This year the NFL and the Green Bay Packers are celebrating a century of football. Unlike some, Howie Magner didn't write an extensive book about every nook and cranny of Packers history. Instead, he highlights one moment — good or bad — from each decade of game-play for his piece in October's Milwaukee Magazine.
"It's very easy to just go through the history and find the best moments, right? Just find the moments that people remember with a smile. But that's not what sports is about either," notes Magner.
"Hopefully it starts some conversation. I think that is part of what sports brings to us as well, these fun arguments and cheerful disagreements," he adds.
One of the moments highlighted in Magner's story is from 1949-58. It features Green Bay Packers quarterback and legend Bart Starr.
Magner notes that Starr was drafted in the 17th round from Alabama and joined the Packers in 1956. Despite what would today be considered a late draft, Starr had a Hall of Fame career, two Super Bowl MVPs and a charitable legacy that lasts to this day. Starr passed away just last year.
"He was such a transformational talent and I do think he kind of gets overshadowed by the stars of the recent past," says Magner.
From the first Packers-Bears playoff game in 1941 to the dedication of the Lombardi trophy, Magner joins Lake Effect's Audrey Nowakowski to discuss what he learned trying to pick just 10 moments of Packers history:
