frase          97   DE 6- 5 267 Syracuse         1  9 32  8 1997 FA-Jack (1996)

Antonio Freeman     86   WR 6- 0 190 Virginia Tech    3  3 25 16 1995 Draft-3rd round

Bernardo Harris     54   LB 6- 2 243 North Carolina   3  3 25 16 1995 FA

Aaron Hayden        24   RB 6- 0 216 Tennessee        1  3 24 14 1997 FA-SD (1996)

William Henderson   30   FB 6- 1 248 North Carolina   3  3 26 16 1995 Draft-3rd round

Craig Hentrich      17    P 6- 3 200 Notre Dame       4  4 26 16 1993 FA-Jets (PS-1993)

Darius Holland      90   DT 6- 4 320 Colorado         3  3 23 12 1995 Draft-3rd round

Lamont Hollinquest  56   LB 6- 3 250 USC              2  4 26 16 1996 FA-Wash (1994)

Travis Jervey       32   RB 5-11 222 The Citadel      3  3 25 16 1995 Draft-5th round

Reggie Johnson      88   TE 6- 2 256 Florida State    2  7 29  4 1997 FA-KC (1996)

Seth Joyner         54   LB 6- 2 245 UTEP             1 12 32 11 1997 FA-Arizona (1996)

Randy Kinder        43   CB 6- 1 213 Notre Dame       1  1 22  6 1997 FA

George Koonce       53   LB 6- 1 243 East Carolina    6  6 28  4 1992 FA

Bob Kuberski        94   NT 6- 4 295 Navy             3  3 26 11 1993 Draft-7th round

Dorsey Levens       25   RB 6- 1 230 Georgia Tech     4  4 27 16 1994 Draft-5th round

Ryan Longwell        8    K 6- 0 185 California       1  1 23 16 1997 FA-San Francisco

Derrick Mayes       80   WR 6- 0 205 Notre Dame       2  2 23 12 1996 Draft-2nd round

Blaine McElmurry    38    S 6- 0 187 Montana          1  1 23  1 1997 FA

Keith McKenzie      95   DE 6- 3 255 Ball State       2  2 23 16 1996 Draft-7th round

John Michels        77    T 6- 7 304 USC              2  2 24  9 1996 Draft-1st round

Terry Mickens       88   WR 6- 0 201 Florida A&M      4  4 26 11 1994 Draft-5th round

Roderick Mullen     28   CB 6- 1 204 Grambling State  3  3 24 16 1995 FA

Craig Newsome       21   CB 6- 0 190 Arizona State    3  3 26  1 1995 Draft-1st round

Doug Pederson       18   QB 6- 3 215 NE Lousiana      2  3 29  1 1996 FA-Miami (1993)

Roell Preston       88   WR 5-10 195 Mississippi      1  3 25  1 1997 FA-Atlanta (1996)

Mike Prior          45    S 6- 0 208 Illinois State   5 12 33 16 1993 UFA-Indianapolis

Marco Rivera        62    G 6- 4 295 Penn State       1  1 25 14 1996 Draft-6th round

Eugene Robinson     41    S 6- 0 197 Colgate          2 13 34 16 1996 Trade-Seattle

Bill Schroeder      84   WR 6- 2 198 UW-La Crosse     1  1 26 15 1996 FA-New England

Darren Sharper      42   DB 6- 2 205 William & Mary   1  1 21 14 1997 Draft-2nd round

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

Wayne Simmons       59   LB 6- 2 248 Clemson          5  5 27  6 1993 Draft-1st round

Jermaine Smith      99   DT 6- 3 289 Georgia          1  1 25  9 1997 Draft-4th round

Aaron Taylor        73    G 6- 4 305 Notre Dame       3  3 24 14 1994 Draft-1st round

Jeff Thomason       83   TE 6- 4 250 Oregon           3  5 27 13 1995 FA- Cin (1993)

Adam Timmerman      63    G 6- 4 295 South Dakota St  3  3 26 16 1995 Draft-7th round

Ross Verba          78    T 6- 4 299 Iowa             1  1 23 16 1997 Draft-1st round

Reggie White        92   DE 6- 5 304 Tennessee        5 13 35 16 1993 UFA-Philadelphia

Bruce Wilkerson     64    T 6- 5 310 Tennessee        2 11 33 14 1996 FA-Jack (1995)

Gabe Wilkins        98   DE 6- 4 295 Gardner-Webb     4  4 25 16 1994 Draft-4th round

Brian Williams      51   LB 6- 1 240 USC              3  3 24 16 1995 Draft-3rd round

Gerald Williams     96   DL 6- 3 290 Auburn           1 12 33  4 1997 FA - Carolina

Tyrone Williams     37   CB 5-11 195 Nebraska         2  2 24 16 1996 Draft - 3rd round

Frank Winters       52    C 6- 3 300 West Illinois    6 11 33 13 1992 Plan B - K City

1997 PACKERS PRACTICE SQUAD

NAME                POS COLLEGE           HOW ACQUIRED

Ronnie Anderson      WR Allegheny College 1997 FA

Anthony Fogle        CB Oklahoma          1997 FA

Randy Kinder         CB Notre Dame        1997 FA

Jim Kitts            FB Ferrum            1997 FA - Miami

Steve Lee            FB Indiana           1997 FA - Baltimore

Billy Lyon           DE Marshall          1997 FA

Blaine McElmurry      S Montana           1997 FA

Joe Rowe             CB Virginia          1997 FA

Kyle Wachholtz       QB USC               1996 Draft - 7th round

Bold Italics - Made Active Roster 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

1997 PACKERS DRAFT (April 19-20, 1997)

RND-PCK NAME                POS COLLEGE       NOTES

1    30 Ross Verba            T Iowa 

2    60 Darren Sharper       DB William & Mary 

3    90 Brett Conway          K Penn State 

4   126 Jermaine Smith       DT Georgia 

5   160 Anthony Hicks        LB Arkansas 

6   193 Traded to Oakland

7a  213 Chris Miller         WR USC           (A) 

7b  231 Jerald Sowell        FB Tulane 

7c  240 Ronnie McAda         QB Army          (B) 

A-From Oakland B-Free agency compensatory pick

FREE AGENCY - UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

PLAYERS SIGNED - S Brad Edwards (Atlanta), LS Harper Le Bel (Atlanta), WR Qadry Ismail (Minnesota)

PLAYERS LOST - WR/KR Desmond Howard (Oakland)

FREE AGENCY - RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

PLAYERS LOST - None

TRANSISTION PLAYER DESIGNATION - None

Anchor 1

TRADES AND TRANSACTIONS

APR 20 - Traded a 1997 6th-round choice to OAKLAND for a 1997 7th-round draft choice (WR Chris Miller)

AUG 26 - Traded past considerations to NY JETS for TE Tyrone Davis

OCT 7 - Traded LB Wayne Simmons to KANSAS CITY for a 1998 5th-round draft choice (WR Corey Bradford)

bottom of page