Bradley Ruzicka

Headline: The Green Bay Packers close out the glory years by missing second straight post-season as age and injuries continue to take their toll

Regular Season Record: 8 – 6 (Third Place NFL Western Conference Central Division)

Offseason Highlights: Early in 1969, one of the most successful eras in Green Bay Packers history came to an end. After ten years, Vince Lombardi left the Packers to become head coach, general manager, and part owner of the Washington Redskins. According to David Maraniss in his book, When Pride Still Mattered, Lombardi started preparing for his departure in late November 1968 upon returning from a road win over the Redskins. During the trip, Lombardi had spent time with Washington Owner Edward Bennett Williams. At one point, while watching the game from Williams’ booth, he was heard to say, “Washington is a really great place, isn’t it? This is where it all happens.”

One year removed from stepping down as head coach, Lombardi was reported to have become restless as Green Bay’s general manager. He longed for a return to coaching. When Williams offered him a lucrative deal to leave the Packers and join the Redskins, Lombardi decided to accept. He first met the coach six years earlier after Green Bay won their second straight league title in 1962 when Williams was still a minority owner. From that time on, as he gradually took control of the franchise from longtime owner George Preston Marshall, Williams pursued Lombardi. Ben Bradlee, Washington Post editor and a devoted friend of Williams, said, “Lombardi was the first guy Eddie loved.”

He tried to hire the three-time NFL championship coach before the 1966 season but had no stock to offer. Lombardi turned him down and Williams was forced to settle for former Cleveland Browns quarterback Otto Graham. But the Redskins owner persisted. The two met clandestinely after Lombardi stepped down as head coach in early 1968. This time, Williams courted him with everything he had. Stock in the team, unlimited power as general manager and coach, the biggest office, and access to some of the most powerful people in the world. Lombardi listened. The coach wanted stock, dearly missed the players, and needed to be needed. In addition, he was addicted to success.

A couple of days after the draft, he met privately with Williams and finalized their deal. According to Maraniss, “the ability of Lombardi to better himself as a shareholder is what would allow him to break his Green Bay contract, which still had five years to run.” Despite a clause barring him from coaching another team for five years, the Executive Committee released Lombardi without restriction on February 7. Second year head coach Phil Bengtson would now take on the general manager title despite Lombardi’s recommendation to turn it over to Personnel Director Pat Peppler, who had worked closely with him on player decisions for years. But the committee decided otherwise.

After a disappointing 1968 season, Green Bay had the 12th pick in the first round of the 1969 NFL Draft, held shortly before Lombardi’s departure as general manager. Despite the availability of players such as Rookie of the Year Calvin Hill as well as future Hall of Famers Roger Wehrli and Ted Hendricks, Bengtson drafted 6′ 6″, 280 lb. Rich Moore, an unheralded defensive tackle from Villanova, over the objections of both his general manager and personnel director. Although disappointed with the pick, Lombardi felt he could no longer remain involved, telling a dismayed Peppler, “I’ve got to stay out of it. It’s Phil’s team.” Moore totaled just six sacks with the Packers and was traded in 1971.

“Rich Moore was a disaster. Bengston fell in love with his size,” said Peppler. Aside from selecting running back Dave Hampton with the 220th overall pick, 1969 was one of the team’s more forgettable drafts of the decade. Hampton played just three years for Green Bay before being traded to the Atlanta Falcons after the 1971 season. As a running back, he had only modest numbers; 195 carries for 787 yards, 25 catches for 276 yards, and 10 total touchdowns. But Hampton was a force on kickoff returns with 74 for 2,084 yards (28.2 Y/R), scoring three touchdowns. He then blossomed in Atlanta, rushing for 3,482 yards on 882 attempts and 20 total touchdowns in his last five years.

Overall, the third and final year of the NFL-AFL common draft prior to the 1970 merger saw the selection of six future Pro Football Hall of Famers, starting with the first overall choice, Heisman Trophy winning halfback O.J. Simpson from the University of Southern California (Buffalo Bills). Also included was the 4th pick, North Texas Defensive Tackle Joe Greene (Pittsburgh Steelers), the 19th pick, Missouri Cornerback Roger Wehrli (St. Louis Cardinals), the 33rd pick, Miami Linebacker Ted Hendricks (Baltimore Colts), the 93rd selection, Grambling State Wide Receiver Charlie Joiner (Houston Oilers), and the 135th pick, Florida A&M Cornerback Ken Riley (Cincinnati Bengals), in the sixth round.

Lastly, for the second straight year, the New Orleans Saints and the New York Giants switched divisions, returning to the original 1967 alignment. The Giants rejoined the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns in the Century Division. Meanwhile, the Saints, now in their third year, again became part of the Capitol Division along with the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys. The Western Conference’s Coastal Division (Baltimore Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers) and Central Division (Green Bay, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions) once more were unchanged from the previous season.

Regular Season Highlights: The Green Bay Packers finished the NFL’s 50th regular season with an 8-6 record, the team’s tenth winning record in eleven years. However, they once again missed the playoffs with a second consecutive third place finish. The Packers ended the season four games behind the 12-2 Minnesota Vikings and a game and a half behind the 9-4-1 Detroit Lions in the Western Conference Central Division. The Vikings controlled the division from third week on. Meanwhile, the Lions had their best season since finishing 11-3 in 1962, their first winning record in five years, and a grudging defense that allowed just 188 points, second only to Minnesota’s 133 points.

The harsh reality for Phil Bengston was that a growing number of players from Green Bay’s glory years were leaving the team. In early 1969, three veteran offensive linemen retired. This included two future Hall of Famers, five-time All-Pro guard Jerry Kramer and six-time All-Pro tackle Forrest Gregg, 11- and 12-year veterans respectively. The third, 11-year tackle Bob Skoronski, was a 1966 Pro Bowler. The left tackle and guard positions would now be manned by young Francis Peay and Bill Lueck. Unfortunately, the talent level of the newcomers simply was not as good. This despite the fact Green Bay had a top ten selection, and two first round picks, in each of the past four drafts.

More changes were in the works prior to the start of the new season. Long time backup quarterback Zeke Bratkowski retired after 13 years in the NFL, having compiled a 4-3-1 record starting in place of an injured Bart Starr during his six seasons with the Packers. Fifth year safety Tom Brown, hero of the 1966 NFL Championship Game, was traded on February 1 to the Washington Redskins for a 1971 fifth round draft pick. Eighth year defensive tackle Ron Kostelnik was traded to the Baltimore Colts in August for a 1970 fourth round pick. Although Gregg ultimately decided to unretire prior to the start of the season, the exodus of Lombardi era players accelerated as the new decade dawned.

Despite these losses, Green Bay went into the season with the theme, The Pack Will Be Back. Many felt last year’s losing record was an exception after nine consecutive winning seasons. Initially, fans had reason to be optimistic. Green Bay was 5-2 at mid-season. This included a dominating win in the home opener over Chicago, 17-0, as well as road victories over Detroit, 28-17, in the fourth week and the Atlanta Falcons, 28-10, two weeks later. Narrow wins over the San Francisco 49ers, 14-7, in Milwaukee County Stadium and on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers, 38-34, during the second and seventh week respectively left the team just a game behind division leading Minnesota.

Against the 49ers, it took an 87-yard kickoff return by rookie Dave Hampton early in the third period and a goal line interception by cornerback Herb Adderley in the game’s final minutes to seal the victory. Meanwhile, third year running back Travis Williams had his best game of the season in a come from behind win over Pittsburgh, totaling 314 yards. He first returned a punt 83 yards for a second quarter touchdown. Williams then took a kickoff 96 yards for a second touchdown in the third period. He scored his third and last touchdown on a 2-yard fourth quarter run. For the game, Williams gained 164 and 83 kick and punt return yards respectively in addition to 48 rushing and 19 receiving yards.

But missed opportunities and injuries ultimately took their toll. Green Bay faded down the stretch, losing three straight in November. In the eighth week against the Colts, the offense was held to only two field goals in a 14-6 road loss. The next week, kicker Mike Mercer missed two field goals in a 9-7 home loss to the Vikings, all but eliminating the Packers from title contention. The game’s only touchdown was an 85-yard interception return by safety Doug Hart. In the tenth week, quarterback Bart Starr was lost for the remainder of the season early in the first period of a 16-10 loss to the Lions at Lambeau Field, dropping the team to 5-5, four behind soon to be division champion Minnesota.

Yet, even with Green Bay’s playoff hopes gone and despite the loss of their long-time starting quarterback, the Packers finished the season strong. They won three of their last four after reserve quarterback Don Horn replaced the injured Starr. Included were convincing victories over the New York Giants, 20-10, and Chicago, 21-3, in the 11th and 13th week respectively. But it was too little, too late. Plagued once more by issues with his throwing arm, Starr, now in his 14th season, started only nine games for the second straight year. With Bratkowski’s retirement, Horn was now Starr’s backup after spending all but the final game of the 1968 season as a member of the National Guard.

Statistically, both quarterbacks had good seasons. Starr led the league with a 62.2 completion percentage (92 of 148) for 1,161 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. The 35-year-old also led the NFL for the second consecutive year with a QBR of 89.9. Horn completed 89 of 168 (53.0%) for 1,505 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 11 picks. His 78.1 QBR was eighth overall. The third-year veteran flashed potential, going 4-1 as a starter after being active for just four games the prior two years. His most impressive game to date came in the season finale against the St. Louis Cardinals when he threw for five touchdowns, tying Cecil Isbell’s 1942 single game record for touchdown passes.

In total, the former first round pick completed 22 of 31 passes for 410 yards and a QBR of 139.4 in a 45-28 Packer victory. His record setting performance gave fans hope he’d one day soon replace the aging Starr as Green Bay’s franchise quarterback. Tenth year wideout Carroll Dale, in his fifth season with the Packers, continued his stellar play. He led the team with 45 receptions for 879 yards (19.5 yards per catch) and 6 touchdowns. The two-time Pro Bowler finished 4th in the NFL in yards per catch and 8th in receiving yards. Fellow starter Boyd Bowler, finishing his 11th and final season in Green Bay, was second with 31 catches for 477 yards (15.4 yards per reception) and 4 touchdowns.

Marv Fleming, also in his final season with the Packers after seven years as their tight end, rounded out the receiving corps with 18 catches for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns. Williams started 11 games, leading the team in rushing with 536 yards on 129 attempts (4.2 yards per carry). He was followed by Hampton, with 80 carries for 365 yards (4.6 yards per rush). The pair also combined for 42 receptions, 491 receiving yards, and 13 total touchdowns. In addition to leading Green Bay in rushing, both finished among the NFL’s leaders on special teams. Hampton, a sixth-round selection, returned 22 kicks for 582 yards. His 26.5 yards per kickoff return average was fourth highest in the league.

Williams, a 1967 fourth-round pick, returned 21 kicks for 517 yards and 8 punts for 189 yards, averaging 24.6 and 23.6 yards per return respectively. He finished fifth overall in total return yards with 706. Combined, the two had three returns for touchdowns. Their performance eclipsed running backs Donny Anderson and Jim Grabowski. Both former first round selections had mediocre seasons after powering the Packers ground attack in 1968. Anderson and Grabowski started only eight games each, ending with 288 and 261 yards respectively, totaling just 4 touchdowns. Overall, Green Bay’s offense ended the year 8th in rushing yards (1,692) and a disappointing 11th in passing yards (2,376).

Once again, Green Bay’s kicking game struggled. Mercer, a holdover from last season, converted all 23 of his extra points but just 5 of 17 field goal attempts (29.4%) before he was released after November’s loss to the Lions. Booth Lusteg, playing with his fourth team in four years, went 1 of 5 over four games to finish the season. Combined, the two kickers made only 27.3% of their field goals, the worst percentage in the NFL and one of the worst in league history, for 53 points. Williams led the team in scoring with nine total touchdowns (54 points). Anderson was again the punter, averaging 40.2 yards per kick. The Packers scored 269 total points, 12th overall and the lowest total since 1959.

However, as had been the case throughout the 1960s, the Packers had one of the top defenses in the league. Green Bay ranked second in passing yards (1,845) and third in points allowed (221). They did slip against the run, ending 12th overall with 1,982 yards allowed. Two future Hall of Famers were named All-Pro. For Adderley, it was his fifth All-Pro designation in nine seasons, his final as a Packer. Linebacker Dave Robinson, in his seventh year, was selected for the second time. Three players were also named to the Pro Bowl, including Robinson. In total, despite age and attrition, youngsters such as Horn and Williams, along with a solid defense, were reasons for cautious optimism.

Minnesota finished with the league’s best record, winning a second division title in two years. The second-best record (11-2-1) again belonged to the Dallas Cowboys, winners of the Eastern Conference Capitol Division for the fourth consecutive season. The 10-3-1 Cleveland Browns won a third straight Eastern Conference Century Division title. For the second time in three seasons, the Los Angeles Rams won the Western Conference Coastal Division with an 11-3 record while their closest rival, the 1968 Champion Colts, finished a disappointing 8-5-1. In all cases, the division races were uneventful. The four winners assumed first place no later than the fifth week and never gave up their lead.

The closest races were in the Western Conference, where the Vikings and Rams won their respective divisions by 2½ games over Detroit and Baltimore. Still, both teams had clinched with three games to play. As home field for the playoffs continued to be rotated and was not determined by a team’s record, the division winners had nothing to play for over the regular season’s last month other than Los Angeles’ quest for a perfect record. That quest ended early when the Rams lost to Minnesota on December 4. Arguably, the biggest story was Lombardi’s triumphant return as the Washington Redskins head man. The coach led his team to a 7-5-2 record, their first winning season since the mid-50s.

It was the same winning percentage that Lombardi had during his first season in Green Bay. However, according to David Maraniss, he was disappointed, saying. “I thought we could have had a better won-lost record.” Maraniss continued, “In Green Bay, the talent was already there. By his second season he was taking the Packers to the [title] game. That seemed less likely now; it was a more competitive league, with smarter coaches, better scouting and twenty-six teams.” In private, despite his desire to coach again prior to the season, Lombardi began voicing his doubts about the wisdom of having returned. Unfortunately, football fans will never know what he could have done for the Redskins.

Los Angeles Quarterback Roman Gabriel won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award while Minnesota Head Coach Bud Grant won Coach of the Year. Dallas Running Back Calvin Hill and Pittsburgh Defensive Tackle Joe Greene won Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year respectively. Now in his eighth season, Gabriel led the league with 24 touchdown passes, completing 217 of 399 (54.4%) for 2,549 yards, 7 interceptions, and a QBR of 86.8. Hill, picked 24th overall from Yale, finished with 942 yards on 204 attempts (4.6 yards per carry) and 8 total touchdowns. Greene, the fourth overall pick from unheralded North Texas University, led the Steelers with 9.5 sacks, 10th overall.

Post Season Highlights: The Minnesota Vikings, winners of the Central Division, took on the Los Angeles Rams, winners of the Coastal Division, at Metropolitan Stadium for the Western Conference title. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys, winners of the Capital Division, hosted the Cleveland Browns, winners of the Century Division, in the Cotton Bowl for the Eastern Conference title. The survivors would play for the NFL title and the right to participate in Super Bowl IV. Again, playoff sites had been decided prior to the season. This year, the Western Conference Central Division winner would get home field advantage. As a result, the road to the Super Bowl would go through Minnesota.

On December 27, Minnesota and Los Angeles met in a rematch of their regular season contest, a 20-13 Viking victory. This time, they’d determine who’d play for the NFL title. For a second time, Minnesota emerged triumphant in another close, hard-fought match-up despite turning the ball over three times, including two interceptions, to only one for the Rams. However, that single interception in the fourth quarter proved critical to the outcome. The closeness of the contest was reflected in the statistics; 19 first downs for Los Angeles vs. 18 for Minnesota, 275 total yards for the Vikings vs. 255 for the Rams, and three sacks for “The Purple People Eaters” vs. two for “The Fearsome Foursome”.

The Rams opened up a 7-0 first quarter lead with a 3-yard touchdown pass from MVP quarterback Roman Gabriel to rookie tight end Bob Klein after recovering a fumble on Minnesota’s 45-yard line. The Vikings tied the score at 7-7 with a 1-yard touchdown run by Dave Osborn. Los Angeles then proceeded to dominate the second period. After a missed field goal on their first possession, the Rams drove to Minnesota’s 18-yard line. The Viking defense stiffened, forcing Los Angeles to settle for Bruce Gossett’s 20-yard field goal and a 10-7 lead. Undeterred, the Rams scored again on a 13 play, 65-yard drive, taking a 17-7 halftime lead on a 2-yard pass from Gabriel to tight end Billy Truax.

Los Angeles scored on three of four first half possessions with short, quick passes to their tight ends. Meanwhile, their defensive line consistently harassed quarterback Joe Kapp. But, in the second half, Minnesota’s defense demonstrated why they led the NFL in 1969, successfully pressuring Gabriel and shutting down the Rams offense for most of the third quarter. Offensively, Head Coach Bud Grant neutralized Los Angeles’s pass rush by having Kapp run the ball on designed plays like quarterback draws and roll outs or by instructing him to take off at the first sign of pressure. However, it ultimately took an interference call on Rams defender Jim Nettles to get the offense back in the game.

Minnesota subsequently scored their second touchdown on another Osborn 1 yard run, cutting the Rams lead to 17-14. But the Vikings were unable to take advantage of their opportunities for the remainder of the period as Kapp threw two picks to end promising drives. Los Angeles turned the quarterback’s second turnover into a drive of their own. However, for the third time in the game, Minnesota’s defense bent but didn’t break. The Rams had to settle for another Gossett field goal, this time from 27 yards out, early in the final period. Instead of a double-digit fourth quarter edge, Los Angeles was ahead by only six points. On the Vikings next possession, they cashed in on their opportunity.

Kapp marched them downfield, scrambling the final two yards, for their first lead of the game, 21-20. Their defense then took control. With eight minutes left in the game, end Carl Eller sacked Gabriel in the end zone for a safety. Minnesota now led by three and possessed the football. But the Rams held, forcing a punt and giving their team a final chance for victory. Gabriel drove them into Viking territory during the final two minutes. It appeared Los Angeles might get the tying score or a go-ahead touchdown. Instead, the three-time Pro Bowler’s last pass was tipped and intercepted at the Minnesota 40 by tackle Alan Page with 30 seconds left. The Vikings barely escaped with a 23-20 win.

On December 28, Cleveland and Dallas met for the third straight season. The Cowboys won in 1967 and the Browns won in 1968. This was the rubber match before Cleveland moved to the American Conference as part of the 1970 NFL-AFL realignment. Again, Dallas was favored to win, as they featured the league’s best offense, a better record than the Browns, and, unlike last season, were playing at home. However, Cleveland scored early and often, cruising to a surprisingly easy victory. The Browns outgained the Cowboys in total yards 344 to 217 while the defense forced three turnovers. The passing game was highly effective, with quarterback Bill Nelson throwing for 219 yards.

The Browns scored on a first quarter 2-yard touchdown by running back Bo Scott for a 7-0 lead. Cleveland’s dominance continued in the second period with Nelson throwing a 6-yard touchdown pass to fourth year tight end Milt Morin and a 29-yard Don Cockroft field goal for a 17-0 halftime lead. The Browns increased their lead to 24-0 early in the second half. Scott’s second 2-yard touchdown run came after linebacker Jim Houston intercepted fifth year quarterback Craig Morton’s pass and returned it to the Dallas 19-yard line. The Cowboys finally scored when Morton, taking over as the starter after Don Meredith’s abrupt retirement, ran for a 2-yard touchdown. But they would get no closer.

At the start of the fourth period, three-time All-Pro halfback Leroy Kelly ripped off a 39-yard gain down to the Cowboy 1-yard line. He followed it with a 1-yard touchdown run, extending Cleveland’s lead to 31-7. Dallas had a final opportunity to get back into the game after recovering a fumbled punt on the Browns 22-yard line. But Morton threw a third pick on fourth down, this time to rookie safety Walt Sumner. His 88-yard return for a touchdown gave Cleveland an insurmountable 38-7 lead. With Morton benched, the Cowboys finished the scoring on a 5-yard touchdown pass from rookie Roger Staubach to wide receiver Lance Rentzel, in his third year with Dallas, for a 38-14 Browns victory.

On January 4, 1970, the NFL Championship Game was played between Minnesota and Cleveland in bitterly cold Metropolitan Stadium. Although conditions were not as severe as when the Cowboys and the Packers played for the 1967 league title in the legendary “Ice Bowl”, the temperature was only 8 degrees above zero. The Vikings destroyed the Browns, 51-3, during the regular season. Unfortunately for Cleveland, Minnesota once more demonstrated their dominance. The Vikings forced three turnovers to none for the Browns and outgained Cleveland with 383 to 268 total yards. It was the Browns second straight blow-out loss in the title game and their last opportunity to win a championship.

The Vikings, using a strong running game and the occasional long pass from Joe Kapp, scored 27 unanswered points over the first three quarters of the contest. First was a 7-yard touchdown scamper by Kapp on a broken play. The first time Pro Bowler ran into fullback Bill Brown before turning the potential loss into a 7-0 lead. On their next series, Kapp completed a 75-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Gene Washington for a 14-0 score when the defender slipped and fell on the play. Early in the second period, Minnesota turned 27-year-old Leroy Kelly’s fumble into a 30-yard Fred Cox field goal. Trailing 17-0, seventh year quarterback Bill Nelson then threw his first pick of the game.

A few plays later, the Vikings cashed in with a 20-yard touchdown run by Dave Osborn for a 24-0 halftime lead. But Cleveland didn’t quit. They took the second half kickoff and drove deep into Minnesota territory. But a second Nelson pass was intercepted by Paul Krause in the end zone, ending their last legitimate chance for victory. A 32-yard Cox field goal subsequently gave the Vikings an unbeatable 27-0 advantage. The Browns lone touchdown came in the final period on a 3-yard pass from Nelson, in his second year as Cleveland’s starter, to All-Pro wideout Gary Collins, in his eighth season. The game ended with the Browns giving up the ball on downs inside the Viking 10-yard line.

Minnesota had a convincing 27-7 victory to win the NFL title, the first expansion team to ever do so. Despite the New York Jets domination of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, many sportswriters and fans continued to believe the NFL was superior to the AFL. As a result, the Vikings were favored by as many as 13 points over the three-time AFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl IV, the last to be played between the rival leagues prior to completion of the NFL-AFL merger in 1970. Still, it was surprising that these Chiefs were an underdog given this was their second Super Bowl appearance in four years while the Vikings had just two playoff wins in franchise history, both in 1969.

Super Bowl Highlights: On January 11, 1970, in New Orleans Tulane Stadium, the NFL Champion Minnesota Vikings, led by Coach of the Year Bud Grant, played the AFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs, again coached by Hank Stram, in Super Bowl IV. The Chiefs were completing their tenth year in the rival league, the first three as the Dallas Texans, and fifth straight winning season. The Vikings, meanwhile, had just completed the best of their first nine seasons in the NFL. Kansas City played in the first NFL-AFL World Championship and now would play in the last. However, for New Orleans, it was just the start as “The Big Easy” would go on to host a total of 22 Super Bowls to date.

After their defeat in Super Bowl I, Kansas City finished 1967 in second place with a 9-5 record, behind the 13-1 AFL Champion Oakland Raiders. The next season, both teams finished 12-2, tied for first in the West Conference. But the Chiefs lost to the Raiders in a one game playoff, 41-6, and their chance to play for a third AFL title. In 1969, Kansas City began with nine wins in their first ten games, losing only to the Cincinnati Bengals in the season’s third week. But they split their last four contests, twice losing to division rival Oakland. As a result, for the third straight season, the 11-3 Chiefs finished behind the 12-1-1 Raiders. Still, despite finishing second, Kansas City earned a playoff spot.

For one year only, the AFL had expanded the number of post season participants. The second-place team from each conference would face the first-place team from the other conference. The Chiefs made the most of their opportunity, winning their second trip to the Super Bowl in four years with two road wins. First, they beat the East Conference and defending World Champion New York Jets, 13-6, in the first round. Their defense dominated Joe Namath’s offense, just as it had during the regular season, limiting them to 234 total yards while forcing four turnovers. They also kept New York out of the end zone despite the Jets getting to Kansas City’s 16- and 13-yard lines in the final quarter.

The Chiefs next faced the Raiders for the AFL title. Despite having lost seven of their last eight games against Oakland, including twice during the past season, Kansas City won when it mattered most. Again, the defense led the way, forcing four interceptions, three by two-time All-Pro quarterback Daryle Lamonica. Despite top running backs Mike Garrett and Robert Holmes losing a combined four fumbles, the Chiefs held the Raiders to a single first quarter touchdown in a come from behind 17-7 victory. Although Kansas City’s offense struggled throughout the post season, they were very effective during the regular season, using Stram’s innovative game plans to outsmart opposing defenses.

Stram’s genius faced a significant test during 1969. Six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Len Dawson, in his seventh year with the Chiefs, started just seven times during the regular season due to a knee injury suffered in the second week against the Boston Patriots. The 13-year veteran completed 98 of 166 (59.0%) for 1,323 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, earning a QBR of 69.9. When 30-year-old backup Jacky Lee went out with a broken ankle the week after replacing Dawson, it fell to rookie Mike Livingston to keep the team in the playoff race. He delivered, winning all six of his starts, completing 84 of 161 (52.2%) for 1,123 yards, 4 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, and a QBR of 67.4.

Kansas City’s offense was powered by the AFL’s top ranked running game with Garrett their primary weapon. The 1965 Heisman Trophy winner, in his fourth year, ran for 732 yards on 168 attempts (4.4 yards per carry), caught a team leading 43 passes for 432 yards, and scored a total of 8 touchdowns. Garrett was followed closely by Holmes and Warren McVea, both in their second seasons. The twosome combined for 1,112 rushing yards, 337 receiving yards, and 12 total touchdowns. Wide receiver Otis Taylor caught 41 passes for 696 yards and 7 touchdowns, averaging a team leading 17.0 yards per catch. Fellow wideout Frank Pitts caught 31 passes for 470 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Overall, the Chiefs finished first in rushing yards (2,220), second in points scored (359), and sixth in passing yards (2,387). But the team’s strength proved to be their dominant defense. Four-time All-Pro Buck Buchanan and Pro Bowler Curley Culp anchored the line. The duo was backed up by two-time Pro Bowler Willie Lanier and five-time All-Pro Bobby Bell at linebacker. The secondary was led by four-time All-Pro safety Johnny Robinson and Pro Bowl cornerback Emmitt Thomas, with 8 and 9 picks respectively. In total, Kansas City’s defense had an amazing six future Hall of Famers in 1969, leading the league in points (177), passing yards (2,072) and rushing yards allowed (1,091).

Meanwhile, Minnesota had gone from an expansion team in 1961 to winning an NFL title in just nine years. Originally, the franchise’s owners had committed to becoming one of the founding members of the AFL in 1959. They subsequently relinquished that membership to become the NFL’s 14th franchise on January 28, 1960. Those first six years were difficult. Under first time Head Coach Norm Van Brocklin, the Vikings had just one winning season. His relationship with players was strained, in particular with Pro Bowl quarterback Fran Tarkenton. It all came to a head in mid-November 1965 after a 41-21 loss to the Baltimore Colts eliminated Minnesota from postseason play.

The next day, Van Brocklin suddenly announced his resignation, stating that the team would never win a championship while he was in charge and that he had taken them as far as he could. Within 24 hours, the Hall of Fame quarterback had changed his mind, asking the owners to bring him back, which they ultimately did. Despite signing a five-year contract a few months later, it was the beginning of the end. Van Brocklin had lost the locker room. Said Tarkenton, “We were so happy he had quit. We were celebrating. But we had five owners, none of them football people. They talked him into staying! How could you have any respect for a coach that quit when you were five and four?”

After the Vikings ended the 1966 season at 4-9-1, Tarkenton demanded a trade. Even though Van Brocklin abruptly resigned again, this time for good, on February 11, 1967, the six-year veteran signal caller was traded to the New York Giants on March 7 for the 2nd and 28th overall picks in the 1967 draft as well as a 1968 first round choice and a 1969 second round selection. Three days later, Minnesota hired Bud Grant as their new head man. Grant coached the Canadian Football League Winnipeg Blue Bombers for ten seasons, winning 122 games and four Grey Cups, the CFL equivalent of the Super Bowl. The Vikings considered hiring him as their head coach in 1961, but he declined.

Minnesota’s new head coach started slowly, finishing 1967 with a 3-8-3 record. But the turnaround came quickly. Due to a special arrangement the Giants made with the NFL during 1966 NFL-AFL merger negotiations, the 1968 first-round selection acquired by the Vikings in the Tarkenton trade became the first overall pick in the draft. Minnesota used this bonus pick to select future Hall of Fame offensive tackle Ron Yary. The team experienced an immediate improvement, going 8-6 for their first Central Division title and first playoff berth. Even though the Vikings lost the Western Conference title game to the eventual league champion Baltimore Colts, they had become a title contender.

In 1969, Grant took Minnesota to the top of the NFL. They lost their first and last games to the New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons respectively. In between, the Vikings won 12 straight, the longest single season winning streak in 35 years. Leading the offense was quarterback Joe Kapp, best known for his solid leadership and his running ability, whether throwing on the run or running for extra yards. Like Grant, Kapp had been with the Vikings just three years but had been in professional football since 1959. The 31-year-old toiled in the CFL for eight years before Grant and fourth year general manager Jim Finks brought him to Minnesota in a rare “trade” with the Canadian league in 1967.

Kapp, selected to his first Pro Bowl, completed 120 of 237 (50.6%) for 1,726 yards, 19 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and an overall QBR of 78.5. He also ran for 104 yards on 22 carries. Wide receiver Gene Washington, also in his first Pro Bowl, led the Vikings in receiving yards (821), touchdowns (9), and catches (39). Washington, in his third year, averaged 21.1 yards per reception, good for third in the league. Fellow wideout John Henderson, in just his second season with Minnesota after three years with the Detroit Lions, added 34 catches for 553 yards (16.3 yards per catch) and 6 touchdowns. Third year tight end John Beasley contributed 33 receptions for 361 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Like Kansas City, Grant’s offense was best known for its strong stable of running backs. Dave Osborn, in his fifth season, was the team’s leading rusher with 643 yards on 186 carries and 7 rushing touchdowns. Veterans Bill Brown, Oscar Reed, and Clint Jones added 1,064 total yards and 7 touchdowns. The four backs also totaled 53 catches, 501 yards, and 3 receiving touchdowns. Along with Yary, the offensive line was anchored by five-time All-Pro center Mick Tingelhoff. Overall, the Vikings led the NFL in scoring with 379 points. Three times during the season, Minnesota scored 50+ points in a game (52, 51, 52). The team also ended 4th in rushing (1,850) and 12th in passing yards (2,246).

The Viking defense was considered the most intimidating in the league after allowing an NFL low 133 points. Anchored by their line, nicknamed the “Purple People Eaters”, ends Carl Eller and Jim Marshall along with tackles Gary Larsen and Alan Page were each named to the 1969 Pro Bowl. Eller, in his sixth year, also was named All-Pro for a second straight season. Lonnie Warwick led the linebacking corps with 4 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries. Cornerback Bobby Bryant led the team with 8 picks followed by fellow corner Earsell Mackbee (6) and 3x Pro Bowl safety Paul Krause (5). Overall, Minnesota was first in passing (1,631) and second in rushing yards allowed (1,089).

Minnesota began the game by taking the opening kickoff and marching from their own 20-yard line to the Kansas City 39 in five plays. Kapp completed his first two passes for 36 yards. His next pass was also a completion, but Brown was tackled for a yard loss. On third down, Kapp failed to connect with Beasley. Grant decided to punt rather than attempt a 46-yard field goal. The Vikings had rushed for just six yards on three carries during their first drive. The Chiefs then drove 42 yards in 8 plays, including a 17-yard Dawson throw to Garrett and a 20-yard reception by Pitts. But an 8-yard sack forced them to settle for Jan Stenerud’s Super Bowl record 48-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead.

For the second straight year, the AFL had drawn first blood. Minnesota reached midfield on its next drive, in part due to a 15-yard roughing the kicker penalty, but again had to punt. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Dawson threw a 20-yard completion to Pitts, followed by a 9-yard pass to Taylor, advancing the ball to their own 49-yard line. Four plays later, at the start of the second period, a 17-yard pass interference penalty on 3rd and 10 nullified an incompletion. Instead of punting, Kansas City had a first down at the Viking 31. But three plays later from the 25-yard line, the defense again halted the drive when Mackbee broke up a Dawson throw intended for Taylor, now in his fifth season.

The Chiefs had to settle for another Stenerud field goal, this time from 32 yards, upping their lead to 6-0. Alas, on the second play of Minnesota’s subsequent drive, Henderson fumbled after a 16-yard catch. Kansas City recovered at the Viking 46-yard line, setting up another scoring opportunity. However, the defense once more countered with crucial plays of their own. First, Garrett was stopped for a 1-yard loss. Krause, in his sixth year, then intercepted a Dawson throw at the 7-yard line. But the Chiefs then held Minnesota to a three and out, forcing them to punt from their own 5-yard line. Bob Lee’s kick went just 39 yards, again giving Kansas City great field position at the Vikings 44-yard line.

A 19-yard run by Pitts on an end around play fooled Minnesota’s over pursuing defense for a first down. However, the drive stalled, forcing a third Stenerud field goal attempt. Fortunately, the third-year veteran was one of the AFL’s most reliable kickers in 1969, converting 77.1% of his field goals. His 25-yarder increased the Chiefs lead to 9-0. On the ensuing kickoff, the Vikings fumbled once more. Kansas City recovered the ball on Minnesota’s 19-yard line. It proved to be a back breaker for the Vikings. After Marshall sacked Dawson for an 8-yard loss, a 13-yard draw play by Wendell Hayes and a 10-yard Taylor catch from Dawson resulted in a first and goal at Minnesota’s 4-yard line.

Three plays later, Garrett’s 5-yard touchdown run on a trap draw play, aided by pulling guard Mo Moorman’s block on two-time Pro Bowler Alan Page that cleared a massive hole, gave Kansas City a 16-0 lead. This play would be forever known in Super Bowl lexicon as the “65 Toss Power Trap”. Minnesota returned the ensuing kickoff 27 yards to the 32-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Kapp threw a 27-yard completion to Henderson, advancing to the Chief 41-yard line. But, over the next three plays, Kapp threw two incompletions and was sacked for an 8-yard loss. On fourth down, seventh year veteran Fred Cox’s 56-yard field goal fell considerably short of the goal posts.

Kansas City’s defense controlled the first half, holding the Vikings to 24 rushing yards and preventing them for converting any of their five third down opportunities. However, early in the third period, Minnesota managed to build some momentum. After forcing the Chiefs to punt on their opening possession, Kapp completed four straight passes for 47 yards while rushing for 7. The Vikings also converted their first third down as they drove 69 yards in 10 plays, scoring on Osborn’s 4-yard touchdown. The Kansas City lead had been cut to two scores, 16-7. But Minnesota’s momentum wouldn’t last long. The Chiefs responded on their next possession with a 6 play, 82-yard touchdown drive.

Starting from their own 18-yard line, Pitts converted a key third down with 7 yards on another reverse play. Then, after a 15-yard personal foul moved the ball to the Viking 46, Dawson hit Taylor with a short pass. Catching the ball on the 41, Taylor broke free and raced down the sideline for a game clinching 46-yard score with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter. The Chiefs defense then dominated the dispirited Minnesota offense the rest of the game. They forced two Kapp picks as well as one by his backup, Gary Cuozzo, on three consecutive possessions. Kansas City had earned a convincing 23-7 upset victory and a second straight AFL World Championship win over the mighty NFL.

Dawson became the fourth straight quarterback to be named Super Bowl MVP. The 34-year-old future Hall of Famer completed 12 of 17 for 142 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, the only Chiefs’ turnover on the day. Taylor was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. Kansas City’s defense completely shut down Minnesota’s vaunted rushing attack, holding them to 67 yards. In addition, their secondary held the explosive Gene Washington to just a single reception for 9 yards. Overall, the Chiefs limited the Vikings to 239 yards while forcing five turnovers, three interceptions and two fumbles. Minnesota also committed six penalties for 67 yards.

Stram had devised an effective game plan. He knew Minnesota’s secondary was able to play far off receivers because Eller and Marshall knocked down short passes or put pressure on the quarterback. Stram decided to double team both defensive ends, with most of Dawson’s throws being short passes. Subsequently, neither knocked down any of his passes the entire game. On offense, the Vikings running game depended on their center blocking linebackers. To counter this, Stram put either the 285-pound Buchanan or 295-pound Culp in front of the 235-pound Tingelhoff, totally disrupting their ability to run the football including preventing the mobile Kapp from getting outside the pocket.

Unfortunately, Super Bowl IV represented the height of the Chiefs’ success for the next 50 years. Following a 5-9 finish in 1974, the only coach the franchise had ever known was released. Stram finished his 15-year Kansas City career with a record of 129-79-10, retiring in 1978 after two losing seasons as New Orleans’ head coach. An unknown assistant for the Miami Hurricanes when he was hired by Chiefs’ owner Lamar Hunt in 1960, Stram became an iconic personality both on and off the field. His personality, the offensive innovations he introduced, his three AFL championships, and a Super Bowl victory culminated in the coach’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Conclusion: For the National Football League, the end of the 1960s represented the end of their ten-year rivalry with the American Football League. But, more importantly, the 1970 merger of the NFL and AFL ushered in the start of an era of success unlike anything the league had known in its first 50 years. Rival professional leagues like the XFL, WFL, USFL and UFL would come and go during subsequent decades. Even the CFL experimented with U.S.-based teams in the 1990s. However, none of these efforts came close to being a serious challenge to the NFL. The post-merger league exceeded all expectations, with football becoming the most popular pro sport in the country today.

For the Green Bay Packers, 1969 represented not only the end of the decade but the end of the greatest era in the franchise’s history or, for that matter, any franchise in the history of the league. The team’s five championships and six title game appearances in less than ten years exceeded any run of success any team has ever put together, now or since. However, as the saying goes, all good things must end. With Lombardi and his 89-29-4 record now in Washington D.C., Green Bay would spend the next two decades learning what life was like without their future Hall of Fame coach and general manager. Unfortunately, Packer fans soon wouldn’t be alone in learning about life after Lombardi.

According to David Maraniss, Lombardi continued to experience issues with his health entering the 1970 offseason. In May, during the final hours of a visit to Green Bay, the coach confided to his friend Dick Bourguignon that, while he told everyone he was fine, he definitely was not. He was having problems with his stomach, kidneys, and bowels as well as suffering from extreme fatigue. On June 24, Lombardi was hospitalized for the first time. Despite public reassurances to the contrary, he knew his condition was life threatening. When Lombardi asked one of his doctors how soon he could return to coaching, he was told, “I don’t think you’ll be coaching again.” Sadly, he was correct.

To end this post, I’ve attached the NFL Films Super Bowl IV Highlight video narrated again by John Facenda. The night before the game, Ed Sabol of NFL Films met with Stram and convinced the coach to wear a hidden microphone so his comments could be recorded for the Super Bowl video. They agreed the microphone would be a secret. This would be the first time a head coach had worn a microphone during a Super Bowl, resulting in one of the best known and most popular of NFL Films Super Bowl series due to the constant chatter and wisecracking of Stram. The video’s success led to the increased wiring of NFL players and coaches over the years to the benefit of all fans.

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