R.I.P. Paul Hornung

[Joemailman]

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter
The Louisville Sports Commission announced today that Hall-of-Fame legend Paul Hornung died after a battle with dementia. Hornung was 84.

Losing a lot of Lombardi Packers.

[Fritz]

Losing a lot of Lombardi Packers.

Maybe the most athletically gifted - or one of the most - on those early 60's teams. Sad that he suffered from dementia, and again, it's hard not to think that maybe the poor helmet design, the rules that ignored dangerous hits, the encouragement of the machismo attitudes of the time, and the poor injury management may all have contributed, if not caused, his dementia.

What a talented Packer. I believe he was also the punter or placekicker or both for a time.

[Freak Out]

Another all time great. RIP Golden Boy.

[Fosco33]

Rip

[MadtownPacker]

RIP. I look forward to the old timers here saying their best Hornung story.

[QBME]

RIP. I look forward to the old timers here saying their best Hornung story.

I'm an old timer.
Great pic with Forrest Gregg leading the charge.
Hornung liked to hang with Max McGee.
All I got.
R.I.P.

[smuggler]

Always wondered what his career might've been like with more modern utilization and more fanatical commitment from Hornung himself.

[wist43]

RIP

[KYPack]

Paul will go down as one of the most versatile players in NFL history. He was a former QB in college, and used his experience to throw deadly option passes. Until he hurt his knee, he was an accurate PK. He was a solid pass catcher, running sophisticated pass routes in an era where other back only ran simple circle patterns out of the backfield. To top it off, he was a devastating blocker, consistently listed as the best blocking back in the NFL.

In one of his career games he scored 5 touchdowns to help nail down their '65 season. The Packers and Colts were going at it to determine the conference championship, in Baltimore a madhouse of Colt fans in those days. Paul scored on 3 runs and also caught two long passes for touchdowns, one or 50 yds and the gamebreaker of 65 yards to seal the win. This game brought out Pauls' greatest value as a player. He lit up like a Christmas tree in big games.

He was a team leader who lead by being a big time player and a cool guy. A big game specialist that always was super ready when the chips were on the line. He wasn't a rah rah guy, but did have some great lines. In'61 Paul had to spend half the year in the army, The players that were called back to active duty had to get weekend passes to play in NFL games on Sunday. Late in the '61 season, the Pack wasn't sure if Paul would make the Sunday game with the 49ers in Frisco. Things were up in the air as far as Paul's participation in the day's game. Then at breakfast, a buzz when thru the room, the Horn made it! After greeting everybody, Paul made a little speech. "Boys, I came to San Francisco to do two things. I took care of one of them last night, now let's go beat the 49ers". The room exploded in laughter. Even Lombardi brightened up. The Pack had it's Golden Boy and they were loose and ready to play, so the coach was happy. Little things like a late check in were all forgotten. Paul got the boys going.. He was special, a star and a leader in his own unique way.

[hoosier]

Always wondered what his career might've been like with more modern utilization and more fanatical commitment from Hornung himself.

Had he not played around so much, he would've played more.

[hoosier]

Paul will go down as one of the most versatile players in NFL history. He was a former QB in college, and used his experience to throw deadly option passes. Until he hurt his knee, he was an accurate PK. He was a solid pass catcher, running sophisticated pass routes in an era where other back only ran simple circle patterns out of the backfield. To top it off, he was a devastating blocker, consistently listed as the best blocking back in the NFL.

In one of his career games he scored 5 touchdowns to help nail down their '65 season. The Packers and Colts were going at it to determine the conference championship, in Baltimore a madhouse of Colt fans in those days. Paul scored on 3 runs and also caught two long passes for touchdowns, one or 50 yds and the gamebreaker of 65 yards to seal the win. This game brought out Pauls' greatest value as a player. He lit up like a Christmas tree in big games.

He was a team leader who lead by being a big time player and a cool guy. A big game specialist that always was super ready when the chips were on the line. He wasn't a rah rah guy, but did have some great lines. In'61 Paul had to spend half the year in the army, The players that were called back to active duty had to get weekend passes to play in NFL games on Sunday. Late in the '61 season, the Pack wasn't sure if Paul would make the Sunday game with the 49ers in Frisco. Things were up in the air as far as Paul's participation in the day's game. Then at breakfast, a buzz when thru the room, the Horn made it! After greeting everybody, Paul made a little speech. "Boys, I came to San Francisco to do two things. I took care of one of them last night, now let's go beat the 49ers". The room exploded in laughter. Even Lombardi brightened up. The Pack had it's Golden Boy and they were loose and ready to play, so the coach was happy. Little things like a late check in were all forgotten. Paul got the boys going.. He was special, a star and a leader in his own unique way.

Nice to hear he got his Chinese takeout in the bargain.

[HarveyWallbangers]

In one of his career games he scored 5 touchdowns to help nail down their '65 season. The Packers and Colts were going at it to determine the conference championship, in Baltimore a madhouse of Colt fans in those days. Paul scored on 3 runs and also caught two long passes for touchdowns, one or 50 yds and the gamebreaker of 65 yards to seal the win. This game brought out Pauls' greatest value as a player. He lit up like a Christmas tree in big games.

Good stuff. Had to look it up. 5 TDs--including 50 and 65 yard TD receptions.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196512120clt.htm

[HarveyWallbangers]

What's interesting is to look at the other scores that week. The 9-3 Packers had to beat the 9-2-1 Colts to move ahead of them. Also, 10-2 Cleveland lost to the 3-9 Rams, 42-7. Apparently, that helped the Packers a lot. Also, the 8-4 Bears stayed alive with a 61-20 victory over San Fran.

[Patler]

What's interesting is to look at the other scores that week. The 9-3 Packers had to beat the 9-2-1 Colts to move ahead of them. Also, 10-2 Cleveland lost to the 3-9 Rams, 42-7. Apparently, that helped the Packers a lot. Also, the 8-4 Bears stayed alive with a 61-20 victory over San Fran.

On the same day Hornung scored 5 tds, Gale Sayers scored 6. Hornung got little fanfare for his accomplishment when it happened, all the attention going to Sayers, instead.

[TravisWilliams23]

That 65 title game against the Browns got me hooked on the Packers. The mud and snow and Ray Scott announcing was all I needed to
push me all in for Green Bay. The Lombardi Legends just grew as time went by. I miss that era. Paul was at the end of his career but
he was part of what started all the glory. RIP.