1978 Green Bay Packers season
Encyclopedia
The 1978 Green Bay Packers
season was their 58th season in the National Football League
. The club posted a 8-7-1 record under coach Bart Starr
, earning them a second place finish in the NFC Central
division. This marked the first season the Packers were above .500 since 1972.
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 58th season 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 8-7-1 record under coach Bart Starr
Bart Starr
Bryan Bartlett "Bart" Starr is a former professional American football player and coach. Wearing #15, he was the quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971 and head coach from 1975 to 1983, compiling a record of 52–76–3 ....
, earning them a second place finish in the NFC Central
NFC North
The NFC North is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference, based in the Upper Midwest region of the United States...
division. This marked the first season the Packers were above .500 since 1972.
NFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | James Lofton James Lofton James David Lofton is a former American football player and coach. He is a former American football coach for the San Diego Chargers but is best known for his years in the National Football League as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers , Los Angeles Raiders , the Buffalo Bills... |
Wide Receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
Stanford Stanford University The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San... |
| 2 | 34 | Michael Hunt | 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... |
Minnesota University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557... |
| 3 | 62 | Estus Hood Estus Hood Estus Hood was an American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at Illinois State University.... |
Defensive Back Defensive back In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of... |
Illinois State Illinois State University Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest... |
| 5 | 116 | Mike Douglass Mike Douglass (American football) Michael Reese Douglass is a former American football player. He played outside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers and the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League. He ranks third in the lists of tackles made by a Packers player.... |
Linebacker | San Diego State San Diego State University San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system... |
| 5 | 128 | Willie Wilder | Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... |
Florida University of Florida The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906... |
| 6 | 144 | Leotis Harris Leotis Harris Leotis Harris is a former American football offensive guard in the NFL. He played his entire six year career for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the University of Arkansas. Harris is also a member of the Arkansas Razorbacks All-Century Team.... |
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.... |
Arkansas University of Arkansas The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in... |
| 7 | 172 | George Plasketes | Linebacker | Ole Miss University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the... |
| 8 | 200 | Dennis Sproul Dennis Sproul Dennis Sproul is a former quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted in the eighth round of the 1978 NFL Draft and played that season with the team.-References:... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Arizona State Arizona State University Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona... |
| 9 | 228 | Keith Myers | Quarterback | Utah State Utah State University Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.... |
| 10 | 256 | Larry Key Larry Key Larry Key was a Canadian Football League running back for the British Columbia Lions from 1978 through 1982. He was an All-Star in 1979 and 1981.... |
Running Back | Florida State Florida State University The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation... |
| 10 | 259 | Mark Totten | 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... |
Florida |
| 11 | 284 | Terry Jones Terry Jones (defensive tackle) Terry Wayne Jones is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played his entire career from 1978 to 1984 for the Green Bay Packers. His son played tight end in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers-External links:*... |
Defensive Tackle | Alabama University of Alabama The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States.... |
| 12 | 312 | Eason Ramson Eason Ramson Eason Ramson is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and the Buffalo Bills... |
Tight End Tight end The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be... |
Washington State Washington State University Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university... |
- Green indicates 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 | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 3, 1978 | 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... |
W 13-7 | |
| 2 | September 10, 1978 | New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
W 28-17 | |
| 3 | September 17, 1978 | Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 28-3 | |
| 4 | September 24, 1978 | at San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 24-3 | |
| 5 | October 1, 1978 | 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... |
W 35-14 | |
| 6 | October 8, 1978 | 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... |
W 24-14 | |
| 7 | October 15, 1978 | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
W 45-28 | |
| 8 | October 22, 1978 | at Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
L 21-7 | |
| 9 | October 29, 1978 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
W 9-7 | |
| 10 | November 5, 1978 | at Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 10-3 | |
| 11 | November 12, 1978 | Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
L 42-14 | |
| 12 | November 19, 1978 | at Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 16-3 | |
| 13 | November 26, 1978 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
T 10-10 | |
| 14 | December 3, 1978 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
W 17-7 | |
| 15 | December 10, 1978 | 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... |
L 14-0 | |
| 16 | December 17, 1978 | at Los Angeles Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
L 31-14 | |
Standings
| NFC Central | ||||||
| Minnesota Vikings 1978 Minnesota Vikings season 1978 was the 18th year of season play for the Minnesota Vikings and the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The Vikings finished with a record of eight wins, seven losses, and one tie.-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:... |
8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 294 | 306 |
| Green Bay Packers | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 249 | 269 |
| Detroit Lions 1978 Detroit Lions season The 1978 Detroit Lions season was the 47th season in franchise history.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings:-Roster:-References:***... |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 290 | 300 |
| Chicago Bears 1978 Chicago Bears season The 1978 Chicago Bears season was their 59th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 7-9 record in the first year of Coach Neill Armstrong, yet another below .500 record in the 1970s.-Schedule:-Standings:... |
7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 253 | 274 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1978 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season The 1978 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on a 2-12 season. Since their two 1977 victories came in the last two games of the season, they entered the 1978 season with the longest active winning streak in the NFC Central. The Buccaneers entered the season with new... |
5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 241 | 259 |
Roster
| Green Bay Packers roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Derrel Gofourth Derrel Gofourth was one of the most decorated offensive linemen in Oklahoma State University history in 1974-1976. He played in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers from 1977 to 1982 before moving on to the San Diego Chargers from 1983 to 1984.-External links:*... Leotis Harris Leotis Harris is a former American football offensive guard in the NFL. He played his entire six year career for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the University of Arkansas. Harris is also a member of the Arkansas Razorbacks All-Century Team.... Melvin Jackson (American football) Melvin Jackson is a former guard in the National Football League.-Career:Jackson was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the twelfth round of the 1976 NFL Draft and played five seasons with the team. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Southern California.-References:... Greg Koch Greg Koch is a former American football tackle and guard who played eleven seasons in the National Football League, mainly with the Green Bay Packers. In 2010, Koch was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame... Rick Nuzum Rick Nuzum is a former center in the National Football League. He first played with the Los Angeles Rams during the 1977 NFL season. The following season he played with the Green Bay Packers.-References:... Gerald Skinner Gerald Skinner is a former player in the National Football League. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1977 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots and later played with the Green Bay Packers during the 1978 NFL season.-References:... Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Francis Chesley -Career:Chesley was drafted in the sixth round of the 1978 NFL Draft and was a member of the Green Bay Packers that season. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Wyoming.-References:... Mike Douglass (American football) Michael Reese Douglass is a former American football player. He played outside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers and the San Diego Chargers in the National Football League. He ranks third in the lists of tackles made by a Packers player.... Jim Gueno -Career:Gueno was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the ninth round of the 1976 NFL Draft and played with the team for five seasons. He played at the collegiate level at Tulane University.-References:... Daniel Johnson (American football) Daniel Johnson is a former linebacker in the National Football League. Johnson was drafted in the fourth round of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He would play that season with the Green Bay Packers.... Paul Rudzinski Paul Rudzinski is a former linebacker in the National Football League. He played three seasons with the Green Bay Packers.-References:... Gary Weaver Gary Lynn Weaver is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 7th round of the 1973 NFL Draft. He played college football at Fresno State.... Defensive Backs
Special Teams
Practice Squad Rookies in italics |
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