Green Bay Packers: 50 greatest players in franchise history

Greatest players in Green Bay Packers history: 42. Verne Lewellen

Running back Verne Lewellen spent early all of his nine-year NFL career with the Packers organization. While he initially starred for his hometown Nebraska Cornhuskers in college, Lewellen had a shot at being an MLB pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates before an arm injury brought an end to that.

But we know Lewellen for his productive NFL career with the Packers in the 1920s. Lewellen first joined Green Bay in 1924 and would stick with the Packers through the 1926 season. He would briefly be loaned out to the NFL New York Yankees at the start of the 1927 NFL season before returning to Green Bay three games later. Lewellen would retire in 1932 with the Packers.

Beginning in 1926, Lewellen would be named to four-straight All-Pro teams. Starting in 1929, Lewellen would play on three-straight NFL championship teams in Green Bay. Lewellen would end up with 37 career rushing touchdowns with the Packers. Post-playing career, Lewellen would practice law and briefly serve as a district attorney in Brown County, Wisconsin.

After retiring from law, Lewellen joined the Packers’ front office. He eventually became the organization’s general manager in 1954, serving in that capacity through 1958. Lewellen is a member of both the Packers Hall of Fame and the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame. However, Canton evades Lewellen. He will likely remain in the Hall of Very Good indefinitely.