Best of the Packers: Top 10 running backs since 1960
By Phil Watson
6. Paul Hornung (1957-62, 1964-66)
Paul Hornung was the reigning Heisman Trophy winner when the Green Bay Packers selected the Notre Dame quarterback first overall in the 1957 NFL Draft.
Hornung moved into the backfield in the pros, but he did a little bit of everything—throwing option passes, running the ball, catching it out of the backfield and kicking field goals and extra points.
Hornung was a two-time All-Pro and was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1961, when he led the league with 146 points—scoring eight rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdown while also booting 15 field goals and 41 extra points.
That wasn’t even his highest-scoring campaign. In 1960, Hornung put up 176 points—second-most in NFL history—on 15 touchdowns, 15 field goals and 41 extra points. His 13 rushing touchdowns that season led the NFL.
Also a two-time Pro Bowler, Horning was on championship teams in 1961 and 1962 before he was banned for the entire 1963 season for his involvement with gambling.
Hornung returned to help the Packers to the championship again in 1965, while setting a single-game club record with five touchdowns against the Baltimore Colts in a 42-27 win on Dec. 12, 1965.
He didn’t play in the team’s Super Bowl I victory, sitting out with a pinched nerve in his neck, and he was selected by the New Orleans Saints in their February 1967 expansion draft.
In nine seasons with the Packers, Hornung rushed for 3,711 yards on 893 carries, with 50 touchdowns. He also had 130 receptions for 1,480 yards and 12 scores and kicked 66 field goals and 190 extra points.
Hornung’s 3,711 rushing yards are ninth in team history, but his 50 rushing touchdowns rank third. He is fifth in franchise history with 62 total touchdowns.
He retired during training camp with the Saints in 1967, unable to continue his career because of a neck injury.
Hornung was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1975 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
He was the first player in history to win the Heisman Trophy, be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, be named NFL MVP and be inducted into both the pro and college halls of fame.
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