Buff Wagner
{{Short description|American football player (1897–1962)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| position = Back
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1897|5|31}}
| birth_place = Marinette, Wisconsin, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1962|2|12|1897|5|31}}
| death_place = Olmsted County, Minnesota, U.S.
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lbs = 165
| high_school = Marinette (Wisconsin)
| college = Carroll
| pastteams =
- Green Bay Packers ({{nfly|1921}})
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 4
| pfr = WagnBu20
}}
Almore Charles "Buff" Wagner (May 31, 1897 – February 12, 1962) was a professional football player for the Green Bay Packers in 1920 and 1921. He played college football at Carroll University.{{Cite web | url = https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WagnBu20.htm | website = Pro-Football-Reference.com | title = Buff Wagner Stats | access-date = October 23, 2023 | archive-date = October 23, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231023230439/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WagnBu20.htm | url-status = live }}
Wagner played for the Packers in 1920 before they entered a professional league. He signed with the Packers in August 1921 before the 1921 season.{{Cite news | url = https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-buff-wagner-sta/134845342/ | date = August 18, 1921 | access-date = November 8, 2023 | title = Buff Wagner, Star Halfback, to Play with Packer Team | newspaper = Green Bay Press-Gazette | page = 5 | type = clipping | via = Newspapers.com | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231108183917/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-buff-wagner-sta/134845342/ | archive-date = November 8, 2023 | url-status = live}} Wagner participated in the Packers' first game in the American Professional Football Association, which would later become the National Football League (NFL). The Packers were down 6–0 late in the game to the Minneapolis Mariners before Curly Lambeau completed a pass to Wagner for 37 yards to put the Packers close to the end zone.{{Cite web | url = https://www.packers.com/news/high-five-packers-future-at-stake-in-1921-game-12709015 | title = High Five: Packers future at stake in 1921 game | date = March 6, 2014 | access-date = November 8, 2023 | last = Christl | first = Cliff | author-link = Cliff Christl | website = Packers.com | archive-date = March 23, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230323204209/https://www.packers.com/news/high-five-packers-future-at-stake-in-1921-game-12709015 | url-status = live }} A few plays later, Art Schmaehl scored a touchdown and Lambeau kicked the extra point to secure the Packers first league victory.{{Cite web | url = https://www.si.com/nfl/packers/news/packers-played-first-and-almost-last-nfl-game-100-years-ago | website = SI.com | last = Huber | first = Bill | title = Packers Played First (And Almost Last) NFL Game 100 Years Ago | date = October 23, 2021 | access-date = November 8, 2023 | archive-date = August 12, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220812222119/https://www.si.com/nfl/packers/news/packers-played-first-and-almost-last-nfl-game-100-years-ago | url-status = live }} A rumor persisted that the Packers needed to win this game, or at the very least be competitive, in order to remain in the league.