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Best Green Bay Packers player to wear No. 19 had his career cut short by the Bears

Carl Mulleneaux played second fiddle to Don Hutson, but he certainly held his own before an injury cut his career short.
Green Bay Packers helmet; Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Green Bay Packers helmet; Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Welcome back to our series on the greatest Green Bay Packers players to wear every jersey number from No. 0 to No. 99.

We've officially reached the one-fifth point of this 100-piece event, as our 20th entry looks at those who've worn No. 19 for the Green & Gold over the last century-plus. And it's quite the lengthy list, so let's go ahead and get to it.

  • Al Baldwin, E
  • Tom Birney, K
  • Shaun Bodiford, WR
  • Jim Bowdoin, G
  • Carlos Brown, QB
  • Mike Bucchianeri, G
  • Rich Campbell, QB
  • Bobby Douglass, QB
  • Biren Ealy, WR
  • Duke Hanny, OT
  • Jamal Jones, WR
  • Frank Mayer, G
  • Jack McAuliffe, HB
  • Herdis McCrary, B
  • Bob McDougal, RB
  • Mike Michalske, G
  • Buster Mott, B
  • Carl Mulleneaux, E
  • Tom Nash, E
  • Wally Niemann, C
  • Ralph Olsen, DE
  • Steve Pisarkiewicz, QB
  • Ray Riddick, E
  • Bill Schroeder, WR
  • Equanimeous St. Brown, WR
  • Clayton Tune, QB
  • Daniel Whelan, P
  • Myles White, WR

Of the nearly 30 names on this particular list, there aren't many who genuinely stand out, and for those who buy into the "Approximate Value" metric from the fine folks at Pro Football Reference, we can tell you that the player among those who've donned this digit from 1960 on with the highest value is punter Daniel Whelan. So, that should tell you something about what we're looking at here.

That said, however, there are a couple of old-school guys here who ultimately found their way into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, those being offensive lineman Mike Michalske and end Carl Mulleneaux.

Now, had Michalske, who's the only player on this list to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, worn the number for more than just one of his eight seasons in Green Bay, he'd be the call here. But he didn't, so he's not.

As such, Mulleneaux, who sported No. 19 for each and every one of his six seasons, gets the nod here.

Carl Mulleneaux made two Pro Bowls with the Green Bay Packers before his career was cut short during a game against the Chicago Bears

After a year away from football following a solid career at Utah State, Mulleneaux, who'd originally signed with Green Bay in 1937 before opting out, signed a second contract with the Packers ahead of the 1938 season, as did his older brother, Lee, a center and wingback who'd already spent several years in the NFL with the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Cardinals.

Carl, who effectively played what we now know as a tight end, spent most of his rookie campaign as a backup but still made a name for himself by catching a pair of touchdowns during the regular season and adding another in the Packers' 23-17 loss to the Giants in the NFL Championship Game.

Mulleneaux was much more productive in 1939, earning a Pro Bowl selection while helping the Packers win their fifth title. He earned a second straight trip to the Pro Bowl in 1940 after recording six touchdown receptions, second in the entire NFL to only superstar teammate Don Hutson, who went for seven.

After another solid season in 1941, the Arizona native, like so many others, left the league to serve his country in World War II. He returned to the team in 1945, but his role had diminished. And in 1946, his career came to an abrupt end in the Packers' season opener, as he took a nasty shot to the head from the Chicago Bears' John Schiechl and was carted off the field.

With news obviously not as easy to get as it is today, reports swirled that Mulleneaux had actually died at the hospital that night. Things certainly weren't that serious, but the injury was severe enough that he never played again.

In the second game between the two teams in November 1946, he stood on the sidelines and taunted Schiechi and then took things a step further by confronting him outside the Chicago locker room. But Schiechi apparently explained that there was no intent to injure him, and the two went their separate ways. Mulleneaux officially retired two days later and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1984.

Other Green Bay Packers jersey honorees

This list will be updated daily until all 100 entries are complete, so be sure to check back in with Lombardi Ave for updates.

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