1958 Green Bay Packers season

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = Green Bay Packers

| year = 1958

| record = 1–10–1

| division_place = 6th NFL Western

| coach = Ray McLean

| general manager = Verne Lewellen

| owner= Green Bay Football Corp.
Dominic Olejniczak
(President)

| stadium = City Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| shortnavlink = Packers seasons

}}

The 1958 Green Bay Packers season was their 40th season overall and their 38th season in the National Football League. The team finished with a 1–10–1 record under first-year head coach Ray McLean for a last-place finish in the league in {{nfly|1958}} and the worst record ever posted by a Packers team.

In the immortal words of New York sportswriter and Green Bay native Red Smith: "they overwhelmed one opponent, under-whelmed ten, and whelmed one."{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1683&dat=19990914&id=3P8cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lI4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5049,7209886 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |title=In throes of winter, a team in disarray is reborn |last=Maraniss |first=David |agency=book excerpt |date=September 14, 1999 |page=1A |access-date=November 19, 2015 |archive-date=April 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427141539/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1683&dat=19990914&id=3P8cAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lI4EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5049,7209886 |url-status=dead }} The tie came in week two and the three-point win in week five; during the seven-game losing streak to end the season the Packers lost by an average margin of over 22 points and got no closer than ten. The Packers finished 1958 allowing a league-worst 382 points in the 12-game season (31.8 points per game).

McLean was the top assistant on the coaching staff in 1957 and was given a one-year contract as head coach after Lisle Blackbourn was fired in early January 1958 with a year remaining ($25,000) on a five-year contract.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ht5QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ciUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5336%2C2625432 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |title=Blackbourn is fired; McLean new coach |date=January 7, 1958 |page=13, part 2 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=XW1QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7032%2C3524395 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel | last = Lea | first = Bud | author-link = Bud Lea |title=McLean popular choice of fans and players alike |date=January 8, 1958 |page=4, part 2 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rw4rAAAAIBAJ&sjid=K5oFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5565%2C2390268 |newspaper=Reading Eagle |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=McLean is named new Packer coach |date=January 7, 1958 |page=17}} Following the final game of the 1958 season, McLean resigned on December 17,{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OuxQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uyUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6910%2C3715813 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |title=Packers shake up front office; McLean quits, Detroit Lions next? |date=December 17, 1958 |page=18, part 2}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_2pQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7380%2C3884585 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |title=McLean quits, joins Lions staff |date=December 18, 1958 |page=8, part 2}} which paved the way for the historic hiring of Vince Lombardi in January 1959, who started turning things around in his first season.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bh8aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rCUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6945%2C3786870 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |last=Johnson |first=Chuck |title=Packers name Vince Lombardi head coach, general manager |date=January 29, 1959 |page=11, part 2 }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9TEoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=siUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2271%2C1715341 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |last=Johnson |first=Chuck |title=Lombardi reception warm, despite cold |date=February 3, 1959 |page=14, part 2}}

The underachieving 1958 team was loaded with talent, with future hall of famers Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, Jim Taylor, Ray Nitschke, Jim Ringo, Bobby Dillon, Forrest Gregg, and Jerry Kramer, as well as future All-Pros Ron Kramer, Max McGee, Bill Forester, and Dan Currie. This is the only season that the team wore blue and white uniforms; the next year they would switch to the familiar green and gold color scheme which has remained ever since.

Offseason

= NFL draft =

The first four rounds of the 1958 Draft were conducted in early December 1957, when Blackbourn was head coach. The remaining 26 rounds were selected in late January. This draft by the Packers is regarded as among the best in NFL history.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CzAgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LioEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6602%2C1638949 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |last=Wolf |first=Bob |title=Packers' 1958 draft may have been greatest ever |date=May 3, 1979 |page=3, part 3 }}

class="wikitable sortable" ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers 54thru58}};" width="5%"\| Round ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers 54thru58}};" width="5%"\| Pick ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers 54thru58}};" width="10%"\| Player ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers 54thru58}};" width="10%"\| Position ! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers 54thru58}};" width="10%"\| School
bgcolor="#FFCC00" \|align=center\|1	align=center\|3	Dan Currie	Linebacker	Michigan State
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \|align=center\|2	align=center\|15	Jim Taylor	Fullback	LSU
align=center\|3	align=center\|27	Dick Christy	Back	North Carolina State
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \|align=center\|3	align=center\|36	Ray Nitschke	Linebacker	Illinois
bgcolor="#CCFFCC" \|align=center\|4	align=center\|39	Jerry Kramer	Guard	Idaho
align=center\|5	align=center\|51	Joe Francis	Quarterback	Oregon State
bgcolor="#FFCC00" \|align=center\|6	align=center\|62	Ken Gray	Tackle	Howard Payne
align=center\|7	align=center\|75	Doug Maison	Back	Hillsdale
align=center\|8	align=center\|86	Mike Bill	Center	Syracuse
align=center\|9	align=center\|99	Norm Jarock	Back	St. Norbert
align=center\|10	align=center\|110	Carl Johnson	Tackle	Illinois
align=center\|11	align=center\|123	Harry Horton	End	Wichita State
align=center\|12	align=center\|134	Wayne Miller	End	Baylor
align=center\|13	align=center\|147	Gene Cook	End	Toledo
align=center\|13	align=center\|153	Don Herndon	Back	Tampa
align=center\|14	align=center\|158	Harry Hauffe	Tackle	South Dakota
align=center\|15	align=center\|171	Tom Newell	Back	Drake
align=center\|16	align=center\|182	Arley Finley	Tackle	Georgia Tech
align=center\|17	align=center\|195	Joe Reese	End	Arkansas Tech
align=center\|18	align=center\|206	Chuck Strid	Guard	Syracuse
align=center\|20	align=center\|230	John DuBose	Back	Trinity (TX)
align=center\|21	align=center\|243	Jerry Kershner	Tackle	Oregon
align=center\|22	align=center\|264	Franklin Merlino	Back	Florida State
align=center\|23	align=center\|267	Jack Ashton	Guard	South Carolina
align=center\|24	align=center\|278	John Jereck	Tackle	Detroit
align=center\|25	align=center\|291	Larry Plenty	Back	Boston College
align=center\|26	align=center\|302	Esker Harris	Guard	UCLA
align=center\|27	align=center\|315	Neil Habig	Center	Purdue
align=center\|28	align=center\|326	Dave Crowell	Guard	Washington State
align=center\|29	align=center\|339	Bob Haynes	Tackle	Sam Houston State
align=center\|30	align=center\|350	John Peters	Tackle	Houston

Yellow indicates a future Pro Bowl selection
Green indicates a future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee

Regular season

= Schedule =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers\|year=1958\|border=2}}"\| Game !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers\|year=1958\|border=2}}"\| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers\|year=1958\|border=2}}"\| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers\|year=1958\|border=2}}"\| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers\|year=1958\|border=2}}"\| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers\|year=1958\|border=2}}"\| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers\|year=1958\|border=2}}"\| Attendance !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers\|year=1958\|border=2}}"\| Recap !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers\|year=1958\|border=2}}"\| Sources
style="background:#fcc" ! 1 \| September 28 \| Chicago Bears \| L 20–34 \| 0–1–0 \| City Stadium \| 32,150 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195809280gnb.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#ffc" ! 2 \| October 5 \| Detroit Lions \| T 13–13 \| 0–1–1 \| City Stadium \| 32,053 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195810050gnb.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 3 \| October 12 \| Baltimore Colts \| L 17–24 \| 0–2–1 \| Milwaukee County Stadium \| 24,553 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195810120gnb.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 4 \| October 19 \| at Washington Redskins \| L 21–37 \| 0–3–1 \| Griffith Stadium \| 25,228 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195810190was.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#cfc" ! 5 \| October 26 \| Philadelphia Eagles \| W 38–35 \| 1–3–1 \| City Stadium \| 31,043 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195810260gnb.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 6 \| November 2 \| at Baltimore Colts \| L 0–56 \| 1–4–1 \| Memorial Stadium \| 51,333 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195811020clt.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 7 \| November 9 \| at Chicago Bears \| L 10–24 \| 1–5–1 \| Wrigley Field \| 48,424 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195811090chi.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 8 \| November 16 \| Los Angeles Rams \| L 7–20 \| 1–6–1 \| City Stadium \| 28,051 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195811160gnb.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 9 \| November 23 \| San Francisco 49ers \| L 12–33 \| 1–7–1 \| Milwaukee County Stadium \| 19,786 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195811230gnb.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 10 \| November 27 \| at Detroit Lions \| L 14–24 \| 1–8–1 \| Briggs Stadium \| 50,971 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195811270det.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 11 \| December 7 \| at San Francisco 49ers \| L 21–48 \| 1–9–1 \| Kezar Stadium \| 50,793 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195812070sfo.htm Recap] \|
style="background:#fcc" ! 12 \| December 14 \| at Los Angeles Rams \| L 20–34 \| 1–10–1 \| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum \| 54,634 \| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195812140ram.htm Recap] \|
colspan="10"\| Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 27.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Green Bay Packers|year=1958|border=2}}"| Game

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Green Bay Packers|year=1958|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Green Bay Packers|year=1958|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Green Bay Packers|year=1958|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Green Bay Packers|year=1958|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Green Bay Packers|year=1958|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Green Bay Packers|year=1958|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Green Bay Packers|year=1958|border=2}}"| Recap

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Green Bay Packers|year=1958|border=2}}"| Sources

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| September 28

| Chicago Bears

| L 20–34

| 0–1–0

| City Stadium

| 32,150

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195809280gnb.htm Recap]

style="background:#ffc"

! 2

| October 5

| Detroit Lions

| T 13–13

| 0–1–1

| City Stadium

| 32,053

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195810050gnb.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 3

| October 12

| Baltimore Colts

| L 17–24

| 0–2–1

| Milwaukee County Stadium

| 24,553

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195810120gnb.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 4

| October 19

| at Washington Redskins

| L 21–37

| 0–3–1

| Griffith Stadium

| 25,228

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195810190was.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 5

| October 26

| Philadelphia Eagles

| W 38–35

| 1–3–1

| City Stadium

| 31,043

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195810260gnb.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 6

| November 2

| at Baltimore Colts

| L 0–56

| 1–4–1

| Memorial Stadium

| 51,333

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195811020clt.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 7

| November 9

| at Chicago Bears

| L 10–24

| 1–5–1

| Wrigley Field

| 48,424

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195811090chi.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 8

| November 16

| Los Angeles Rams

| L 7–20

| 1–6–1

| City Stadium

| 28,051

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195811160gnb.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 9

| November 23

| San Francisco 49ers

| L 12–33

| 1–7–1

| Milwaukee County Stadium

| 19,786

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195811230gnb.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 10

| November 27

| at Detroit Lions

| L 14–24

| 1–8–1

| Briggs Stadium

| 50,971

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195811270det.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 11

| December 7

| at San Francisco 49ers

| L 21–48

| 1–9–1

| Kezar Stadium

| 50,793

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195812070sfo.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 12

| December 14

| at Los Angeles Rams

| L 20–34

| 1–10–1

| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| 54,634

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/195812140ram.htm Recap]

colspan="10"| Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text. Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 27.

= Standings =

File:581116-Packers-Rams-program.jpg

= Roster =

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
colspan="9" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle\|Green Bay Packers 54thru58\|border=2}};"\|Green Bay Packers roster
style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" \| Quarterbacks {{player\|20}} Joe Francis {{player\|10}} Babe Parilli {{player\|15}} Bart Starr Running backs {{player\|48}} Al Carmichael {{player\|37}} Howie Ferguson {{player\|5}} Paul Hornung {{player\|40}} Joe Johnson {{player\|25}} Billy Kinard {{player\|42}} Don McIlhenny {{player\|23}} Al Romine {{player\|22}} Jim Shanley {{player\|31}} Jim Taylor Wide receivers {{player\|86}} Billy Howton {{player\|84}} Gary Knafelc {{player\|85}} Max McGee {{player\|80}} Steve Meilinger \| style="width: 25px;" \| \| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" \| Offensive linemen {{player\|61}} Hank Bullough {{player\|75}} Forrest Gregg {{player\|64}} Jerry Kramer {{player\|78}} Norm Masters {{player\|51}} Jim Ringo {{player\|67}} Jim Salsbury {{player\|77}} Ollie Spencer Defensive linemen {{player\|87}} Nate Borden {{player\|83}} Len Ford {{player\|69}} Bill Forester {{player\|79}} Dave Hanner {{player\|72}} J. D. Kimmel {{player\|81}} Carlton Massey {{player\|82}} Jim Temp \| style="width: 25px;" \| \| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" \| Linebackers {{player\|65}} Tom Bettis {{player\|58}} Dan Currie {{player\|63}} Marv Matuszak {{player\|33}} Ray Nitschke Defensive backs {{player\|44}} Bobby Dillon {{player\|46}} Hank Gremminger {{player\|27}} John Symank {{player\|47}} Jesse Whittenton Rookies and first-year players in italics

class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"

colspan="9" style="text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Green Bay Packers 54thru58|border=2}};"|Green Bay Packers roster

style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Quarterbacks

{{player|20}} Joe Francis
{{player|10}} Babe Parilli
{{player|15}} Bart Starr

Running backs

{{player|48}} Al Carmichael
{{player|37}} Howie Ferguson
{{player|5}} Paul Hornung
{{player|40}} Joe Johnson
{{player|25}} Billy Kinard
{{player|42}} Don McIlhenny
{{player|23}} Al Romine
{{player|22}} Jim Shanley
{{player|31}} Jim Taylor

Wide receivers

{{player|86}} Billy Howton
{{player|84}} Gary Knafelc
{{player|85}} Max McGee
{{player|80}} Steve Meilinger

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Offensive linemen

{{player|61}} Hank Bullough
{{player|75}} Forrest Gregg
{{player|64}} Jerry Kramer
{{player|78}} Norm Masters
{{player|51}} Jim Ringo
{{player|67}} Jim Salsbury
{{player|77}} Ollie Spencer

Defensive linemen

{{player|87}} Nate Borden
{{player|83}} Len Ford
{{player|69}} Bill Forester
{{player|79}} Dave Hanner
{{player|72}} J. D. Kimmel
{{player|81}} Carlton Massey
{{player|82}} Jim Temp

| style="width: 25px;" |

| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | Linebackers

{{player|65}} Tom Bettis
{{player|58}} Dan Currie
{{player|63}} Marv Matuszak
{{player|33}} Ray Nitschke

Defensive backs

{{player|44}} Bobby Dillon
{{player|46}} Hank Gremminger
{{player|27}} John Symank
{{player|47}} Jesse Whittenton

Rookies and first-year players in italics

Awards, records, and honors

= Milestones =

Worst regular season record in franchise history

References

{{cite web | work=Pro-football-reference.com | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb1958.htm | title=1958 Green Bay Packers statistics| access-date=December 10, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071215181854/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb1958.htm| archive-date= December 15, 2007 | url-status= live}}
{{cite encyclopedia | encyclopedia=Sportsencyclopedia.com | url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/gb/packers.html | title=Sports Encyclopedia – Green Bay Packers| access-date=December 10, 2007| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071216175609/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/gb/packers.html| archive-date= December 16, 2007 | url-status= live}}

Category:Green Bay Packers seasons

Green Bay Packers