Today’s Legend of the Day: Bart Starr

Bart Starr was a 17th round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers in 1956.  His playing time was limited during his first few years on the team, but the arrival of Vince Lombardi as Packers coach changed his football career. Lombardi found Starr an intelligent and capable player. With his encouragement, Starr acquired the self-confidence to become one of the NFL’s great field leaders.

Bart Starr was quarterback for the University of Alabama from 1952-1956.

By 1960, Starr led Green Bay to the Western Division championship, the first in a long run of successes for the Packers. Starr ended up playing for 15 years as a quarterback and rose to become one the greatest players the team has seen.

He held several NFL passing records, including the lifetime record of completing 57.4 percent of his passes over a 16-year period. He led the league in passing three times. Starr used his astuteness and skill to lead the Packers to five NFL titles and two Super Bowl Championships.

He was honored three times as Most Valuable Player- once as a Green Bay Packer MVP in 1966 and MVP of Super Bowls I and II. After his playing career ended, Starr remained with the team he built and took on the role of head coach from 1975 to 1983.

In 1977 he was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. Starr has won a number of awards, including NFL Award for Citizenship and the Byron White Award. Bart Starr was the man who made the Packers click and he will always be respected for his hardworking attitude and perseverance.   Today,   Starr spends his time as head of  Healthcare Realty Management and is co-founder of the Rawhide Boys Ranch,  a place which assists boys in trouble.