Coach Bart Starr and Lynn Dickey were joined by other Packers from the 1982 team when they were honored at the Packers’ 2012 season-opener at Lambeau Field. They were joined by (players visible from the left) Del Rodgers (35), George Cumby (52), Ray Stachowitz (16), Johnny Gray (24), and Phillip Epps (85).
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

I remember the first time I saw Green Bay Packers quarterback Lynn Dickey throw the football while warming up on the sidelines of the Metrodome in Minneapolis prior to a game against the Vikings in 1983 and thinking, ‘good God, that guy can throw!’

Lynn Dickey waves to the crowd at Lambeau Field after being introduced as an alumni player last September.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

His tight 30-yard spirals were caught on the other end by wide receiver James Lofton, who snared them out of the air with sticky, sure hands. I always enjoyed watching Dickey play. When given time by his line, he was one of the best at picking apart a defensive backfield and it was on this date, April 2, in 1976 that the Green Bay Packers traded quarterback John Hadl, cornerback Ken Ellis and two draft choices to the Houston Oilers for Dickey.

Dickey had languished for five years on the sidelines behind quarterback Dan Pastorini after being selected in the third round (#56 overall) by the Oilers in the 1971 NFL Draft. At the time, the Packers had been looking for a consistent quarterback who could amp up the team’s offense. Since Bart Starr had retired in 1972, the Packers had gone without a decent quarterback who could lead the team – team officials pointed to Dickey as the player who could carry the team into the future.

Lynn Dickey shares a laugh with Jan Stenerud at last season’s Packers season opener when the 1982 Packers team was honored.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Between the time Starr retired and Dickey became a member of the team, the Packers had under center these forgettable quarterbacks: Scott Hunter, Jerry Tagge, Jim Del Gaizo, John Hadl, Jack Concannon, and Don Milan – not your list of hall of famers. As you could guess, the team was looking for a player who could push the offense down the field. Dickey would do so for the next 10 years, though there were a couple of seasons of injury mixed in.

In 105 games over that stretch of time, Dickey completed 1,592 passes in 2,831 attempts (56.2 percent), for 21,369 yards, and 133 touchdowns. The only downside of Dickey’s time with the Packers was his overall record. Though the franchise had some decent talent on those teams during the late 1970s and early- to mid-80s, the Packers managed a record of only 45-56-2.

But Dickey was always positive. Upon arrival after the trade to Green Bay, here’s what he said: ”No, I don’t feel any pressure on me because of the price. There’s always pressure, but if you don’t like that, you’re in the wrong business.”

Dickey would lead the Packers to the Playoffs in 1982 – the strike-shortened season. The Packers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of that playoff series, but would lose in the second round in a wild shootout in Dallas.

Coach Bart Starr and quarterback Lynn Dickey share a moment.

His best season came in 1983 when he completed 289 passes in 484 attempts (59.7 percent), for 4,458 yards and 32 touchdowns. Those were numbers that stood for years as Packers bests – that was until Aaron Rodgers started throwing the ball around the yard and broke the yardage number in 2011.

It wasn’t until after he retired in 1985 that his Packers records were fully appreciated. He has the highest completion percentage in a single game with a minimum of 20 attempts – he set that record against the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 13, 1981, when he completed 19-of-21 for 90.48 percent. And it wasn’t until Matt Flynn – yes, that Matt Flynn – threw for 460 yards on Jan. 1, 2012, that Dickey’s record for most yards in a single game (418) was broken. Dickey accomplished that record on Oct. 12, 1980, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Dickey also holds the highest average gain of 9.21 yards per attempt (400 or more attempts in a single season) – that’s an NFL record.

Had the Packers not swung the deal for Dickey in 1976, it’s difficult to say how far the franchise would have fallen. He brought consistency and an excitement back to Green Bay. Though the wins didn’t come while he was here, he was by far one of the top quarterbacks in franchise and league history during that span of time.

The Packers and Bucs line up in the Snow Bowl

Tooling around YouTube tonight, I came across a Green Bay Packers’ game that I remember well, but had not thought about for many years – the famed Snow Bowl that featured the likes of Lyn Dickey, Steve Young and about 36,000 no shows.

It’s got to be the only game that’s not featured a filled Lambeau Field in recent memory.

That’s because a foot of snow fell prior to the game and another five covered the field during the three hours the game was played.

This edited version of the original broadcast on Channel 7 out of Wausau even includes a crawler that announces another 8-14 inches of snow was being projected to fall during that night, so the fans traveling west from Green Bay probably had a tough go of it – if indeed there were any travelers.

I remember turning this noon game on and being flabbergasted it was even being played in those conditions. It sure was fun to watch and reliving it here was just as much fun – especially watching a very youthful Steve Young struggle as the Bucs quarterback.

Anyway, I hope you find watching this post as much fun as I had finding it and bringing it to you.

Lynn Dickey, wearing his number 10 jersey, didn't get back on the field from his broken leg until late in the 1979 season.

One of my favorite Packers quarterbacks of all time, Lynn Dickey, was known for his pin-point accuracy and his ability to throw the long ball – especially to receivers like Hall of Famer James Lofton, JJ Jefferson and tight end Paul Coffman.

However, Dickey was also the oft-injured player whose inability to stay on the field, irritated both fans and team personnel with his knack for getting hurt.

The story below presented by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame (one of my favorite websites, by the way) details one of those injuries that affected Dickey and the Packers during the height of his career.

Though the statement by doctors at the time that the removal of a plate from Dickey’s leg wouldn’t affect the weight-bearing abilities of the Packers’ quarterback, it clearly did. Dickey didn’t make it back to the field until well into the 1979 season.

In fact, Dickey played in just five games that season, starting three of them. He was 60-119 for 787 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions. Of course, Dickey went on to some very productive seasons after 1979, including 1983 when he threw for more than 4,400 yards – a longstanding record for the Packers.

But for the story about his leg injury in 1979, check out the posting by the Hall of Fame below.

Lynn Dickey Undergoes Surgery

July 5, 1978 – Packers quarterback Lynn Dickey is reported to be doing well after surgery to remove a plate from his injured left leg. “The plate was removed and Lynn is doing well,” Dr. James Nellen, the team’s orthopedic consultant, says. “The only pain he has is from the incision, and it will not affect the weight bearing or strength of the leg.” Dickey broke his leg in the ninth game of the 1977 season against the Rams. Unfortunately for Dickey, all does not go well and he does not return to action until well into the 1979 campaign.

Lynn Dickey played 10 years for the Green Bay Packers

One of my all-time favorite players was Lynn Dickey, the rifle-armed quarterback who connected so many times with Hall of Famer James Lofton, tight end Paul Coffman and and plethora of running backs.

When the Packers announced on this date back in 1986 that they would be releasing all rights to the quarterback it not only shocked me, but set the Packers back several years. Randy Wright took over for the veteran QB and we all know how that all turned out. It wasn’t until the Majik Man, Don Majkowski, took over under center that that the Packers finally started to find the win column again.

Courtesy of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame is this piece about Dickey’s release … enjoy.

Packers Give Up Rights to Lynn Dickey

June 11, 1986 – The Green Bay Packers announce they have notified the NFL that they are relinquishing all rights to veteran quarterback Lynn Dickey. The decision to cut ties with Dickey comes down to money, and it occurs a little more than 10 years after he was obtained in a trade (with the Houston Oilers) to bring stability to the quarterback position. “We just had to make a decision, based on what his worth to us is,” Packers coach Forrest Gregg says. “I don’t think 110 percent of his salary is a fair figure.” Dickey, 36, notified the team that he would re-sign for that amount ($935,000), but the price tag was well above the $215,000 the Packers reportedly offered him in February to retain his rights.