Green Bay Packers experienced instability from 1950 to 1958, changing coaches three times and failing to create a winning record in any season. In 1959 former New York Giants assistant coach Vince Lombardi took over the Green Bay Packers club, which had just suffered its worst season in permit history. In his first season Lombardi delivered the team’s first winning record since 1947 and was named the NFL coach of the year. In Lombardi’s second season the Packers won the Western Division, and a year later the Packers won the 1961 NFL crown.

Lombardi built tough lineups on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and under his guidance the Packers won five league crowns from 1961 to 1967. Green Bay Packers also won the first two Super Bowls, humbling two American Football League (AFL) champion teams: Following the 1966 season the Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in the 1967 Super Bowl, and a year later they beat the Oakland Raiders 33-14.

On the field, Bart Starr led the team. He collected three passing titles and two Super Bowl most valuable player (MVP) awards. Starr was among ten future Hall of Fame members who played for Lombardi—five each from offense and defense. Others included Paul Hornung and Jim Taylor. Hornung ranks in the middle of the greatest all-around talents ever to play the game. His 176 points scored during the 1960 season remain an NFL record for the most points scored in a solitary season. Taylor rushed for 1000 yards five times in his career.

Throughout his nine seasons in Green Bay, Lombardi’s teams won more than 75 percent of their games, counting nine of ten playoff contests. Lombardi’s .740 career winning percentage is the highest among coaches with at least 100 victories. From 1968 to 1992 the Green Bay Packers appeared in the playoffs only twice, in 1972 and 1982. Former players Starr and Gregg each served stints as head coach. Notable individual achievements throughout this period included running back John Brockington’s three 1000-yard seasons from 1971 to 1973, quarterback Lynn Dickey’s NFC yardage title in 1983, and wide receiver James Lofton’s five 1000-yard efforts during the early 1980s.

In January 1992 the Green Bay Packers hired Mike Holmgren, a former offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, as the team’s head coach. Sparked by wide receiver Sterling Sharpe’s 1000-yard seasons in 1993 and 1994, Green Bay Packers earned wild-card berths to the playoffs. In 1995 the club won the division crown and advanced to the NFC Championship Game, losing to the eventual Super Bowl—champion Dallas Cowboys. Wide receiver Robert Brooks broke the club record for yardage that season; quarterback Brett Favre led the league in passing yards (4413) and touchdown passes (38), and was named player of the year.

Green Bay Packers success continued as Favre threw 39 touchdown passes to lead Green Bay to 13 victories and its second successive division title in 1996. In the playoffs the Green Bay Packers captured the NFC championship and defeated the New England Patriots 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI. The following season the Green Bay Packers continued to dominate the NFC, with another 13 wins and the Central Division title. After crushing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs, however, Green Bay Packers faltered in the Super Bowl and lost to the Denver Broncos.