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Number Crunching: #5
by Chris Brophy
11/5/2009
After a break to allow concentration on that grand off-season guessing game that we call the NFL draft it’s time to try and waste the long off-season months with more NFL history as we continue with our run-through of the greatest NFL players to wear each particular number. This time around it’s #5 , we’ll step back in time to remember a Packers legend that could score for fun at times
FD’s All Time #5: Paul Hornung, Halfback (Green Bay Packers)
 After looking at a recent Packer great at #4 (Brett Favre) we return to that same franchise and anoint their original Golden Boy, halfback Paul Hornung, as our all-time #5.
Hornung’s talent was evident in college as he became the first and so far only winner of the Heisman Trophy for a team with a losing record (Notre Dame went 2-8 that season) in 1956. His college performances led to him being taken #1 overall in the 1957 draft by the Packers where he would spend his entire career and win four world championships before it was all said and done.
His pro career got off to a slightly slow start. The first two head coaches he dealt with kept moving him between fullback and quarterback but once Vince Lombardi became Packers head coach he decided to put Hornung at half back and team him up with fullback Jim Taylor. They would be the original Thunder & Lightening with Taylor’s power complimented by Hornung’s speed and quickness.
Hornung was a scoring machine. As well as finding the end zone on the ground he was a fine receiver and he given his experience at quarterback he was always an option to throw the ball. If that wasn’t enough he was also the Packers kicker. He would finish his career with 760 points (62 TD’s, 190 PAT’s and 66 FG’s). He led the league in scoring for three straight seasons (1959-61) and in 1960 he scored a then record 176 points. That was only broken in 2008 by Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson who managed 180 points but over a 16 game season compared to Hornung’s 12 games. He also set a record for scoring in a NFL Championship game in 1961 when he kicked three field goals, three extra points and a touchdown to total 19 points in the Packs 37-0 thrashing of the New York Giants.
Regarded as one of the best short yardage runners of all time, Hornung was named to two Pro Bowls and also named All-Pro twice. He was also the NFL MVP twice and is one of only five players to ever win the MVP award and the Heisman Trophy.
As well as the 1961 Championship game, Hornung’s other greatest moment was when he knocked up five TD’s against the Baltimore Colts in a 1965 contest. The feat is easily forgotten though because later that same day Bears running back Gale Sayers would rack up an NFL record six visits to pay dirt against the 49ers.
Hornung finished his Packers career in 1966. He was traded to the New Orleans Saints but injury prevented him ever suiting up for them. He managed 3711 yards and 50 TD’s on the ground, 130 receptions with 12 TD’s through the air as well as throwing five TD’s during his Packers career. In 1986 he made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame which is complimented by his membership of the College Football Hall of Fame also.
Honourable Mention: Donovan McNabb, Quarterback (Philadelphia Eagles)
 It’s tough being a QB in Philly and Donovan McNabb has had so many ups and downs in his career but the fact remains he is the Eagles all time leading passer in all the main categories and has been the triggerman for a sustained period of success for the franchise which has seen them just come up short most times. Whatever you think of McNabb, 4th and 26 against the Packers in the 2003 play-offs and the scramble, escape and bomb to Freddie Mitchell against Dallas are unforgettable and outstanding plays that will live in the memory for a long time. Or maybe you think without Freddie Mitchell McNabb would never have made those plays…
Learn More about past NFL greats in our History Archive
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