Green Bay Packers countdown to NFL football season 2017 – #85, Max McGee
Max McGee, a Green Bay Packers wide receiver, was one of those players of the 1960s who helped the franchise to multiple championships under Vince Lombardi, but he was one of the outstanding players who usher in the modern era of football.
Here at Lombardi Ave, we are taking the time now to count down the days to the start of the 2017 season by looking at the numbers from 99-to-1 and the players who wore those jerseys.
Today we stop at #85 – a jersey worn by 25 in total since 1950 – some well-known and highly successful players.
The team’s history – one that we all know is well worth remembering and writing about – is the focus at this time of the offseason – at least for us.
That’s the goal here – to remember many of the dozens of players who have been counted as a professionals in Packers News.
More from Lombardi Ave
- Packers: Picks in NFL.com mock draft would be a home run
- Packers salary cap update following second week of free agency
- Packers’ cornerback depth chart after second week of free agency
- Packers’ edge rusher depth chart after second week of free agency
- Packers’ tackle depth chart after second week of free agency
Today, we highlight a player who tended to bend the rules, but came out on the sweet end because of his heroics.
Max McGee is probably most well known for the fact that he stayed out all night partying before Super Bowl I, thinking he wouldn’t play.
That was before injury beset the Packers early in the game and forced McGee on the field.
Not only did the hung over wide receiver play, but he caught two touchdown passes in the Packers win over the Kansas City Chiefs. He also caught the first touchdown pass in Super Bowl history on that historic day.
But there have been plenty of really good players to have worn #85 for the Packers, including Phil Epps and Greg Jennings – even, Wesley Walls and Jeff Query also had pretty good success wearing the uniform for the Packers.
Today we focus on Max McGee, a player who went on to become a successful businessman and eventually the color commentator on the Packers Radio Network for many years..
So, how can we not focus on Greg Jennings, who spent seven seasons with the Packers? His statistics are undeniable; but the way Jennings left Green Bay has left a sour taste in all Packers mouths, so we will talk about one of the truly greats in McGee.
The number is currently worn by tight end Beau Sandland, a rookie out of Montana State.
So when the Seattle Seahawks visit Green Bay to play the Packers in the kickoff to the start of the NFL season Sept. 10, we’ll know a little bit more about the team’s history and many of the players who have worn the Green and Gold.
The countdown, from the beginning:
- Number 99
- Number 98
- Number 97
- Number 96
- Number 95
- Number 94
- Number 93
- Number 92
- Number 91
- Number 90
- Number 89
- Number 88
- Number 87
- Number 86
Many have passed through Green Bay – players who don’t necessarily stand out in the statistics, but still had some sort of impact on the franchise.
This focus is on #85 …