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Who’s Best of Packers’ Hall of Famers?

Some of the greatest players in NFL history have played for the Green Bay Packers. Who is the best of the best?

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Jul 14, 2023 8:22 AM EDT

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – With 13 world championships, the Green Bay Packers have arguably the richest history of any team in the NFL.

There’s founding father Curly Lambeau and iconic coach Vince Lombardi. There’s Bart Starr and Brett Favre throwing passes, Willie Wood and Reggie White sacking the passer and Charles Woodson and Herb Adderley intercepting passes.

With the induction of LeRoy Butler as part of the Class of 2022, the Packers have 28 individuals enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That’s the second-most in the NFL behind the 30 members of the Chicago Bears.

Who is the best of the best? The cream of the crop? The pick of the Packers legends?

Longtime NFL writer Barry Wilner is one of the Hall of Fame selectors. For The 33rd Team, he picked each team’s best Hall of Fame player.

His choice?

Don Hutson.

How good was Hutson? Within the first three sentences, Wilner referenced Jerry Rice and Babe Ruth.

The Ruth comparison is especially apt because Hutson was so dominant compared to his peers. In 11 NFL seasons, Hutson:

Don Hutson scores a touchdown against Washington in 1941. (Photo by USA Today Sports Images)

- Led the league in receptions eight times.

- Led the league in receiving yards seven times.

- Led the league in receiving touchdowns nine times.

- Led the NFL in interceptions once.

Hutson wrapped up his career in 1945 with 488 receptions for 7,991 yards and 99 touchdowns. Hutson’s record for receiving touchdowns lasted 44 years, with Steve Largent reaching 100 in 1989.

“I just concede him two touchdowns a game, and I hope we can score more,” legendary Bears coach George Halas once said.

In the 11-game 1942 season, Hutson caught 74 passes for 1,211 yards and 17 touchdowns. Hutson had more receptions than three teams, more receiving yards than four teams and more receiving touchdowns than all but the Bears.

The 17 touchdowns – at that time the only season in NFL history with more than 10 – remained the NFL record until Mark Clayton scored 18 for the Dolphins in the 16-game 1984 season.

When Hutson had 866 yards in 1944, it was the fifth season in NFL history of a player reaching 725 receiving yards in a season. Hutson had all five.

When he retired after the 1945 season, he had more career receptions, yards and touchdowns than the next three players on the all-time lists.

Hutson was part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s inaugural class in 1963. Said his presenter, Dante Lavelli: “Don Hutson set records for pass catching and scoring which only legislation can wipe out. He is a football yard stick. Each bright new receiver is hailed as a second Don Hutson and later perhaps as a better than Hutson. Then time turns the page on that player and Don is left to wait the next comparison to come and go.”

Click here for the full story, including his runners-up.