Records & History - NFL.com

Somewhat by chance, CurlyLambeau and George Calhounjoined together in 1919 to formwhat is now the Green Bay Packers.Lambeau was an outstanding athleteat Green Bay East High School,and after enrolling at Notre Dameand making varsity under KnuteRockne, he was back in Green Bayafter severe tonsillitis forced him tomiss the spring semester.Then, Lambeau ran intoCalhoun, the sports editor of theGreen Bay Press-Gazette, who hadcovered Lambeau as a prep. Thetwo got to talking and decided tostart up a football team. On Aug.11, 1919, Lambeau, Calhoun and agroup of young athletes gathered inthe editorial room of the old Press-Gazette building on Cherry Streetand organized the beginning of the Packers.At the time, Lambeau was a shipping clerk for the Indian PackingCompany, a wartime meat-packing industry in Green Bay. Because hesomehow persuaded his boss, Frank Peck, to donate $500 of companymoney for team uniforms, the new squad had its name, “Packers.”Lambeau was a player and the team’s first captain. And in theirfirst season together, the Packers went 10-1 playing local foes.In the meantime, the Indian Packing Company fell on hardtimes and was bought out by the Acme Packing Company. But in1921, based on the success of the team, Lambeau persuaded Acmeowners John and Emmitt Clair to back the Packers and apply formembership in the new American Professional Football Association(renamed the NFL in 1922). The Clairs agreed, and on Aug. 27,1921, the Packers became an official professional football franchise.Not long after, poor finances and the illegal use of college playersforced the team to be forfeited, but Lambeau bought it backat a league meeting in Canton, Ohio, for a franchise fee of $250,including $50 of his own money, in 1922.Financial problems continued however, and with the teamteetering on the brink of bankruptcy, Lambeau received aid fromAndrew B. Turnbull, the general manager of the Press-Gazette, whoforwarded money to Lambeau to help keep the team afloat in 1922,before rallying local businessmen to purchase stock and turn thePackers into a nonprofit organization in August 1923.One of eight NFL coaches ever to win 200 games, Lambeau’s212-106-21 (.667) Green Bay record – including postseason– doesn’t even include 1919 or 1920 before the teamjoined what is now the NFL. He guided the Packers to six worldchampionships: 1929-31, 1936, 1939 and 1944.The Packers didn’t play an official postseason game until 1936– their first three championships were decided by league standinguntil the playoff system was added in 1933 – when they defeatedthe Boston Redskins 21-6 for their fourth NFL title.Green Bay was back in the title game in 1938, but fell to the NewYork Giants by the score of 23-17. In 1939, the Packers got theirrevenge, blanking the Giants 27-0 to win their fifth crown after a 9-2campaign. And in 1944, the Packers won their sixth and final titleunder Lambeau, defeating the Giants 14-7.Six Packers played under Lambeau en route to a spot in the ProFootball Hall of Fame: T Cal Hubbard (1929-33, 1935), HB Johnny“Blood” McNally (1929-33, 1935-36), FB Clarke Hinkle (1932-41),G Mike Michalske (1929-35, 1937), QB Arnie Herber (1930-40) andE Don Hutson (1935-45).Lambeau’s tenure as head coach included some pioneering developments:implementing daily practice (late 1920s), bringing Rockne’s“secret weapon” of the forward pass to the pro game (1919), implementingpass patterns (1930s) and flying to road games (1940).However, Lambeau’s decision to purchase the Rockwood Lodgenorth of Green Bay at a price of $25,000 to make it the Packers’training facility didn’t go over well with members of the executivecommittee and contributed to an internal power struggle that helpedend his 31-year tenure with the team.On Jan. 31, 1950, Lambeau resigned and was replaced byGene Ronzani, who would coach the Packers until 1953. Lambeaufinished his coaching career at the reins of the Chicago Cardinals(1950-51) and Washington Redskins (1952-53).EARL LOUIS “CURLY” LAMBEAU519Lambeau was 21 years old when he became player-captain of the GreenBay Packers in 1919. The Packers didn’t join what is now the NFL until twoyears later, so his official Packers playing career ran from 1921-29.Listed in Total Football at 5-foot-10, 187 pounds, he appearedon the roster as a halfback. But in those days, with the passinggame in its infancy, the halfback received the snap from center, soin reality Lambeau was the Packers’ first field general.In Green Bay’s first official league game, Oct. 23, 1921,Lambeau threw both of the Packers’ two passes in a 7-6 win.Earl Louis (Curly) Lambeau, born April 9, 1898, in Green Bay,Wis., died June 1, 1965, at the age of 67.LAMBEAU AT A GLANCE• Multi-sport star at Green Bay East High School, he essentiallycoached the football team as a senior in 1917; he allegedly knewmore than the coach.• Played one season, 1918, at Notre Dame, where he lined up inKnute Rockne’s backfield next to George Gipp.• Tonsillitis ended his short-lived college career, but the ailment ledto a chance meeting with Green Bay Press-Gazette sports editorGeorge Calhoun. Over beers, Lambeau and Calhoun consummatedthe establishment of the Green Bay Packers.• During his playing days, stood nearly 5-foot-10 and weighed 187pounds, one of the larger players in any NFL backfield; the teamcaptain, he played tailback, blocking back, fullback and end.• Innovated the forward pass in pro football and was the first coachto implement daily practice.• Father, Marcel, during the 1920s served as construction foreman,supervising several expansions at Green Bay’s Hagemeister Parkand City Stadium.• Pro Football Hall of Fame, charter class of 1963.• One of nine NFL coaches to win 200 games (including playoffs).LAMBEAU’S NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE CAREER—Touchdowns—Year PLAYING RECORD G Ru Pa Rec PAT FG Pts1921 Green Bay . . . . . . . . . .6 2 1 0 7 3 281922 Green Bay . . . . . . . . . .8 3 2 0 3 1 *301923 Green Bay . . . . . . . . .10 1 3 2 0 0 181924 Green Bay . . . . . . . . .11 0 8 1 0 1 **101925 Green Bay . . . . . . . . .11 0 5 0 5 1 81926 Green Bay . . . . . . . . .12 0 3 0 4 0 41927 Green Bay . . . . . . . . .10 2 1 0 0 0 121928 Green Bay . . . . . . . . . .8 0 1 0 0 0 01929 Green Bay# . . . . . . . . .1 0 0 0 0 0 0Totals (nine years) . . . . 77 8 24 3 19 6 110*—includes one return touchdown **—includes one extra-point scoreYear COACHING W L T Pct Finish Playoffs1921 Green Bay 3 2 1 .600 T6-National Football League -1922 Green Bay 4 3 3 .571 T7-National Football League -1923 Green Bay 7 2 1 .778 3-National Football League -1924 Green Bay 7 4 0 .636 6-National Football League -1925 Green Bay 8 5 0 .615 9-National Football League -1926 Green Bay 7 3 3 .700 5-National Football League -1927 Green Bay 7 2 1 .778 2-National Football League -1928 Green Bay 6 4 3 .600 4-National Football League -1929 Green Bay# 12 0 1 1.000 1-National Football League -1930 Green Bay# 10 3 1 .769 1-National Football League -1931 Green Bay# 12 2 0 .857 1-National Football League -1932 Green Bay 10 3 1 .769 2-National Football League -1933 Green Bay 5 7 1 .417 3-NFL Western Division -1934 Green Bay 7 6 0 .538 3-NFL Western Division -1935 Green Bay 8 4 0 .667 2-NFL Western Division -1936 Green Bay# 10 1 1 .909 1-NFL Western Division 1-01937 Green Bay 7 4 0 .636 2-NFL Western Division -1938 Green Bay 8 3 0 .727 1-NFL Western Division 0-11939 Green Bay# 9 2 0 .818 1-NFL Western Division 1-01940 Green Bay 6 4 1 .600 2-NFL Western Division -1941 Green Bay 10 1 0 .909 T1-NFL Western Division 0-11942 Green Bay 8 2 1 .800 2-NFL Western Division -1943 Green Bay 7 2 1 .778 2-NFL Western Division -1944 Green Bay# 8 2 0 .800 1-NFL Western Division 1-01945 Green Bay 6 4 0 .600 3-NFL Western Division -1946 Green Bay 6 5 0 .545 3-NFL Western Division -1947 Green Bay 6 5 1 .545 3-NFL Western Division -1948 Green Bay 3 9 0 .250 4-NFL Western Division -1949 Green Bay 2 10 0 .167 5-NFL Western Division -1950 Chi. Cardinals 5 7 0 .417 5-NFL American Conference -1951 Chi. Cardinals 2 8 0 .200 6-NFL American Conference -1952 Washington 4 8 0 .333 T5-NFL American Conference -1953 Washington 6 5 1 .545 3-NFL Eastern Conference -Totals (33 years) 226 132 22 .631 3-2Green Bay (29 years) 209 104 21 .668 3-2#—Won NFL championshipCOMMUNITYADMIN. &COACHESDRAFT &VETERANS FREE AGENTS 2012 REVIEWLAMBEAUCURLY LAMBEAULAMBEAUFIELD MISC.