Mike Holmgren is already a very important part of Green Bay Packers history, but on Saturday, the team’s former head coach will have a spot in the Packers Hall of Fame.
Nearly 14 years after coaching his last game in Green Bay, Holmgren will join Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Reggie White and many other legendary former Packers with an induction ceremony in his honor.
Holmgren led the Packers to their first Super Bowl victory in 30 years in 1996, with a 35-21 win over the New England Patriots. Holmgren’s Packers nearly won it all again in 1997 but lost in Super Bowl XXXII -- despite being heavily favored -- to John Elway and the Denver Broncos.
In his seven seasons coaching in Green Bay, Holmgren finished with a 75-37 regular-season record, including back-to-back 13-3 campaigns. Holmgren’s Packers also never finished any season with a losing record.
Prior to Holmgren taking over, Green Bay had not been to the playoffs in 11 years. Only once in the decade before Holmgren arrived did the Packers even have a winning record. After missing the postseason in his first year as coach, Holmgren’s teams made it in each of the next six seasons.
With the goal of becoming a head coach and front office decision-maker congruently, Holmgren left Green Bay for the Seattle Seahawks in 1999. Initially, Holmgren’s new eight-year contract with the Seahawks gave him just that -- an opportunity to coach and be Seattle’s general manager / executive vice president. Holmgren was terminated as GM four years later but continued coaching the Seahawks for six more seasons.
Now the team president of the Cleveland Browns, Holmgren will make a rare trip back to Green Bay this weekend for his induction ceremony.
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