1953 Green Bay Packers season
Encyclopedia
The 1953 Green Bay Packers
season was their 33rd in the National Football League
. The club posted a 2-9-1 record under coaches Gene Ronzani
, Ray McLean
, and Hugh Devore
, earning them a last-place finish in the newly named Western Conference. Gene Ronzani coached the first 10 games and then was fired. McLean and Devore then co-coached the last 2 games of the season. This season also marked the first season that the Packers played at Milwaukee County Stadium
.
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
season was their 33rd in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. The club posted a 2-9-1 record under coaches Gene Ronzani
Gene Ronzani
Gene Ronzani was the second head coach of the Green Bay Packers. He coached the Packers from 1951 until 1953. He resigned with two games remaining in the 1953 season and was replaced on an interim basis by the tandem of Hugh Devore and Ray Scooter McLean....
, Ray McLean
Ray McLean
Ray "Scooter" McLean was a football player and coach at both the collegiate and professional levels, but may be best remembered for preceding Vince Lombardi as head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1958....
, and Hugh Devore
Hugh Devore
Hugh John Devore was a football player and coach whose close connection to the University of Notre Dame saw him serve in both capacities, while also seeing time as head coach at two other colleges as well as the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles.-Early career:Devore was born and...
, earning them a last-place finish in the newly named Western Conference. Gene Ronzani coached the first 10 games and then was fired. McLean and Devore then co-coached the last 2 games of the season. This season also marked the first season that the Packers played at Milwaukee County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events...
.
NFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Al Carmichael Al Carmichael Albert "Al" Reinhold Carmichael was an American collegiate and professional football player, a halfback, wide receiver, and kick returner.-Professional career:... |
Halfback Halfback (American football) A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... |
USC University of Southern California The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university... |
| 2 | 19 | Gil Reich | Back | Army United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City... /Kansas University of Kansas The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The... |
| 3 | 31 | Bill Forester Bill Forester George William Forester was a professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played eleven seasons for the Green Bay Packers and was selected to four Pro Bowls... |
Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... |
SMU Southern Methodist University Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church... |
| 4 | 43 | Gib Dawson Gib Dawson Gib Dawson is a former halfback in the National Football League.-Career:Dawson was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 1953 NFL Draft and played that season with the team. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Texas at Austin.-References:... |
Halfback | Texas University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin... |
| 5 | 55 | Roger Zatkoff Roger Zatkoff Roger Zatkoff is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1950 to 1952. He later played professional football for the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions .... |
Linebacker | Michigan University of Michigan The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan... |
| 6 | 67 | Bob Kennedy | Guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Wisconsin |
| 7 | 79 | Jim Ringo Jim Ringo James Stephen "Jim" Ringo was a professional American football player, a Hall of Fame center and coach. He was a ten time Pro Bowler during his career.... |
Center Center (American football) Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense... |
Syracuse Syracuse University Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College... |
| 8 | 91 | Lauren Hargrove | Back | Georgia University of Georgia The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States... |
| 9 | 103 | Floyd Harrawood | Tackle | Tulsa University of Tulsa The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by... |
| 10 | 115 | Vic Rimkus | Guard | Holy Cross College of the Holy Cross The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA... |
| 11 | 127 | Joe Johnson Joe Johnson (running back) Joe Johnson is a former professional American football player who played running back for seven seasons for the Green Bay Packers and Boston Patriots.-References:... |
Halfback | Boston College Boston College Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early... |
| 12 | 139 | Dick Curran | Back | Arizona State Arizona State University Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona... |
| 13 | 151 | Bob Orders | Center | Army/West Virginia West Virginia University West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;... |
| 14 | 163 | Charley Wrenn | Tackle | TCU Texas Christian University Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ... |
| 15 | 175 | Gene Helwig | Back | Tulsa |
| 16 | 187 | John Hlay John Hlay John Hlay is a former college football running back. He was a fullback and linebacker for the Ohio State University Buckeyes from 1950 to 1952.-High school:Hlay was an All-State football player at Niles McKinley High School... |
Fullback Fullback (American football) A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback... |
Ohio State Ohio State University The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States... |
| 17 | 199 | Bill Georges | End | Texas University of Texas at Austin The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin... |
| 18 | 211 | Jim Philee | Back | Bradley Bradley University Bradley University, founded in 1897, is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. It is a small institution with an enrollment of approximately 6,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students and a full-time faculty of approximately 350.... |
| 19 | 223 | Bill Lucky Bill Lucky William Henry Lucky Jr. is a former defensive tackle in the National Football League who played for the Green Bay Packers. Lucky played collegiate ball for Baylor University before being drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the 5th round of the 1954 NFL Draft. He played professionally for one... |
Defensive Tackle | Baylor Baylor University Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:... |
| 20 | 235 | John Harville | Back | TCU |
| 21 | 247 | Bob Conway | Back | Alabama University of Alabama The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States.... |
| 22 | 259 | Bill Turnbeaugh | Tackle | Auburn Auburn University Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts... |
| 23 | 271 | Bill Murray | End | American International American International College American International College is a private, co-educational liberal-arts college located in the Mason Square neighborhood of Springfield, Massachusetts.-History:... |
| 24 | 283 | James Haslam Jr. James Haslam Jr. James Arthur "Jim" Haslam II is an American businessman and philanthropist, best known as the founder of Pilot Corporation, which operates a chain of convenience stores and travel centers throughout the United States and Canada, and is one of the largest privately-owned companies in the United... |
Tackle | Tennessee University of Tennessee The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States... |
| 25 | 295 | Ike Jones Ike Jones Ike Jones is a producer and actor who is perhaps best known as the former husband of actress Inger Stevens... |
End | UCLA University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses... |
| 26 | 307 | George Bozanic | Back | USC |
| 27 | 319 | Jim McConaughey | End | Houston University of Houston The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of... |
| 28 | 331 | Zack Jordan | End | Colorado University of Colorado at Boulder The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado... |
| 29 | 343 | Henry O'Brien | Guard | Boston College |
| 30 | 355 | Al Barry Al Barry Allan Barry is a retired American football offensive lineman. He played college football at the University of Southern California and was drafted in the 30th round of the 1953 NFL Draft.... |
Guard | USC |
- Yellow indicates a future Pro BowlPro BowlIn professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection - Green indicates a future Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of FameThe Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
inductee
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 27, 1953 | Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 27-0 |
| 2 | October 4, 1953 | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 17-13 |
| 3 | October 11, 1953 | Los Angeles Rams | L 38-20 |
| 4 | October 18, 1953 | Baltimore Colts History of the Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls.... |
W 37-14 |
| 5 | October 24, 1953 | at Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
L 31-14 |
| 6 | October 31, 1953 | at Baltimore Colts History of the Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls.... |
W 35-24 |
| 7 | November 8, 1953 | at Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
T 21-21 |
| 8 | November 15, 1953 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 14-7 |
| 9 | November 22, 1953 | San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
L 37-7 |
| 10 | November 26, 1953 | at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 34-15 |
| 11 | December 6, 1953 | at San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
L 48-14 |
| 12 | December 12, 1953 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 33-17 |
Standings
| NFL Western Eastern and Western Divisions (NFL) 1933-69 The Eastern and Western Divisions of the National Football League, renamed the American and National Conferences in 1950 and then the Eastern and Western Conferences in 1953, were organized as a result of the disputed NFL championship of 1932... |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| Detroit Lions 1953 Detroit Lions season The 1953 Detroit Lions season resulted in the Lions winning their third NFL Championship.-Schedule:-Standings:-Roster:-NFL Championship Game:Detroit Lions 17, Cleveland Browns 16 Scoring*DET - Walker 1 yard run... |
10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | 271 | 205 | W-6 |
| San Francisco 49ers 1953 San Francisco 49ers season The 1953 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's fourth season in the NFL, and were coming off a 7-5-0 record in 1952.The 49ers would play consistent football all season long, never losing consecutive games throughout the season en route to a franchise best 9-3-0 record... |
9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | 372 | 237 | W-4 |
| Los Angeles Rams 1953 Los Angeles Rams season The 1953 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 16th year with the National Football League and the eighth season in Los Angeles.-Schedule:-Standings:... |
8 | 3 | 1 | .727 | 366 | 236 | W-2 |
| Chicago Bears 1953 Chicago Bears season The 1953 Chicago Bears season was their 34th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a dismal 3-8-1 record under head coach George Halas placing them in fourth place in the NFL's newly formed Western Conference.-Schedule:... |
3 | 8 | 1 | .273 | 218 | 262 | L-2 |
| Baltimore Colts 1953 Baltimore Colts season The 1953 Baltimore Colts season was the 1st season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1953 season with a record of 3 wins and 9 losses and finished fifth in the Western Conference. In 1953, a Baltimore-based group led by Carroll... |
3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | 182 | 350 | L-7 |
| Green Bay Packers | 2 | 9 | 1 | .182 | 200 | 338 | L-5 |
Roster
| Green Bay Packers roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
|
Offensive Linemen
William Afflis William Fritz Afflis , best known as Dick the Bruiser, was an American football player and professional wrestler.-Early life:... Buddy Brown William Brightie Brown was an American football guard in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at the University of Arkansas and was drafted in the nineteenth round of the 1951 NFL Draft.... Gus Cifelli August Blase "Gus" Cifelli was an American football offensive tackle who played for three College Football National Championship teams with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and won the 1952 NFL championship with the Detroit Lions... Dick Logan Dick Logan is a former guard in the National Football League.-Career:Logan was drafted in the eleventh round of the 1952 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and played two seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He played at the collegiate level at Ohio State University.-References:... Jim Ringo James Stephen "Jim" Ringo was a professional American football player, a Hall of Fame center and coach. He was a ten time Pro Bowler during his career.... Steve Ruzich Steve Ruzich is a former guard in the National Football League. He was drafted in the fourteenth round of the 1952 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns and would play three seasons with the Green Bay Packers.-References:... Dave Stephenson Dave Stephenson is a former guard in the National Football League. He was drafted in the fifteenth round of the 1950 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and played that season with the team. The next five seasons he would play with the Green Bay Packers.... Len Szafaryn Leonard Adolph Szafaryn was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the University of North Carolina and was drafted in the third round of the 1949 NFL Draft.... Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Bill Forester George William Forester was a professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played eleven seasons for the Green Bay Packers and was selected to four Pro Bowls... Bob Forte Robert Dominic "Bob" Forte was an American football halfback/defensive back/linebacker in the National Football League. He played for the Green Bay Packers .... Deral Teteak Deral Teteak was a guard and linebacker in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers. Teteak attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison.... Clayton Tonnemaker Clayton Tonnemaker is a former American football player who played linebacker for the Green Bay Packers from 1950 to 1954. Tonnemaker was an All-American at the University of Minnesota, where he played center. In 1980 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.... Roger Zatkoff Roger Zatkoff is a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1950 to 1952. He later played professional football for the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions .... Defensive Backs
Rookies and first-year players in italics |
||||||