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Five Downs: Catching up with Green Bay Packers’ legend Chris Jacke

By Josh McPeak

26 Jan 1997: Kicker Chris Jacke of the Green Bay Packers watches the ball fly during Super Bowl XXXI against the New England Patriots at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Packers won the game, 35-21.
26 Jan 1997: Kicker Chris Jacke of the Green Bay Packers watches the ball fly during Super Bowl XXXI against the New England Patriots at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Packers won the game, 35-21. /
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On this edition of Five Downs, we catch up with former Green Bay Packers’ legend, kicker Chris Jacke.

Chris Jacke still ranks fourth on the Green Bay Packers‘ all-time scoring list, with 820 points. Jacke made 173 field goals and 301 extra points while wearing the green and gold. His most notable accomplishments included at the time, a record 54-yard field goal in overtime. Jacke was a 1989 NFL All-Rookie team member, a 1993 first-team All-Pro and a Super Bowl XXXI champion.

Dairyland Express: Chris, tell the readers what you have been involved in since your time in the NFL. 

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Chris Jacke: When I retired in 2000, I took a couple of years off to get to know my kids and to take a break from the lifestyle of the NFL. I then started my career in finance, having received my licensing while I was still playing and did that until 2013. Then, in 2013 I started Player Alumni Resources. I have been doing that ever since. It has been a great way to stay in contact with the guys I played with and to meet all the great fans of the Green Bay Packers.

Dairyland Express: Chris, you had an awesome career with the Packers. Winning Super Bowl XXXI, being a first-team All-Pro in 1993 and an inductee into the Packers Hall of Fame. Can you point to your favorite moment in the green and gold?

Chris Jacke: There are so many great memories on and off the field, but if I had to narrow it down, it was being a part of the resurrection of the Green Bay Packers. Witnessing first hand all that went into building a Super Bowl caliber team was quite the ride from an entirely new coaching staff and philosophy, to the numerous players that chose to become a part of something special, including Reggie White, Brett Favre, Sean Jones, just to mention a few.

Dairyland Express: During your eight seasons with the Packers you were there for the acquisition and development of Brett Favre. Can you tell us what that was like and what kind of relationship you had or still have with Favre?  

Chris Jacke: Brett is exactly in person who you see on TV. He made the locker room, and the playing field for that matter, a fun place to be when we were going through the process of building a Super Bowl champion because there were a few growing pains along the way, i.e. the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers!

Dairyland Express: There are always tons of hilarious stories that come from NFL locker rooms. Is there any particular hilarious moments you could share with us, that may not be publicly known stories at the current time?

Chris Jacke: I can remember Brett’s first preseason game, in Madison,  we had just thrown an incompletion on third down, and Brett was the holder on extra points and field goals. However, we all know how excited or distracted Brett can get, so when I lined up for the kick, Brett was nowhere to be seen! Then, all of a sudden here comes Brett running onto the field and gets down on one knee to receive the snap for the FG, but he mishandles the snap, looks at me, I can honestly remember saying to Brett, “you’re on your own” (he was a rookie in my mind) so he turns to run, but instead, about three Jets players tackled him. We walked off the field and said “dude where were you? He just replied “I was talking to someone in the stands”, with a smile.

Dairyland Express: How do you feel about all of the changes to the kicking game since your time in the NFL?

Chris Jacke: Stop picking on the kickers! It seems the better we get at our craft, the more limitations they want to put on us!!

Dairyland Express: Do you believe the current Packers’ roster is ready to compete for a Lombardi trophy?

Chris Jacke: They look really good offensively. A lot of young guys on the defense, so we will have to see how quickly they can learn the NFL pace. And Aaron has to stay healthy!!

Next: Five Downs: With the Vikings...

Interested in booking a former Green Bay Packers’ legend for a speaking event or golf outing? Please visit Player Alumni Resources, where you can book Chris Jacke and many other, former Packer stars, to do just such a thing. A huge thank you to Chris Jacke for his time this week.

Thanks for stopping by on this edition of Five Downs.

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