Bradley Ruzicka

Headline: Bart Starr returns to Green Bay Packers as head coach, produces first double digit loss season since 1958.

Regular Season Record: 4 – 10 (Fourth Place NFC Central Division)

Offseason Highlights: Green Bay Packers’ management was in exactly the situation it hadn’t wanted to be in after Vince Lombard stepped down at the end of the 1967 season. They had become a revolving door for coaches, the latest being the resignation of Dan Devine after the debacle that was the 1974 season. Bart Starr seemed to be the logical choice to succeed him. Although he had no head coaching experience, the retired quarterback was an icon in the community, a legendary player linked to the glory years, and everyone knew he was a smart leader.

Rather than risk bringing in another unknown face, the Packers went to Starr and offered him the job. He’d been out of football for the past two years, but the opportunity appealed to him, a chance to bring his old team back to prominence. It would be a challenge, but going back to Green Bay felt right. As a result, on Christmas Eve of 1974, Bart Starr was announced as the eighth head coach and general manager in the 55 year history of the franchise. Out of courtesy, the Executive Committee interviewed one of Devine’s assistant coaches, Dave Hanner, later retained by Starr and named both Defensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach, but the pretense of searching for the best man for the job ended there.

According to Lew Freedman in his book, The Packer Experience, when Starr retired as a player in 1971 after 16 seasons and subsequently left Green Bay after the 1972 season, his primary interest was in returning home to Alabama to pursue a career in business. He didn’t expect to receive a call imploring him to come back and coach his old team. He was in demand for product endorsements and gave lectures at corporate meetings. Starr didn’t seem to want or need to return to the NFL.

Prior to Green Bay’s overture, Starr had been offered opportunities to coach at the professional level. Only hours after the Packers lost to the Washington Redskins in the 1972 playoffs, he was contacted by Philadelphia Eagles Owner Leonard Tose to become their head coach and general manager. A December 17 1974 article in the Milwaukee Sentinel indicated that Starr was also offered an opportunity to coach the Los Angeles Rams prior to their hiring Chuck Knox in 1973. He turned them both down and probably never would have accepted a head coaching position if it hadn’t been Green Bay asking for his help.

Starr had five NFL championships on his resume but hadn’t trained to be a head coach. Many of his friends didn’t want him to take the job because they worried he might fail and wondered if that would tarnish his image. But Starr said yes. “This is the organization that gave me a chance,” he said. His reasoning was as simple as that and it typified his character. That type of outlook was one of the reasons Packers’ management wanted him back. It says much for the man that he took a job he knew had crushed two men before him.

However, Starr immediately realized there was much he didn’t know about running a team. “There were a helluva a lot of things they didn’t tell me when I signed on with this outfit,” he said early in his tenure. In 2013, Starr was quoted in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel as saying, “It was a mistake and I almost knew it from the start. I didn’t have the guts to say ‘no’. I hadn’t been trained to be a coach. That takes great training. Being an assistant under a Coach Lombardi or a Tom Landry or whoever, that prepares you to do a better job when you become a coach. I hadn’t received that training. It showed.”

Yet, after seven years of failed regimes, the hometown fans were convinced no one but Bart could return the Packers to glory. After all, Lombardi, Starr’s mentor, had resurrected a 1-10-1 team to winners in a single year and NFL champions in three years. Surely Starr, galvanized with a talented squad, could do no less. And, according to Stanton Greene in his book “Falling Starr – Bart Starr as Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers 1975-83“, there was a conceit that the team was only a player or two away from being Super Bowl contenders, even after a 6-8 season in 1974.

Unfortunately for Starr, a quick assessment of the team he inherited revealed a squad on the edge of the abyss. Although the defense had held its own the prior year, the offense was abysmal, with an over-the-hill quarterback, a declining run game, and an aging offensive line. That line would further decline when All-Pro OG Gale Gillingham walked out of training camp on July 25, announcing his retirement after nine seasons. In Jerry Poling’s book, Downfield, Gillingham stated, “I wanted to be traded. I didn’t think I’d fit into that system, and I didn’t. I had no faith in the line coach. I didn’t believe in the line coach. I didn’t believe in anything we were doing as far as the offensive line goes. There was no football intelligence at all.”

In addition to Gillingham, OGs Malcolm Snider and Bill Lueck as well as OTs Harry Schuh and Bill Hayhoe were gone before the beginning of the 1975 season. Snider retired in early May, Schuh was released on July 21 when he failed his physical, Hayhoe was placed on injured reserve on August 21, and Lueck was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 1976 4th round draft pick on August 28. As a result, the only returning starters from 1974 were seven year veteran OT Dick Himes and second year C Larry McCarren. That left 31 year old OG Bruce Van Dyke, on injured reserve during 1974, 1972 10th round selection OG Keith Wortman, and 37 year old OT Ernie McMillan, acquired off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals on September 26, to complete what would be Green Bay’s patchwork offensive line during Starr’s initial season.

Unfortunately for Starr, the Packers’ 1975 draft was one of their least impressive in recent years. As a result of Devine’s desperation trade for John Hadl, Green Bay had no first round pick. If the Packers had had that pick, given their draft position, they would have had an opportunity to select players such as Los Angeles Rams’ OTs Doug France and Dennis Harrah or New England Patriots’ TE Russ Francis, all future Pro Bowlers. But it was not to be. Instead, in an effort to shore up the beleaguered offensive line, Green Bay used its’ 2nd round pick, acquired from the Washington Redskins for the rights to Hall of Fame LB Dave Robinson after his retirement in 1972, on USC OT Bill Bain (47th overall).

However, Bain would play only one season for the Packers, starting just three games, before being traded to the Denver Broncos in 1976 for a 1977 3rd round pick. Green Bay’s 1975 3rd round pick, acquired from the San Diego Chargers in 1974 for DT Bob Brown, was RB Willard Harrell (58th overall). Harrell played only three seasons with the Packers, starting 21 out of 40 games, rushing for 934 yards on 311 carries (3.0 yards per carry) and 5 touchdowns, before finishing his 10 career with the Cardinals in 1984. One 1975 draft pick, S Steve Luke (88th overall), did have a successful career in Green Bay, playing for six seasons and starting in 75 out of 90 games, finishing with 10 interceptions, before retiring after the 1980 season.

Overall, the 1975 NFL Draft yielded three Pro Football Hall of Fame players, including the 2nd and 4th overall picks in the draft, Maryland DT Randy White (Dallas Cowboys) and Jackson State RB Walter Payton (Chicago Bears), as well as Louisiana Tech DE Fred Dean (San Diego Chargers) with the 33rd overall pick.

In addition to the changes made in 1974, the NFL made three changes in 1975 to further increase the appeal of the game. First, teams with the best regular season records were made the home teams for each playoff round. Previously, game sites had been rotated by division. However, the league continued a restriction where two teams from the same division could not meet in the Divisional Playoffs. Second, the league pioneered the use of equipping referees with wireless microphones to announce penalties and clarify complex and / or unusual rulings to both fans and the media. Lastly, in an effort to again increase scoring, the penalty for offensive pass interference was reduced from 15 yards to 10 yards.

Finally, three teams relocated into new homes. The Detroit Lions moved into the Pontiac Silverdome, the New Orleans Saints moved into the Louisiana Superdome, and the New York Giants played their home games at Shea Stadium, which they shared for 1975 season with the New York Jets.

Regular Season Highlights: Bart Starr was an icon and future Hall of Famer, but he unfortunately was not a miracle worker, as was his coach, Vince Lombardi. Green Bay finished last in the NFC Central Division, behind the 12-2 Minnesota Vikings, the 7-7 Detroit Lions, and the 4-10 Chicago Bears. At one point in the season, the Packers had only a single victory against eight losses. They did show improvement over the last five games, going 3-2, to finish the season with a 4-10 record. Chicago finished ahead of Green Bay in the NFC Central based on a better division record (2-4 to the Packers’ 1-5).

Specifically, according to Stanton Greene, “It had been an aggravating first training camp for Starr with walkouts, holdouts, retirements, and slew of veterans failing to make the cut. … The preseason had ended drearily as the Pack stumbled out with four consecutive losses, the last two by a combined margin of 55-6, which did not bode well.” Although there were 17 new players on the roster at the beginning of the 1975 season, most were no-names or past their prime and would be gone within a couple of years. The preseason hangover continued into the regular season, with Green Bay losing its first four games, three by double digit margins. Three blocked punts in the home opener, a 30-16 loss to division rival Detroit in Milwaukee County Stadium, set the tone for the season.

A Week 4 road loss to the New Orleans Saints, 20-19, saw the offense gain just 161 total yards against a team that would finish with only two wins. After four weeks, Packer fans were fearing an 0-14 season after Green Bay had been outgained 1,373 to 896 yards and 104 to 55 points. Miraculously, the 0-4 Packers rose up to defeat the 4-0 Dallas Cowboys on the road in Week 5, 19-17, for their first win of the season. However, another four game losing streak, during which Green Bay was outscored 205 to 128, ended all hopes for 1975 as the Packers fell to 1-8. A subsequent two game winning streak over the New York Giants, 40-14, and Chicago, 28-7, as well as a victory in the finale over the Atlanta Falcons, 22-13 at Lambeau Field, gave fans a ray of hope in an otherwise lost season.

Holdover QB John Hadl, in his 14th season, started 13 out of 14 games, finishing with 191 completions in 353 attempts (54.1%) for 2,095 yards, 6 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions, earning a QB Rating of 52.8. The highpoint of Hadl’s season came during Green Bay’s Week 10 victory over the Giants, when he completed 18 out of 29 for 275 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, and a QB Rating of 101.9. While Hadl’s 191 completions was a Green Bay record, and his completion percentage the highest since Starr in 1970, a pitiful 5.9 yards per pass, and a horrible 21-6 interception to touchdown ratio, told the true tale. Was Hadl really worn out or did he just suffer from a complete lack of supporting cast? According to Greene, probably a bit of both.

Hadl was still a savvy field general but, at age 36, he lacked in arm strength and mobility. With a great supporting cast, Hadl might have taken a team to the playoffs. With the group around him, he was reduced to mediocrity, particularly as the talent at wide receiver was non-existent. In a 2004 interview, Hadl said about the Packers’ 1975 wide receiver corps, “They were nice guys, but they weren’t NFL caliber, most of them. We had Kenny Payne, who was a real tough kid. He was pretty good. [Steve] Odom was fast. But there was the time factor throwing the ball. We didn’t have a lot of time, so we had to adjust our routes a little bit and get rid of it a little bit quicker.”

Fourth year quarterback and former 1972 first round pick Jerry Tagge was released on September 4, finishing his Packers’ stint with 136 completions in 281 attempts (48.4%) for 1,583 yards, 3 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, and a QB Rating of 44.2. Tagge finished his career with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League in 1979, indicating in a 2009 interview that a drinking problem had contributed to his lack of success in Green Bay. Starr claimed QB Don Milan off waivers from the Los Angeles Rams on September 6 to backup Hadl. 1974 reserve QB Jack Concannon was subsequently released on September 15 and played his final season with Detroit. Rookie 12th round pick Carlos Brown took over as the third string quarterback.

Milan started one game, a 27-14 Week 8 loss to Chicago, after Hadl strained his back the previous week against the Vikings. For the season, Milan completed 15 out of 32 passes for 181 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and a QB Rating of 62.1. Second year receiver Payne led the Packers with 58 catches for 776 yards, the most since Carroll Dale’s 814 yards in 1970, ranking 4th in the NFL in receptions, while fellow 1974 draftee Odom led Green Bay in yards per catch and touchdown receptions (19.9, 4) on only 15 receptions. Odom also lead the team with 1,388 all-purpose yards, 1,038 of them returning kickoffs. Five year veteran WR Jon Staggers, who led Green Bay with 450 receiving yards in 1974, was released on September 11, playing his final season with Detroit.

Although still Green Bay’s leading rusher, 5th year veteran RB John Brockington was no longer a significant threat, finishing the season with 434 yards on 177 attempts (3.0 yards per carry) and 7 touchdowns, achieving career lows in both yardage and yards per carry. Brockington’s only 100 yard game of the season, and his final one as a Packer, came in Week 11’s victory over the Bears, when he rushed for 111 yards on 26 carries and scored 3 touchdowns. According to Greene, “When Brock was asked about the possibility of being traded after the season, he answered somewhat bluntly that if so, he hoped, ‘I go to a team that can block.'”, a not so subtle reference to Green Bay’s depleted offensive line.

RB MacArthur Lane, after three seasons with Green Bay, was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs on July 8 for a 3rd round draft pick, leaving rookie Willard Harrell (359 yards, 3.0 yards per carry), 1974 top draft choice Barty Smith (243 yards, 4.1 yards per carry), and fellow 1974 draftee Eric Torkelson (226 yards, 5.4 yards per carry) to take his place. Harrell finished second in both rushing yards and receptions (34) as well as set a Packer record with three touchdowns throwing the option pass, surpassing the legendary Paul Hornung. Starr later admitted the Lane trade had been a mistake, as he would go on to lead the NFL in receiving with 66 catches in 1976, at the age of 34.

Overall, Green Bay’s offense finished the season ranked last in rushing (26th), 18th in passing, and 20th in total offense, scoring 226 points. The biggest disappointment was Starr’s inability to raise the level of offensive play, although he had to deal with significant disruptions in the offensive line and a lack of talent at the skill positions. Green Bay’s defense also took a step back in 1975, finishing 22nd against the run, 10th against the pass, and 13th overall, yielding 285 points, their worst total since 1971. However, despite injuries and defections, as well as an ineffective offense, the defense managed to remain competitive for the majority of the season.

Specifically, the loss of All-Pro LB Ted Hendricks to the Oakland Raiders on August 6 and Pro Bowl DB Willie Buchanon to a broken leg on September 29, his second major injury in three seasons, undoubtedly were major contributors to the defense’s decline. Hendricks would go on to play a key role in three Raiders’ Super Bowl championships over the next nine years, and subsequently be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his second year of eligibility. While it would have cost the Packers a substantial amount to resign him, and the team did need to get its finances back in shape after a lean year in 1974, Hendricks career would prove he was a once in a generation player and well worth the cost. For Buchanon, it would be three years before he regained his All Pro status.

The bright spot for Green Bay’s defense was the play of S Johnnie Gray, an undrafted rookie free agent from Cal State Fullerton who, along with rookie S Steve Luke, displaced veterans Al Matthews and Jim Hill, with Hill being released on September 14. In Starr’s words, “He [Gray] laced up his shoes, slipped on number 24, and knocked our socks off.” Gray led the team with 70 tackles, and subsequently become the coach’s favorite, as he and C Larry McCarren would be the only two Packers to make the team in all nine of Starr’s seasons. In total, Gray would start 124 games and intercept 22 passes during his Green Bay career, retiring at the end of the 1983 season.

Finally, a torn quadriceps during the season opener sidelined All-Pro K Chester Marcol for the year, resulting in the placekicking duties being split between Marcol, Dave Pureifory (1 game), and Joe Danelo (12 games). Danelo, picked up off waivers from the Miami Dolphins on October 3, would lead the Packers in scoring with 53 points. The punting duties were split between Steve Broussard (4 games) and David Beverly (10 games) after the release of 1974 P Randy Walker on September 1. Broussard was waived by the Saints and picked up by Green Bay a week before the start of the regular season. When he was subsequently released by the Packers on October 17, Beverly was signed off waivers from the Houston Oilers that same day, becoming Green Bay’s newest punter.

The 1974 Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota, and Los Angeles all tied for the NFL’s best record at 12-2, wining the AFC Central, NFC Central, and NFC West Divisions respectively. Minnesota was the top NFC playoff seed over Los Angeles based on the new point rating system, with Pittsburgh qualifying as the AFC’s top playoff seed. NFC East Division winner, the St. Louis Cardinals, were the third seed at 11-3, while 10-4 Dallas was the NFC’s Wild Card entry.

Oakland won the AFC West Division and was the second seed at 11-3 while the 10-4 Baltimore Colts won the AFC East Division and were the third seed, with the 11-3 Cincinnati Bengals finishing as the AFC’s Wild Card entry. Baltimore finished ahead of 10-4 Miami in the AFC East based on a head-to-head sweep. The Colts started the season losing four of their first five games, before sweeping their final nine games, while the Dolphins would finish the season 3-3 after starting the season with a record of 7-1, missing the playoffs for the first time since 1970.

After another disappointing season that saw Kansas City finish with a record of 5-9, QB Leonard Ray Dawson ended his playing career, retiring in May 1976 after 19 seasons that spanned both the American Football League (1962-69) and National Football League (1957-61, 1970-75). Although selected in the first round of the 1957 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh, 5th overall, Dawson’s pro quarterbacking career had an inauspicious start. He was unable to make an impact with the Steelers, and was subsequently traded to the Cleveland Browns at the end of the 1959 season.

After two years with the Browns, Dawson was released at the end of the 1961 season, having completed only 21 passes for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first five years of playing professional football. Dawson subsequently signed with the AFL’s Dallas Texans (renamed the Chiefs after the franchise moved from Dallas to Kansas City in 1963) on June 30 1962. The move reunited him with Hank Stram, who was beginning his third year as the Texans’ head coach. Dawson had become friends with Stram when Dawson was the starting quarterback and Stram was an assistant coach at Purdue University. During his first season with the Texans, Dawson led the league in touchdowns and yards per attempt, and was The Sporting News’ selection as the AFL MVP.

The rest, as they say, is history. Dawson would go on to win four AFL passing titles and was selected as an AFL All-Star six times, ending the league’s 10 year run as its highest-rated career passer. From 1962 to 1969, Dawson threw more touchdown passes (182) than any other professional football quarterback during that time. He would culminate his AFL career in the last game ever played by an AFL team, winning Super Bowl IV, 23-7, capturing the game’s MVP award. Dawson ended his pro football career having completed 2,136 out of 3,741 passes (57.1%) for 28,711 yards, 239 touchdowns, 181 interceptions, and an overall QB Rating of 82.6. He also gained 1,293 rushing yards, scoring 9 touchdowns. Dawson finished with 94 career victories and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Minnesota QB Fran Tarkenton won the 1975 NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year Awards. Pittsburgh CB Mel Blount won Defensive Player of the Year. Washington Redskins’ RB Mike Thomas won Offensive Rookie of the Year, while Houston LB Robert Brazile won Defensive Rookie of the Year. Baltimore’s Head Coach Ted Marchibroda won Coach of the Year.

Post Season Highlights: In the Divisional Playoffs, the AFC Central Champion Pittsburgh Steelers hosted the AFC East Champion Baltimore Colts in Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium, while the NFC East Champion St. Louis Cardinals traveled west to the Los Angeles Coliseum to play the NFC West Champion Los Angeles Rams. Meanwhile, the NFC Central Champion Minnesota Vikings hosted the NFC’s Wild Card entry, the Dallas Cowboys, in Minnesota’s Metropolitan Stadium, while the AFC’s Wild Card entry, the Cincinnati Bengals, traveled to the Oakland Coliseum to play the AFC West Champion Oakland Raiders. The winners would advance to their respective Conference Championship games.

On December 27, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense forced four turnovers and held the Baltimore Colts to 154 yards of total offense, while Steelers’ RB Franco Harris shredded the Colts’ defense for 153 rushing yards and a touchdown, to advance to the AFC Championship game.

The Steelers scored first after LB Jack Ham’s interception of QB Bert Jones’ pass set up Franco Harris’ 8 yard rushing touchdown, for a 7-0 first quarter lead. Baltimore responded in the second quarter, tying the game 7-7 prior to halftime, when CB Lloyd Mumphord intercepted QB Terry Bradshaw’s pass, returning it 58 yards, to set up WR Glenn Doughty’s 5 yard touchdown reception from reserve QB Marty Domres. Domres was subbing for Jones, who was injured early in the game. The Colts subsequently took the lead, 10-7, early in the third quarter with K Tony Linhart’s 27 yard field goal.

Pittsburgh CB Mel Blount then intercepted a Domres pass and returned it to the Baltimore 7 yard line. From there, RB Rocky Bleier scored on a 7 yard touchdown, giving the Steelers a 14-10 advantage, one they wouldn’t relinquish for the remainder of the game. In the fourth quarter, Bradshaw scored on a 2 yard touchdown run to make the score 21-10. LB Andy Russell next picked up a Colts’ fumble, returning it an NFL playoff record 93 yards for a touchdown, giving Pittsburgh a 28-10 victory.

Later that day, the Los Angeles Rams’ defense scored two touchdowns in the first half, while RB Lawrence McCutcheon ran for a then NFL playoff record 202 yards on 37 carries, for a victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Los Angeles started the game with a 79 yard scoring drive, 51 of them from McCutcheon, on the way to a 5 yard touchdown run by rookie QB Ron Jaworski, for a 7-0 lead. Then, on the Cardinals first play, Rams’ LB Jack Youngblood intercepted a pass from QB Jim Hart and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown, extending Los Angeles’ lead to 14-0. St. Louis RB Terry Metcalf gave his team a chance to get back in the game with a 67 yard kickoff return, but the Cardinals lost the ball again, when Youngblood forced a fumble from RB Jim Otis that the Rams recovered.

Later, Los Angeles DB Bill Simpson intercepted a second Hart pass on the first play of the second quarter and returned it 65 yards for another touchdown, making the score 21-0. St. Louis came back to score on a 3 yard touchdown by Otis to cut the lead to 21-6. But the extra point was blocked, and the Rams responded on the first play of their next drive with Jaworski’s 66 yard touchdown pass to WR Harold Jackson, making the score 28-6 at the end of the half. In the third quarter, a 19 yard completion from Hart to Metcalf set up an 11 yard Hart touchdown pass to WR Mel Gray, for a 28-13 Los Angeles lead.

But, after the Cardinals further cut the Rams lead to 28-16 with a 39 yard Jim Bakken field goal, Simpson intercepted a third Hart pass to set up Los Angeles’ final touchdown. McCutcheon fumbled the football on the Rams next possession, but WR Ron Jessie picked it up and ran 2 yards into the end zone for a 35-16 Los Angeles lead. By the time St. Louis RB Steve Jones scored the final points of the game on a 3 yard touchdown run, the game was well of reach, and the Rams were winners, 35-23. It would be the Cardinals’ last playoff game until 1982, and their last in a non-strike season until 1998, a decade after the franchise moved to Arizona.

On December 28, with 24 seconds left in the game, Dallas Cowboys’ QB Roger Staubach threw a 50 yard touchdown pass to WR Drew Pearson, to defeat the favored Minnesota Vikings on a play that became known in NFL lore as the “Hail Mary”.

The first half was dominated by the defenses of both teams. The Vikings longest gain would be a 16 yard run by QB Fran Tarkenton early in the second quarter. Minnesota was eventually forced to punt, and the ball hit the ground near Dallas returner Cliff Harris. Thinking the ball had been touched by Harris, the Cowboys’ Pat Donovan desperately tried to dive on it, but the ball slipped away from him, and was recovered by Minnesota’s Fred McNeil on the Cowboys’ 4 yard line. RB Chuck Foreman eventually scored on a 1 yard run to give the Vikings a 7-0 lead. The Cowboys had some success moving the ball on their next two drives, but the first ended with a missed Toni Fritsch field goal and, after DB Mel Renfo’s interception sparked a Dallas drive to the Vikings 24 yard line, the Cowboys failed to covert a 4th and inches situation.

The score would remain 7-0 going into halftime. Dallas mounted the first sustained scoring drive of the game with their first possession of the second half. A late hit by Vikings’ LB Wally Hilgenberg turned RB Preston Pearson’s 14 yard reception into a 29 yard gain. Then Staubach hit TE Billy Joe Dupree for a 17 yard completion, to the Vikings 19 yard line. RB Doug Dennison rumbled downfield for 10 yards and, two plays later, tied the game at 7-7 on a 4 yard run. Early in the fourth quarter, Dallas took a 10-7 lead on a 24 yard field goal by Fritsch. Following an exchange of punts, Tarkenton completed 4 out of 6 passes for 37 yards on a 70 yard, 11 play drive, culminated by a 1 yard RB Brent McClanahan touchdown, giving the Vikings a 14-10 lead with 5:24 left in the game.

Dallas went three and out on their ensuing drive, handing the ball back to Minnesota with 3:12 left. The Vikings managed to force the Cowboys to use up all their timeouts but, on 3rd and 2, Dallas S Charlie Waters sacked Tarkenton for a 3 yard loss as the clock ran down to the two minute warning. “That play cost us the game,” Tarkenton later said. “It wasn’t the Hail Mary pass. We had the game in control but didn’t make the play.” The Cowboys got the ball back on their own 15 yard line, with only 1:51 left. Staubach started the drive with a pair of completions to Drew Pearson, moving the ball to the Dallas 31 yard line. However, on the next play, Staubach fumbled a low snap in shotgun formation, and was downed for an 8 yard loss.

A few plays later, facing 4th and 16, Staubach threw a 25 yard completion to Drew Pearson. Minnesota argued that Pearson was out of bounds when he made the catch, however, the official ruled that he was forced out by CB Nate Wright, and that the catch was legal. After Preston Pearson dropped a wide open pass in the middle of the field with 32 seconds left, Staubach launched a deep bomb to Drew Pearson. Pearson caught the ball through tight coverage by Wright at the 4 yard line and ran into the end zone for a 50 yard scoring reception that Staubach later called a “Hail Mary” pass.

The Vikings contended that Pearson pushed off and should have been flagged for offensive interference. The play drew the ire of Minnesota’s DT Alan Page, who was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct, and ejected. Tarkenton then vehemently argued with the referees, inspiring fans to throw objects onto the field, one of which was a liquor bottle that struck official Armen Terzian in the head, creating a large forehead gash and rendering him unconscious. The NFL later banned glass bottles from being sold at stadiums. Meanwhile, the Cowboys’ defense put the finishing touches on the team’s victory by sacking Tarkenton twice on the final two plays of the game.

Drew Pearson’s “Hail Mary” touchdown reception remains a strong part of Dallas football lore. The upstart and youthful Cowboys, not expected to do much after 1974’s 8-6 season and the loss of several key veterans, would now play for the NFC Championship. Meanwhile, for Minnesota fans, Pearson’s touchdown should never have counted because of an alleged offensive pass interference penalty that was not called by the officials. All in all, it was another disappointing end to a spectacular season for the Vikings. Minnesota had finished the season tied for the NFC’s best record and were the top seed in the playoffs. Tarkenton won the NFL MVP Award, while Foreman amassed 1,761 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns. Now, the Vikings would have to wait another year for a shot at the title.

In the last game of the day, the Oakland Raiders’ offense outgained the Cincinnati Bengals in total yards, 358-258, rushing yards, 173-97, and first downs, 27-17, while their defense held off a frantic Bengals comeback in the final period.

Oakland K George Blanda made a 31 yard field goal, while QB Ken Stabler threw 2 touchdown passes in the first half; one for 9 yards to WR Mike Siani and an 8 yarder to TE Bob Moore. Cincinnati’s lone score in the first half was an 8 play, 65 yard drive, ending with a 1 yard touchdown run by RB Stan Fritts, for a 17-7 Oakland lead at the half. The Raiders then scored on their first drive of the second half, with RB Pete Banaszak’s 6 yard touchdown, to take a 24-7 lead. After the Bengals marched 91 yards to cut the lead to 24-14 on RB Lenvil Elliott’s 6 yard touchdown, Stabler threw his third touchdown of the game, a 2 yard pass to TE Dave Casper. Trailing 31-14 in the fourth quarter, the Bengals managed to come back with two unanswered touchdowns.

First, Cincinnati DB Ken Riley intercepted a Stabler pass, returning the ball to the Raiders 34 yard line, setting up QB Ken Anderson’s 25 yard touchdown pass to WR Charlie Joiner. Then the Bengals defense forced Oakland to punt for the first time in the game. Three minutes later, Anderson’s 14 yard touchdown pass to WR Issac Curtis cut the score to 31-28. With 4:19 left in the game, Cincinnati recovered a Banaszak fumble on the Raiders 37 yard line, but Oakland forced the Bengals to turn the ball over on downs. Cincinnati managed to force a punt with 50 seconds left, but LB Chris Devlin ran into P Ray Guy, drawing a penalty, giving the Raiders a first down, and allowing them to run out the clock, preserving a 31-28 victory.

On January 4 1976, the NFC Championship Game pitted the Los Angeles Rams against the Dallas Cowboys in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum while, for the second consecutive season, the Pittsburgh Steelers played the Oakland Raiders for the AFC Championship, this time in Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium.

In the AFC, a defensive struggle, in which both teams combined for 12 turnovers, turned into an offensive battle late in the game, as the Pittsburgh Steelers managed to stop the Oakland Raiders’ final drive as time ran out, on a bitterly cold afternoon in Pittsburgh.

The game started out ugly, as Pittsburgh QB Terry Bradshaw was picked off twice in the first quarter. However, Oakland fared no better. K George Blanda’s missed a 38 yard field goal attempt after Bradshaw’s second interception, the closest the Raiders would get to scoring in the first half. In the second quarter, Steelers’ S Mike Wagner intercepted a Ken Stabler pass to set up K Roy Gerela’s 36 yard field goal for a 3-0 lead. This would be the only score in the first three quarters. Late in the third period, Steelers’ LB Jack Lambert recovered a Raider fumble at the Pittsburgh 30 yard line. The turnover set up RB Franco Harris’ 25 yard touchdown run to give the Steelers a 10-0 lead early in the fourth period.

Oakland responded with WR Mike Siani’s 14 yard touchdown reception from Stabler, but that was countered by WR John Stallworth’s 20 yard touchdown catch from Bradshaw. Gerela missed the ensuing extra point for a 16-7 Steeler lead. The Raiders subsequently found themselves at the Pittsburgh 24 yard line, 3rd and 2, with 18 seconds in the game. Oakland opted to have Blanda kick a 41 yard field goal, cutting the deficit to six points. RB Marv Hubbard recovered the ensuing onside kick with nine seconds remaining to give the Raiders one last chance to win the game. WR Cliff Branch caught a 37 yard Stabler pass, but was stopped at the Pittsburgh 15 yard line before he could get out of bounds. The clock ran out, giving the Steelers a 16-10 victory.

The loss would be the last game for professional football’s longest tenured player, George Frederick Blanda. Blanda played 26 seasons of professional football, the most in football history, retiring as the oldest player to ever play, at the age of 48. He was the first player to play in four different decades, and played for three of the game’s greatest coaches; Bear Bryant, George Halas, and John Madden. Blanda started his career with the National Football League’s Chicago Bears in 1949, playing with the team until 1958. When it became clear that Halas would only use him as a kicker, Blanda retired after the 1958 season.

He subsequently decided to resurrect his career in 1960 with the advent of the American Football League, signing with the Houston Oilers. Blanda was derided by the sports media as an “NFL reject”, but went on to lead the Oilers to the first two league titles in AFL history, was an All-AFL quarterback, and won AFL Player of the Year honors in 1961. His 36 touchdowns that year remained a record until broken by Miami Dolphins’ QB Dan Marino in 1984. On the flip side, his 42 interceptions in 1962 is a record that still stands today. From 1963-65, Blanda led the AFL in passing attempts and completions, and ranked in the top ten for attempts, completions, yards, and touchdowns during seven consecutive seasons.

A four time member of the AFL All-Star team, Blanda’s 17 year career seemed over when he was released by Houston on March 18 1967. However, the Oakland Raiders signed him that July, seeing his potential as a backup passer and a dependable kicker. In 1970, for the second time three years and at the age of 43, Blanda was released, but later rejoined the Raiders for his 21st professional season, his fourth with Oakland. It turned out to be a good decision for both Blanda and the Raiders. During the 1970 season, Blanda had a remarkable five game run, going 4-0-1 to help Oakland to win the first AFC West title in the post-merger NFL.

In Week 6 against Pittsburgh, Blanda threw for three touchdowns in relief of injured QB Daryle Lamonica for a 31-14 victory. One week later, his 48-yard field goal with three seconds remaining salvaged a 17-17 tie with the Kansas City Chiefs. In Week 8, he again came off the bench to throw a touchdown pass to tie the Cleveland Browns with 1:34 remaining, then kicked a 53 yard field goal with 0:03 left for a 23-20 win. In the team’s next game, Blanda replaced Lamonica in the fourth quarter and connected with WR Fred Biletnikoff on a touchdown pass with 2:28 left in the game, to defeat the Denver Broncos, 24-19. Finally, Blanda’s 16 yard field goal in the closing seconds of Week 10 defeated the San Diego Chargers, 20-17.

On January 3, in the AFC title game against the Baltimore Colts, Blanda again relieved an injured Lamonica, becoming the oldest quarterback to ever play in a championship game. He completed 17 of 32 passes for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns while also kicking a 48 yard field goal and two extra points, keeping the Raiders in the game until the final quarter, when he was intercepted twice, in a 27-17 loss. Blanda would continue to serve as Oakland’s kicker for five more seasons, but attempted a total of only 22 passes over the last four years, before retiring a final time in 1976.

Blanda finished his career having completed 1,911 out of 4,007 passes (47.7%) for 26,920 yards, 236 touchdowns, 277 interceptions, and a QB Rating of 60.6. Blanda also held the NFL record for most interceptions until Green Bay Packers’ QB Brett Favre broke it on October 14 2007. He rushed for 344 yards and 9 touchdowns, kicked 335 out of 641 field goals, and 943 out of 959 extra points, giving him 2,002 total points. Blanda was subsequently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

Later that Championship Sunday, QB Roger Staubach threw for 220 yards and 4 touchdown passes as the Dallas Cowboys upset the favored Los Angeles Rams. Dallas’ defense allowed only 118 total yards, a mere 22 yards on the ground, while sacking Rams’ QB Ron Jaworski five times.

Los Angeles QB James Harris, coming off an injury and making his first start since Week 13, was intercepted by Dallas LB D.D. Lewis on his first pass attempt, setting up Staubach’s 18 yard touchdown pass to RB Preston Pearson, for a 7-0 lead. A 4 yard touchdown reception by WR Golden Richards, and a 15 yard diving catch in the end zone by Preston Pearson, put the Cowboys up 21-0 at halftime. Dallas scored again on their first drive of the second half, a 19 yard Staubach pass to Preston Pearson, for his third touchdown reception of the game and a 28-0 Cowboys advantage. K Toni Fritsch added three field goals (40, 26, 26 yards) for a 37-0 lead. Harris ultimately gave way to Jaworski, but only RB John Cappelletti’s 1 yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter prevented the Rams from being shut out in route to a 37-7 Dallas victory.

For Pittsburgh, Super Bowl X would be their second consecutive appearance, the fourth team to do so in the Super Bowl era. For Dallas, it would be their third Super Bowl appearance in five years, having lost to the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V while defeating the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI.

Super Bowl Highlights: On January 18 1976, at Miami’s Orange Bowl, the NFC Champion and Wild Card entrant Dallas Cowboys, led by veteran Head Coach Tom Landry, now in his 16th season, played the AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, led by Head Coach Chuck Noll, in Super Bowl X. It was the first time a Wild Card team from either conference had made it to the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh again dominated opponents in 1975 with their “Steel Curtain” defense and a powerful running game. RB Franco Harris led the Steelers with 1,246 yards on 262 attempts (4.8 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns, finishing 2nd overall in rushing yards. Harris was also second on the team in pass receptions (28). RB Rocky Bleier added 528 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. The Steelers passing attack showed significant improvement in 1975, led by QB Terry Bradshaw. Bradshaw completed 165 out of 286 attempts (57.7%) for 2,055 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions (QB Rating: 88.0) while rushing for 210 yards and 3 touchdowns, finishing 5th overall in touchdown passes and QBR.

One reason why Bradshaw’s numbers were much better than the previous season was the emergence of two 1974 draft picks, WRs Lynn Swan and John Stallworth. Swann caught a team leading 49 passes for 781 yards and 11 touchdowns, tied for 1st overall with St. Louis Cardinals’ WR Mel Gray in receiving touchdowns. Stallworth only had 20 receptions, but averaged 21.2 yards per catch, recording a total of 423 receiving yards. Overall, Pittsburgh finished 2nd in rushing yards (2,633), 14th in passing yards (2,254), and 5th in points scored (373).

The Steelers’ defense ranked 3rd overall in total yards allowed (1,836 passing and 1825 rushing), and were second only to the Los Angeles Rams in total defense, allowing 162 points. Pittsburgh sent 8 of their 11 starters to the Pro Bowl; DT Joe Greene and DE L.C. Greenwood, future Hall of Fame LBs Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, and Andy Russell, and future Hall of Fame DB Mel Blount as well as S Glen Edwards and S Mike Wagner. Greene made the Pro Bowl, despite missing six games with injuries. Ham and Lambert had the best seasons of their careers, while Blount led the league with 11 interceptions, and was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Dallas advanced to its’ third Super Bowl in the 1970s with their high-tech offense and “flex” defense. QB Roger Staubach had a solid season, completing 198 out of 348 attempts (56.9%) for 2,666 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions (QB Rating: 78.5) while also rushing for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns. WR Drew Pearson led the team with 46 catches for 822 yards and 8 touchdowns. WR Golden Richards and TE Jean Fugett were also reliable targets in the Cowboys’ passing game, combining for 59 receptions, 939 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns.

Like the Steelers, Dallas was a run based team, with RB Robert Newhouse their leading rusher. Newhouse ran for 930 yards on 209 attempts (4.4 yards per attempt) and 2 touchdowns while finishing third on the team in receptions (34). Perhaps the most talented player in the Cowboy backfield was RB Preston Pearson, signed as a free agent after being cut by Pittsburgh in the preseason. Preston rushed for 509 yards, caught 27 passes for 351 yards, and added another 391 yards returning kickoffs. RB Doug Dennison also contributed to the Dallas running game with 9 touchdowns and 383 yards. Overall, the Cowboys finished 5th in rushing yards (2,432), 4th in passing yards (2,593), and 8th in total offense, scoring 350 points.

Dallas’ “Flex” defense finished 4th in rushing yards allowed (1699), 8th in passing yards allowed (2040), and 9th overall in total defense, allowing 268 points. The Cowboys were anchored by DEs Harvey Martin and Ed “Too Tall” Jones. LB Lee Roy Jordan led the team with six interceptions. The starting players in Dallas’ secondary, future Hall of Fame CB Mel Renfro, CB Mark Washington, S Charlie Waters, and Pro Bowl S Cliff Harris, combined for 12 interceptions.

On the opening kickoff, Dallas ran a reverse, where rookie LB Thomas “Hollywood” Henderson, took a handoff from Preston Pearson and returned the ball a Super Bowl record 48 yards before K Roy Gerela forced him out of bounds at Pittsburgh’s 44 yard line. Gerela suffered badly bruised ribs on the play that would affect his kicking performance all afternoon. After a Cowboy punt, the Steelers managed to get one first down, advancing to the Dallas 40 yard line, but they too were forced to punt. Pittsburgh P Bobby Walden fumbled the snap, and the Cowboys took over on the Steelers 29 yard line. On the very next play, Roger Staubach threw a 29 yard touchdown pass to Drew Pearson, taking a 7-0 lead. The score was the first touchdown permitted in the first quarter by the Pittsburgh defense all season.

Pittsburgh ran the ball on the first four plays of their ensuing possession. Terry Bradshaw then completed a 32 yard pass to Lynn Swan to reach the Cowboys’ 16 yard line. Swann soared over the outstretched reach of Dallas’ Mark Washington, before tight-roping the sideline to make the reception. Two running plays advanced the ball to the 7 yard line. On 3rd and 1, the Steelers managed to fool the Cowboys. Pittsburgh brought in two tight ends, which usually signals a running play. After the snap, TE Randy Grossman faked a block to the inside as if it were a running play, then ran a pass route into the endzone. Bradshaw threw the ball to him for a touchdown, tying the game at 7-7. This marked the first Super Bowl both teams scored in the first quarter.

Dallas responded on their next drive, advancing the ball 51 yards, all rushing, before scoring on K Toni Fritsch’s 36 yard field goal, to take a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter. The Steelers subsequently advanced to the Cowboys’ 36 yard line on their next possession but, on 4th and 2, Bradshaw’s pass was broken up by Dallas’ Cliff Harris. Later in the period, the Cowboys drove to the Pittsburgh 20 yard line, but losses on three consecutive plays pushed Dallas out of field goal range, and they were forced to punt.

Pittsburgh got the ball back on their own 6 yard line with 3:47 left in the half. On the drive, Bradshaw completed a 53 yard pass to Swann, a catch later known in pro football annals as the “levitating leap”, to advance the ball to the Cowboys’ 37 yard line. Swann’s catch has become one of the most memorable acrobatic catches in Super Bowl history. On the very next play, Bradshaw just missed connecting with Swann again, this time at the Dallas 6 yard line. The Steelers then drove to the 19 yard line after the two minute warning, but the drive stalled and ended with no points, as Gerela missed a 36 yard field goal attempt with 22 seconds left in the half, preserving a 10-7 Cowboys’ lead.

Early in the third quarter, Pittsburgh got a great scoring opportunity, when DB J.T. Thomas intercepted Staubach’s pass, returning it 35 yards to the Dallas 25 yard line. But, once again, the Steelers failed to score, as the Cowboys’ defense kept Pittsburgh out of the end zone, and Gerela missed his second field goal, a 33 yard attempt. The third quarter was completely scoreless, and Dallas maintained their 10-7 lead going into the final period. But, early in the quarter, Cowboys’ P Mitch Hoopes was forced to punt from inside his own goal line. As Hoopes stepped up to make the kick, Steelers’ RB Reggie Harrison broke through the line and blocked the punt. The ball went through the end zone for a safety, cutting the Dallas lead to 10-9.

Pittsburgh RB Mike Collier returned the free kick 25 yards to the Cowboys’ 45 yard line. Dallas halted the ensuing drive at the 20 yard line, but this time Gerela successfully kicked a 36 yard field goal to give the Steelers their first lead of the game, 12-10. On the first play of the Cowboys’ next drive, Pittsburgh’s Mike Wagner intercepted Staubach’s pass and returned it 19 yards to the Dallas 7 yard line. Staubach later said: “It was our bread and butter play all season long. It was the first time it didn’t work.” The Cowboys defense again managed to prevent a touchdown, but Gerela kicked an 18 yard field goal, to increase the Steelers lead to 15-10.

Pittsburgh forced a punt and regained possession of the ball on their own 30 yard line with 4:25 left in the final period. But, after two plays, the Steelers found themselves facing 3rd and 6 on their own 36 yard line. Assuming Dallas would be expecting a short pass or a run, Bradshaw decided to try a long pass, and told Swann in the huddle to run a deep post pattern. As Bradshaw dropped back to pass, Harris and LB D.D. Lewis both blitzed in an attempt to sack him. Bradshaw managed to dodge Lewis and throw the ball just before being leveled by Harris and DE Larry Cole, who landed a helmet-to-helmet hit on the quarterback.

Swann caught the ball at the 5 yard line and ran into the end zone for a 64 yard touchdown. Bradshaw never did see Swann’s catch or the touchdown, since Cole’s hit to his helmet knocked him out of the game with a head injury. It was only after he was assisted to the locker room that he was told what happened. Gerela missed the extra point, but the Steelers now had a 21-10 lead with 3:02 left in the game. Staubach led his team 80 yards in 5 plays on the ensuing drive, scoring on a 34 yard touchdown pass to WR Percy Howard, cutting their deficit to 21-17.

After Pittsburgh recovered Dallas’ onside kick attempt, the Steelers tried to run out the clock with three straight running plays, gaining only a single yard. With Chuck Noll having little confidence at this point in his kicking game, Pittsburgh ran again on fourth down instead of punting the football. The Cowboys defense stopped the Steelers at the Dallas 39 yard line, giving them one more chance to win. With 1:22 left in the game, Staubach started the drive with an 11 yard scramble to midfield, then followed it up with a 12 yard completion to Preston Pearson at the Steelers’ 38 yard line. Pearson inexplicably ran towards the middle of the field rather than running out of bounds to stop the clock.

With the clock running down, Staubach fumbled the snap on the next play, but managed to recover the ball and throw it downfield for an incompletion. On 2nd and 10, with 12 seconds left, he threw a pass intended for Howard in the end zone, but the ball bounced off his helmet. On 3rd and 10, Staubach once again tried to complete a pass to Howard in the end zone, but the ball was tipped by Wagner into the arms of Glen Edwards for an interception as time expired, sealing Pittsburgh’s second straight Super Bowl victory, 21-17. The Steelers became the third team, in addition to the Green Bay Packers and the Miami Dolphins, to win consecutive Super Bowls.

Super Bowl X is remembered as being the most exciting of the first 10 Super Bowls. Lynn Swann’s heroics and Jack Lambert’s 14 tackles, as well as his throw down of Dallas S Cliff Harris after a missed Pittsburgh field goal, are indelible images from the game. The Steeler defense sacked the Cowboys’ Roger Staubach a Super Bowl record seven times. After being benched to start the 1974 campaign and being booed for most of his first four seasons, Terry Bradshaw became the first quarterback to throw two game winning touchdown passes in Super Bowl competition. Swann, who caught 4 passes for a Super Bowl record 161 yards and 1 touchdown, became the first wide receiver to be named the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player.

Conclusion: For Green Bay, 1975 may have been a “Fresh Start With Bart” but, for Bart Starr, it proved to be a tough beginning to his coaching career. Starr was a man weaned on Vince Lombardi’s tight discipline and demanding learning curve. He was dismayed when his team failed to improve during the season. “We never reached the stage I thought we should have reached,” Starr said. “We were still making mistakes late in the season, in many cases, the same mistakes we had made earlier. That wouldn’t be so bad if this was a young team. But we’re not a young team.” The talent, particularly on offense, was so thin that an entire revamping was in order for the Packers beginning in 1976.

However, according to Stanton Greene, “… despite the disastrous season, Starr had come through it untarnished, still seeming a titan among mere mortals. Cliff Christl summed it up best in his year end column, ‘Bart Starr leaves a strong and favorable impression. You have to admire his self-discipline. His carriage. His indomitability. His charisma.'” But for Starr, his team, and their fans, more difficult days were ahead.

To end this post, I’ve attached two video clips. First is a clip of the famous Roger Staubach to Drew Pearson “Hail Mary” pass as originally broadcast on CBS television. Second is the NFL Films Super Bowl X Highlight video, narrated once again by the great John Facenda. Enjoy!

As always, your feedback is appreciated!