The Case for Kramer

Why Jerry Kramer, Green Bay Packer right guard,
should be inducted in the
Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Member of all 1960's Packer NFL Championship teams (played '58-'68) 
   a) teams that were known for power running into holes
      and behind sweeps created by the line

   b) performed at Lombardi lineman standards for that many years --
      one tough standard!

Packer leading rushers during Kramer's years:
(From Packer Plus Archives) 
                                                             NFL
year                       rush  yards     avg   LG  TD      rank
1958   Paul Hornung          69    310     4.5   55   2       26
1959   Paul Hornung         152    681     4.5   63   7       8
1960   Jim Taylor           230  1,101     4.8   32  11       2
1961   Jim Taylor           243  1,307     5.4   53  15       2
1962   Jim Taylor           272  1,474     5.4   51  19       1
1963   Jim Taylor           248  1,018     4.1   40   9       2
1964   Jim Taylor           235  1,169     5.0   84  12       2
1965   Jim Taylor           207    734     3.5   35   4       5
1966   Jim Taylor           204    705     3.5   19   4       10
1967   Jim Grabowski        120    466     3.9   24   2       19
1968   Donny Anderson       170    761     4.5   42   5       9


Selected as All-Pro nearly every year 
   1960 (AP)
   1961 missed 7 games due to broken ankle
   1962 (AP, UPI, NEA)
   1963 (AP, UPI, NEA)
   1964 missed most of season due to surgery to remove wood splinters
   1965
   1966 (AP, UPI, NEA)
   1967 (AP, UPI)


Named to 3 Pro Bowls: 
   1963
   1964
   1968


Famed Ice Bowl touchdown blocker.
There are only a dozen or so single NFL plays as famous. (Yes, to this day he shares credit with center Ken Bowman, and yes it was only one yard, but its the toughest yard in football)


Kicked field goals and extra points in two seasons, including 3 field goals in the 16-7 win over the Giants for the 1962 NFL Championship.


Kicking Record:
From Packer Plus Archives

YEAR ATT. MADE PCT. LG NFL RANK 
    1962  11        9   .818    37     11
    1963  34       16   .471    46      4

Account of Packers vs. Giants 1962 NFL Championship
(From an old NY Giants web site)


PACKERS 16, GIANTS 7
NFL Championship
Dec. 30, 1962 at Yankee Stadium (64,892)
Giants Erich Barnes blocked Max McGee end zone punt and rookie Jim Collier recovered for TD... That cut Green Bay's third-quarter lead to 10-7...But Jerry Kramer's second and third FGs, stern defense and icy winds helped Pack hold off Giants. 

      Green Bay (14-1)        3       7       3       3      16
      New York  (12-3)        0       0       7       0       7



      G. B.  Kramer 26 field goal
      G. B.  Taylor 7 run (Kramer kick)
      Giants  Collier blocked punt recovery in end zone 
         (Chandler kick)
      G. B.  Kramer 29 field goal
      G. B.  Kramer 30 field goal


Documented the NFL experience of that era, writing four books:
Life as a player in the 60s
Instant Replay, 1968 (with Dick Schaap)
Farewell to Football, 1969 (with Dick Schaap)

The personality and character of Vince Lombardi
Lombardi: Winning is the Only Thing, 1970, 1976 (Jerry Kramer, Ed.)

Life after football for the pre-megabuck player
Distant Replay, 1985 (with Dick Schaap)


Inducted in Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame, 1975, with teammates: 
    Don Chandler, K, 1965-67
    Ron Kramer, TE, 1957, 1959-64
    *Willie Davis, DE, 1960-69
    *Vince Lombardi, Coach-GM, 1959-68
    *Paul Hornung, HB-K, 1957-62, 1964-66
    Max McGee, E, 1954, 1957-67
    *Henry Jordan, DT 1959-69
    *Jim Taylor, FB, 1958-66
    Fred Thurston, G, 1959-67

    (*) now in Pro Football Hall of Fame



Named as guard for NFL 50-year team (1969)


His story of persistence, stamina and mental toughness to comeback from several serious injuries during his lifetime deserves to be told to visitors to Canton.


Other honors: #64 jersey retired at Univ of Idaho, inducted Senior Bowl Hall of Fame (1960).
So he was a quality player on some very exceptional teams, had key contributions in championship games and contributed to football well after his playing days. He was recognized as an outstanding player in his time.


Return to main Kramer page