The Green Bay Packers were formed by George Calhoun and Curly Lambeau, and the team is named after the sponsor, the Indian Packing Company
On August 11, 1919, the Green Bay Packers football club was founded by George Calhoun and Curly Lambeau. Originally named after the team’s sponsor, Indian Packing Company, the organization has become a fixture in pro sports culture and one of the most celebrated NFL teams of all time.
The Packers quickly established themselves as a force in professional football, joining what became the National Football League in 1921 and winning three consecutive championships from 1929 through 1931 under Lambeau. Despite the franchise’s success, Green Bay’s survival was never guaranteed; when the NFL eliminated several smaller-market franchises during the 1920s, the Packers managed to endure and ultimately became the league’s most famous small-market institution.
The team’s greatest dynasty arrived under Vince Lombardi, who took over as head coach and general manager in 1959. Lombardi transformed a team that had finished 1-10-1 the previous season into a powerhouse, winning five NFL championships in seven years, including the first two Super Bowls. The 1967 season also produced the legendary “Ice Bowl,” one of the most iconic games in NFL history.
Green Bay later returned to championship glory behind Brett Favre and won Super Bowl XXXI following the 1996 season. Aaron Rodgers guided the Packers to another championship in Super Bowl XLV in 2011. With 13 world championships, including four Super Bowl victories, Green Bay remains the winningest franchise in NFL history.
