Green Bay Packers: Who wore #81 best?

With 81 days left until the start of the Green Bay Packers NFL season, our countdown to the big day, Sunday, Sept. 11, when the Packers travel to Jacksonville to take on the upstart Jaguars, we will focus on the the number that represents the days remaining … 81.

by John Maxymuk. The book chronicles every Packers jersey number and provides a strong background of information about Packers players and their jersey numbers.

Our focus yesterday was on number 82 – Lionel Aldridge.

Today, we take a look at #81 – a number that has been worn by some players who contributed during their time in Green Bay and had decent careers – guys like Tyrone Davis, Perry Kemp, Rich McGeorge, Anthony Morgan, and Marv Fleming.

But it was one player who ignited the 1996 Green Bay Packers and helped lead them to the Super Bowl XXXI title that we highlight today – Desmond Howard.

Howard played just one season with Green Bay, though he would come back for an unsuccessful run with the team in 1999 (when he wore #82). But that one season was tremendous.

How can we possibly forget that season when the 5-9 wide receiver turned the Packers special teams around and consistently provided the big plays that year?

Of course we can’t.

He will be a legend in the long history of the organization, helping the Packers return to glory after more than two decades of failure.

So, let’s take a closer look at Desmond Howard …

Next: Howard runs away with MVP award