1957: 49ers Take Advantage of Fumbles to Defeat Giants

The San Francisco 49ers were trying to remain in the NFL Western Conference title hunt as they traveled to New York to face the Giants on December 1, 1957. Coached by Frankie Albert, the 49ers had a productive offense that featured the passing of QB Y.A. Tittle (pictured at right) and a formidable ground attack led by HB Hugh McElhenny and FB Joe Perry. But after getting off to a 5-1 start, the club had lost three straight games to come into New York with a 5-4 record that had them a game behind the Colts and Lions.

The Giants, under Head Coach Jim Lee Howell, were at 7-2 and trying to keep up with the resurgent Cleveland Browns in the Eastern Conference. QB Charlie Conerly was a savvy clutch passer at age 36, HB Frank Gifford an outstanding all-purpose back, and the defense was tough.

There was a big crowd of 54,121 fans at Yankee Stadium. Late in the first quarter, the 49ers took advantage of a Frank Gifford fumble recovered by LB Matt Hazeltine and drove 59 yards in nine plays. FB Gene Babb finished it off with an eight-yard touchdown run and Gordie Soltau added the extra point.

As the contest headed into the second quarter, the Giants responded with a nine-play, 80-yard possession that concluded with HB Alex Webster blasting over the middle from a yard out for a TD. Ben Agajanian kicked the game-tying point after. Following another New York fumble, this time by Conerly when hit by Hazeltine (pictured below) and recovered by DT Bill Herchman, San Francisco went 25 yards in seven plays that resulted in Joe Perry plunging three yards for a TD. Soltau’s conversion put the visitors back in front by 14-7.

The Giants continued to hurt themselves as Gifford fumbled again when hit by LB Ed Henke on a reverse and it was recovered at the New York 11. The Niners weren’t able to reach the end zone, but Soltau kicked a 42-yard field goal to stretch their advantage to ten points. On the final play of the first half, New York’s Agajanian kicked a 35-yard field goal and the San Francisco lead was trimmed to 17-10 at halftime.

The 49ers started off the third quarter by advancing 78 yards in nine plays that featured Y.A. Tittle passing to Hugh McElhenny for a 38-yard gain and to end Billy Wilson for an 11-yard touchdown. Soltau’s extra point extended the lead to 24-10. The Giants, now in a fourteen-point hole, responded with a 75-yard advance that took 11 plays. Conerly passed to Gifford for a six-yard TD and Agajanian added the point after.

As the game headed into the fourth quarter, the Giants had opportunities but were consistently thwarted by the spirited San Francisco defense. Finally, another turnover, this time an interception, set up another score for the visitors as Soltau connected on a 37-yard field goal to make it a ten-point lead. That was more than enough as the 49ers held on to win by a final score of 27-17.

San Francisco led in total yards (316 to 265), with 193 yards on the ground alone, while the Giants had more first downs (21 to 19). New York turned the ball over seven times, five of them fumbles in the first half, to four suffered by the 49ers.

Y.A. Tittle completed 11 of 16 passes for 146 yards and a touchdown, although also giving up three interceptions, and ran the ball five times for 49 yards. Joe Perry rushed for 84 yards on 19 carries that included a TD and Gene Babb contributed 59 yards on 14 attempts. Billy Wilson topped the receivers with four catches for 64 yards and a TD and Hugh McElhenny contributed three pass receptions for 42 yards.

For the Giants, Charlie Conerly was successful on 17 of 25 throws for 215 yards and a TD along with an interception, but also coughed up four of the team’s fumbles. Frank Gifford (pictured at right), who was limited to 16 yards on 7 carries, caught 11 passes for 105 yards and a TD and accounted for two costly fumbles in the first half. Alex Webster topped the ground gainers with 33 yards on 9 attempts that included a score and added 38 more yards on two receptions.

“You don’t deserve to win when you lose the ball six times on fumbles,” summed up New York’s Coach Howell. “The 49ers gambled on shooting their linebackers through to get at Conerly and it paid off.”

The game proved to be a turning point heading into the final stretch for both teams.  San Francisco won its remaining two games, including a showdown with the Colts, to finish at 8-4 and tied with Detroit atop the Western Conference. In the resulting playoff game, the 49ers blew a big halftime lead to lose to the Lions. The Giants, on the other hand, lost their next two contests and placed second in the Eastern Conference at 7-5.

1957: Conerly TD Passes Lead Giants Past College All-Stars

The 24^th annual College All-Star Game on August 9, 1957 matched up the New York Giants, reigning champions of the NFL, with an All-Star team coached by Curly Lambeau for the third straight year.

Head Coach Jim Lee Howell of the Giants placed great authority in Vince Lombardi, his offensive assistant, and Tom Landry, who operated the defense. Behind center was QB Charlie Conerly, who platooned with Don Heinrich, and the offense also featured star all-purpose HB Frank Gifford as well as capable runners in HB Alex Webster and FB Mel Triplett. The tough defense contained All-Pros in DE Andy Robustelli and safety Emlen Tunnell plus a rising second-year talent in MLB Sam Huff.

Coach Lambeau, the head coach of the Green Bay Packers for many years who finished up with the Cardinals and Redskins, had the All-Stars well prepared to face the Giants. The roster contained several offensive players who would become pro stars such as quarterbacks John Brodie from Stanford and Notre Dame’s Paul Hornung, Syracuse FB Jim Brown, halfbacks Jon Arnett of USC and Billy Barnes from Wake Forest, and Michigan end Ron Kramer.

It was a wet Friday night with over 75,000 fans in attendance at Soldier Field and the start of the game was delayed due to a major deluge of rain combined with a gusty wind that caused the elimination of pregame introductions and other festivities. The Giants had the ball first but Alex Webster fumbled it away on the third play and the All-Stars capitalized. With John Brodie behind center, they advanced 55 yards, the key play being a 22-yard gain on a triple reverse, and Billy Barnes capped the series by running wide for a two-yard touchdown in a fourth down situation. Paul Hornung missed to the left on the extra point attempt but the collegians held the early 6-0 lead.

The Giants had to punt following their next series but regained possession on the All-Star 20 when Barnes fumbled. A running play lost a yard and two throws by Charlie Conerly were broken up, but the pro champs got on the board when Ben Agajanian, just short of his 38^th birthday, kicked a 33-yard field goal with a minute remaining in the opening period to narrow the score to 6-3.

Early in the second quarter, New York put together a drive that covered 88 yards in five plays. It featured Conerly passes to Webster for 33 yards and then to end Ken MacAfee, who took advantage of a good block by end Kyle Rote after hauling in the throw at the All-Star 25 and going the distance for a 38-yard touchdown. Agajanian’s conversion put the Giants ahead by 10-6.

Late in the period, Barnes created some excitement for the All-Stars by breaking away on a carry from his 35 that nearly went the distance before a diving DHB Ed Hughes tripped him up at the New York 37, a distance of 28 yards. Three plays later, Brodie suffered an injury but Hornung came in at quarterback and ran for a first down at the nine. New York’s defense held and the collegians settled for a 12-yard field goal by Paige Cothren of Mississippi. The Giants maintained a 10-9 edge at the half.

In the third quarter, the Giants put together a long drive of 77 yards in 10 plays, helped along by a questionable pass interference penalty on Michigan State DHB Clarence Peaks, who had nearly pulled the ball away from Frank Gifford. That moved New York to the All-Star 15, and two plays later Conerly threw once again to MacAfee, who was open in the end zone for a 10-yard TD. Agajanian booted the point after.

Later in the third quarter, and with Hornung still at quarterback, the All-Stars drove into New York territory but came up empty when Cothren missed on a 33-yard field goal try. However, early in the fourth quarter the collegians got a break when Sam Huff flagrantly interfered with Ron Kramer and Cothren this time came through for a 24-yard field goal that made it a five-point contest.

That would be it for the All-Stars as the Giants responded by advancing to a 45-yard Agajanian field goal. Then, with three minutes left to play, New York DHB Dick Nolan capped the scoring by foiling a double-reverse and tackling Illinois HB Abe Woodson in the end zone for a safety. The Giants came away winners by a final score of 22-12.

New York had the edge in total yards (281 to 220) while the All-Stars led in first downs (16 to 14)

Each team turned the ball over once.

Charlie Conerly completed 8 of 17 passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns and Mel Triplett led New York’s ground game with 74 yards on 17 attempts. For the All-Stars, Paul Hornung, utilized on option plays, was successful on 5 of 7 throws for 39 yards and John Brodie was 8 of 20 for 94 yards. Billy Barnes rushed for 60 yards on 11 carries, scoring the lone All-Star TD.  

“They stopped us as well as anybody in the league stopped us,” said New York’s Coach Howell of the All-Star defense. “Their defensive line and linebackers were excellent.”

The win for the Giants marked the 15^th in the series for the pro champs, against seven for the All-Stars and two ties. New York followed up by going 7-5 during the season to place second in the Eastern Conference.

The game marked the finale for Curly Lambeau as coach of the All-Stars. As a former pro coach, his selection in 1955 had marked a departure from the practice of using college coaches for the contest. Lambeau had coached the Packers in the game three times, going 2-1, and his record with the All-Stars was 1-2.     

Highlighted Year: Jack Butler, 1957

Defensive Halfback, Pittsburgh Steelers

Age: 30 (Nov. 12)

7^th season in pro football & with Steelers

College: St. Bonaventure

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 195

Prelude:

Butler, who originally intended to study for the priesthood, didn’t play football until college where he made the team as an end. Undrafted by the NFL, he signed with the Steelers in 1951 and was shifted to defensive halfback (modern cornerback) where he intercepted 5 passes as a rookie, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Butler followed up with 7 in 1952 and 9 in ’53 but he did not gain his first Pro Bowl selection until 1955 (oddly enough, the only season of his career in which he had no interceptions). He received first-team All-NFL honors from The Sporting News, second-team recognition from the Associated Press and NEA, and was a Pro Bowl selection again in ’56, when he picked off 6 passes to give him a total of 31 through his first six seasons.

1957 Season Summary

Appeared in all 12 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 10 [1, tied with Jack Christiansen & Milt Davis]

Int. return yards – 85 [10]

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Punt Returns

Returns – 1

Yards – 10

TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: AP, UPI, NEA, NY Daily News, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Steelers went 6-6 to finish third in the NFL Eastern Conference while leading the league in fewest yards allowed (2791).

Aftermath:

Butler was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection in 1958 and ’59, when his career came to a sudden end late in the season due to a knee injury. An outstanding all-around athlete who played safety as well as defensive halfback throughout his career, he combined excellent instincts with rugged tackling ability. Overall, over the course of 103 games Butler intercepted 52 passes, which ranked second in NFL history at the time, returning them for 877 yards and four touchdowns. He also recovered 10 fumbles, one of which he returned for a TD. Butler was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection three times, received second-team honors after one other season, and was chosen to four straight Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2012.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Don Chandler, 1957

Punter, New York Giants

Age: 23

2^nd season in pro football & with Giants

College: Florida

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 205

Prelude:

Chandler played halfback in college and also punted with distinction, averaging 44.3 yards as a senior to lead all major schools. He was chosen by the Giants in the fifth round of the 1956 NFL draft and became the team’s punter, averaging 41.9 yards on 59 kicks.

1957 Season Summary

Appeared in all 12 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Punting

Punts – 60 [5]

Yards – 2673 [3]

Average – 44.6 [1]

Punts blocked – 0

Longest punt – 61 yards

Rushing

Attempts – 1

Yards – 2

TDs – 0

Passing

Attempts – 2

Completions – 2

Yards – 40

TD passes – 0

Interceptions – 0

Giants went 7-5 to finish second in the NFL Eastern Conference.

Aftermath:

Chandler, who averaged 44.0 yards on a league-leading 65 punts in 1958, remained with the Giants through 1964, a total of nine seasons. He added placekicking to his responsibilities in 1962, achieving career highs with 19 field goals and a 67.9 percentage of success. Chandler led the NFL in scoring in ’63 as he booted 18 field goals and 52 extra points for a total of 106 points. He was an All-Eastern Conference selection by The Sporting News as a punter in 1964, having averaged 45.6 yards on 73 punts, although his field goal accuracy dropped off. With the Giants, Chandler was successful on 46 of 78 field goal attempts (59.0 %) and added 131 extra points out of 138 attempts for a total of 269 points. He averaged 43.8 yards on 525 punts, making him the franchise leader in that category. Chandler was traded to Green Bay in 1965 and continued to handle both placekicking and punting in his first two years with the championship-winning club, receiving All-Western Conference honors from The Sporting News as a placekicker in ‘65. Chandler gave up the punting duties in 1967 and tied his career-best with 19 field goals and was named to the Pro Bowl in addition to receiving all-conference honors. He capped his career with four field goals, in as many attempts, in the Super Bowl II win over the Raiders. For his career, Chandler booted 94 field goals in 161 tries (58.4 %), was successful on 248 of 258 extra points, and averaged 43.5 yards on 660 punts. He was chosen to one Pro Bowl and was a three-time all-conference selection of The Sporting News.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1957: Lions Overwhelm Browns for NFL Championship

The NFL Championship game on December 29, 1957 featured the Detroit Lions, top team in the Western Conference, hosting the Eastern Conference representative, the Cleveland Browns. The teams had faced off three times earlier in the decade for the league title, with the Browns routing the Lions the last time, in ’54.

The season got off to an awkward start for Detroit when Head Coach Buddy Parker abruptly quit on the eve of the preseason and George Wilson was elevated to the top job. The Lions had obtained QB Tobin Rote (pictured above) from Green Bay to back up star starting QB Bobby Layne, and the deal paid off when Layne went down with a broken leg in the ninth game. Another newcomer, FB John Henry Johnson, came from the 49ers and led the club in rushing. As usual, the defense was rugged, especially at linebacker with MLB Joe Schmidt and in the backfield, led by safety Jack Christiansen. Detroit went 8-4 to tie for first in the Western Conference and was coming off of a dramatic come-from-behind win over the 49ers in the resulting playoff.

The Browns, coached by the innovative Paul Brown for the twelfth year, had put together a 9-2-1 record to return to the NFL title game after a one-year absence. Rookie FB Jim Brown was the league’s top rusher and the key to the offense. QB Tom O’Connell led the NFL in passing efficiency, although he rarely threw the ball, and was already being pushed by rookie QB Milt Plum, who had been slated to start the title contest but suffered a hamstring injury during a recent practice that limited his mobility. The defense was stingy, averaging a league low of 14.3 points surrendered per game. Cleveland lost to the Lions during the regular season but came into the championship contest as a slight favorite.

There were 55,263 fans in attendance at Briggs Stadium, where the lights were on although unneeded on a pleasant 32-degree afternoon. They saw the home team score the first three times it had the ball. Jim Martin set the tone by booming the opening kickoff through the end zone. Tom O’Connell threw to end Pete Brewster for a Cleveland first down, but the series quickly bogged down and the Browns punted. Detroit moved methodically, both running with HB Gene Gedman and John Henry Johnson and with Rote passing effectively, and accumulated four first downs.  The 10-play, 66-yard drive finally faltered at the Cleveland 24 and Martin booted a 31-yard field goal for the game’s first points.

The Lions regained the ball quickly when an O’Connell pass was intercepted by LB Bob Long, who returned it to the Cleveland 19. Following a short running play, Rote faked a pass and instead carried for 17 yards down the middle. Rote ran again for a one-yard touchdown, Martin added the extra point, and Detroit was ahead by 10-0.

It got worse for the Browns when HB Milt Campbell fumbled after returning the ensuing kickoff 19 yards and DB Terry Barr recovered for the Lions at the Cleveland 15. Six plays later, Gedman dove into the end zone from a yard out for another TD. Martin’s point after gave the home team a 17-0 lead.

As the game moved into the second quarter, the Browns responded by advancing 78 yards in four plays. O’Connell passed to Brewster for 19 yards and flanker Ray Renfro gained 20 yards on a reverse. Jim Brown ran 29 yards for a touchdown and Lou Groza converted to narrow the Detroit margin to 17-7.

Following an exchange of punts, the Lions advanced into Cleveland territory. Facing fourth-and-11 at the Cleveland 26, they lined up for a field goal. But Rote, the holder on kicks, took the snap and spun to his right, passing to end Steve Junker, who gathered the ball in at the six and went the distance for a touchdown. Martin successfully converted.

Down 24-7 and with the Lions threatening once again, the Browns seemingly got a break when Junker fumbled the ball away at the Cleveland six. But facing third-and-10, O’Connell’s pass intended for Brewster was instead intercepted by Barr (pictured below), who returned it 19 yards for a touchdown. Martin added the extra point and the Lions held a commanding 31-7 lead.

The Lions got another chance thanks to a Cleveland turnover when HB Chet Hanulak fumbled and DT Gil Mains recovered with five seconds left in the half. But Martin missed a 44-yard field goal attempt and the score remained unchanged.

Milt Plum had taken over at quarterback for Cleveland late in the second quarter, and starting off the third quarter, the Browns finally scored again at the completion of a 10-play, 80-yard series. HB Lew Carpenter ran for the last five yards and a touchdown, and Groza added the point after. But any lingering hopes for a Cleveland comeback in the second half were snuffed out when, on the first play after the kickoff, Rote threw long to end Jim Doran for a 78-yard touchdown.

Tempers flared late in the period as both teams drew unnecessary roughness penalties. The rout was on as the Lions then padded their lead with Rote again connecting with Junker, this time for a 23-yard TD. Plum fumbled when being sacked by DE Gene Cronin on the last play of the period and the fourth quarter started with Rote firing another touchdown pass, to end Dave Middleton from 30 yards out.

Jerry Reichow relieved Rote at quarterback for the game’s last seven minutes and capped the scoring with a 17-yard touchdown pass to HB Howard “Hopalong” Cassady. Martin converted, as he had done successfully after all of the TDs, and that provided the final score of 59-14.

The Lions achieved a franchise high for points scored in a game and administered the worst defeat endured by the Browns up to that time. They led in total yards (438 to 313) and first downs (22 to 17). Cleveland ran effectively, gaining 218 yards on the ground, but also turned the ball over six times, to one suffered by Detroit.

Tobin Rote was outstanding as he completed 12 of 19 passes for 280 yards and four touchdowns, with none intercepted, and also rushed for 27 yards on seven carries that included a TD. Steve Junker (pictured below) had 5 catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns and Jim Doran gained 101 yards on his three receptions that included the one long score. Hopalong Cassady led Detroit’s rushers with 48 yards on 8 attempts and also pulled in two passes for 22 yards and a TD. Jim Martin made good on all 8 of his extra point attempts and connected for one field goal in two tries.

For the Browns, Tom O’Connell was successful on four of eight throws for 61 yards and gave up two interceptions. Milt Plum was 5 of 12 for 51 yards and also had two picked off. Lew Carpenter ran for 82 yards on 14 carries that included a TD and Jim Brown contributed 69 yards on 20 attempts with one for a score and averaged 26.5 yards on four kickoff returns. End Preston Carpenter was the team’s leading receiver with four catches for 43 yards and Pete Brewster gained 52 yards on his three receptions.

“It wasn’t altogether us. They were hot,” summed up Cleveland’s Coach Brown regarding the defeat. “That was a great team we played today. Rote had a day, didn’t he?”

While it was anticipated that the Lions would contend again in 1958, they instead dropped to 4-7-1 and did not return to the postseason until 1970. To date, 1957 remains the last year that Detroit attained a NFL Championship. The Browns bounced back to go 9-3 in ’58 and tied for first in the Eastern Conference, losing to the Giants in the resulting playoff. They next reached the NFL Championship game in 1964.

1957: Tittle’s 3 TD Passes Lead 49ers to Win Against Rams

Two West Coast rivals, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, met in San Francisco in the second week of the NFL season on October 6, 1957. The Rams had won their opening game against the Eagles while the 49ers fell to the Chicago Cardinals.

The 49ers were coached by Frankie Albert, once their star quarterback, and were coming off of two straight losing records that included 5-6-1 in ’56. However, after a dreadful 1-6 start they had concluded the season with a 4-0-1 burst, and were looking to build upon that finish. QB Y.A. Tittle (pictured above) was a key to the late surge and, while FB Joe Perry was beginning to show signs of wear, HB Hugh McElhenny remained a potent breakaway threat. The bigger questions related to the defense, in particular the backfield.

Los Angeles was just two years removed from a Western Conference title but had gone a disappointing 4-8 in 1956. While Head Coach Sid Gillman had been revamping the roster, veteran QB Norm Van Brocklin was still behind center and a formidable passer at age 30, although he was being pushed by the younger Bill Wade. While the receiving corps was no longer as impressive as it had been in previous years, there was plenty of talent at running back with FB Tank Younger and HB Tom Wilson who was being joined by first draft choice Jon Arnett, a fleet all-purpose halfback out of USC. The Rams had concerns about their defense but had also finished strong the previous year.

Kezar Stadium was filled with 59,637 fans for the game. The 49ers had the first possession and drove to near midfield before having to punt. The kick by Larry Barnes went off the side of his foot and traveled only six yards to give the Rams the ball at their own 45. Tom Wilson (pictured below) ran for 23 yards around right end on first down and, three plays later, he scored on a 21-yard touchdown carry. Paige Cothren added the extra point to put the visitors in front by 7-0.

San Francisco again had to punt after its next series. Barnes again had trouble when a high snap forced him to rush the kick, and while it traveled farther, it was just 26 yards to the LA 39. However, the Niners got a break when, after Tank Younger ran for 13 yards, LB Matt Hazeltine intercepted a Norm Van Brocklin pass. The 49ers came up inches short when trying to convert a third-and-one and another Barnes punt went only 11 yards. Effective running by Wilson and Younger, with a short pass by Van Brocklin mixed in, advanced the Rams to the San Francisco 16, where the drive stalled, and LA came up empty when Cothren’s 23-yard field goal attempt missed the mark.

The 49ers came alive on offense as Hugh McElhenny ran around end for 16 yards and Y.A. Tittle threw to end Clyde Conner for 14 yards to the 50. Joe Perry ran for eight yards but, as the game headed into the second quarter, two passes by Tittle fell incomplete and Gordie Soltau missed a field goal try from 47 yards.

The Rams punted following their next series and, while the 49ers took over at their 42, a sack by LB Dick Daugherty moved them back 13 yards and Barnes quick-kicked on third down. LA took over at its 25, was penalized half the distance to the goal due to a personal foul, and then a bad pitchout was recovered by Wilson in his end zone for a safety. HB Joe Arenas returned the ensuing free kick 21 yards to the LA 45 and, two plays later, Tittle threw down the middle to Conner who, about to be tackled, lateraled to end Billy Wilson and the fleet receiver ran the distance for a 43-yard TD. Soltau converted and the 49ers were in front by 9-7.

The Rams put together a promising drive in response that featured Van Brocklin passes of 26 yards to end Bob Boyd and 20 yards to end Leon Clarke. The second gave Los Angeles a first down at the San Francisco 14, and two carries by Younger made it first-and-goal at the four. Two running plays picked up two yards, and on third down Wilson fumbled into the end zone and safety J.D. Smith recovered for the 49ers to end the threat.

San Francisco responded to the reprieve by putting together an 80-yard series in nine plays. A short pass to Perry picked up 17 yards and it was Tittle throwing long to flanker R.C. Owens, a rookie with outstanding jumping ability, who outmaneuvered safety Don Burroughs in the end zone for a 46-yard touchdown. Soltau added the point after and the Niners took a 16-7 lead into halftime.

The Rams had the first possession in the third quarter and moved quickly, covering 81 yards in just four plays, to narrow the score. The big play was a Van Brocklin pass to Clarke who went the distance for a 70-yard TD. Cothren’s extra point made it a 16-14 game.

The teams traded punts before San Francisco put together a good drive. McElhenny had runs of 11 and 19 yards but, after reaching the LA 36, two Tittle passes were broken up and Soltau missed a long field goal try. The Rams were in San Francisco territory as the period ended thanks to a Van Brocklin throw to Jon Arnett that gained 36 yards. A pass to Clarke picked up nine yards to the 21 as the third quarter ended and, after two running plays added seven yards, LA moved into the lead with a Cothren field goal from 20 yards that made the tally 17-16.

On San Francisco’s first play after the kickoff, Barnes fumbled and safety Will Sherman recovered for the Rams at the Niners’ 29. Wilson ran the ball five straight times and, after a Van Brocklin pass was incomplete, Cothren kicked another field goal, again from 20 yards. The visitors held a four-point lead at 20-16 with under ten minutes remaining to play.

Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards and nearly went the distance before FB Joe Marconi tackled him at the San Francisco 41. The 49ers proceeded to advance 59 yards in 10 plays. McElhenny and FB Gene Babb ran to good effect and Tittle carried the ball himself to convert a third down. Tittle passed to Conner for 11 yards and another 11-yard throw was caught by a leaping Owens for a touchdown. Soltau added the extra point to put the Niners back in the lead by three points. The Rams were unable to move the ball in their last two possessions and San Francisco held on for a 23-20 win.

Los Angeles had the edge in total yards (401 to 318) and first downs (19 to 16). Both teams ran the ball well, with the 49ers gaining 196 yards to LA’s 184. The Rams suffered two turnovers, to one by San Francisco. The 49ers were hampered by their poor punting game, averaging just 28.3 yards on six punts (Larry Barnes accounted for four of the kicks, with an average of 24.5).

Y.A. Tittle completed just 7 of 15 passes for 147 yards, but three of them were for touchdowns while he gave up no interceptions. Hugh McElhenny rushed for 109 yards on 21 carries and Gene Babb contributed 57 yards on 10 attempts. Clyde Conner had four catches for 50 yards while R.C. Owens (pictured at right) gained 57 yards on his two receptions, both of which scored TDs.

For the Rams, Norm Van Brocklin was successful on 12 of 20 throws for 217 yards and a TD and he was picked off once. Tom Wilson gained 125 yards on 20 rushing attempts that included a touchdown and Tank Younger had 63 yards on his 16 rushes. Jon Arnett topped the team with four pass receptions, for 65 yards, while Leon Clarke, with his long scoring catch, gained 96 yards on three receptions. 

The win for the 49ers was the first of five straight on the way to an 8-4 record that tied them for first place with Detroit in the Western Conference. They blew a big halftime lead in losing the playoff with the Lions. The Rams got off to a 1-3 start, but defeated San Francisco in the rematch and ended up at 6-6 and fourth in the conference.

Y.A. Tittle received MVP recognition from UPI and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection as he led the league in pass completions (176) and completion percentage (63.1) and was second in passing yards (2157). Hugh McElhenny ran for 478 yards while averaging 4.7 yards-per-carry and caught 37 passes for 458 yards and was named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time. R.C. Owens had 27 catches for 395 yards (14.6 avg.) and scored five TDs.  

Norm Van Brocklin placed second in the NFL in touchdown passes (20), yards per attempt (7.9), and yards per completion (15.9), although he topped the circuit in interceptions thrown (21). Tom Wilson rushed for 616 yards on 127 carries (4.9 avg.) to lead the club and was selected to the Pro Bowl.

Highlighted Year: Raymond Berry, 1957

Offensive End, Baltimore Colts

Age: 24

3^rd season in pro football & with Colts

College: Southern Methodist

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

Berry didn’t have much opportunity to show off his pass receiving skills in college, catching just 33 passes and scoring one touchdown, but he was chosen as a future pick by the Colts in the 20^th round of the 1954 NFL draft. He joined the team in ’55 and caught 13 passes as a rookie and, with the arrival of QB Johnny Unitas, improved to 37 receptions for 601 yards (16.2 avg.) in 1956. What he lacked in speed and heft he made up for with reliable hands and an excellent work ethic.

1957 Season Summary

Appeared in all 12 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 47 [2] 

Most receptions, game – 12 (for 224 yds.) at Washington

Yards – 800 [1]

Most yards, game – 224 (on 12 catches) at Washington

Average gain – 17.0 [17]

TDs – 6 [3, tied with Ray Renfro, Elroy Hirsch & Billy Wilson]

200-yard receiving games – 1

100-yard receiving games – 2

Scoring

TDs – 6 [9, tied with ten others]

Points – 36 [19, tied with ten others]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-NFL: Sporting News

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

Colts went 7-5 to finish third in the NFL Western Conference while leading the league in passing yards (2388) and touchdowns (41).

Aftermath:

Berry followed up by leading the NFL in pass receiving in each of the next three seasons, in pass receiving touchdowns in 1958 and ’59, and pass receiving yards in 1959 and ’60, despite being hindered by a leg injury in the latter year. He was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection after all three years and also had an outstanding performance in the 1958 NFL Championship overtime win over the Giants (12 catches, 178 yards, 1 TD). While he didn’t lead the league and missed two games due to injury in 1961, the steady Berry had a career-high 75 catches and was chosen to a fourth straight Pro Bowl. He went on to play a total of 13 seasons, all with the Colts, and retired as the career pass receiving leader at the time with 631, for 9275 yards (14.7 avg.) and 68 TDs. Berry was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection three times, received some first- or second-team honors after two other seasons, and was named to the Pro Bowl six times. He was selected to the 50^th and 75^th-year all-time NFL teams. The Colts retired his #82 and Berry was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1973. Berry went on to a coaching career and was head coach of the New England Patriots when they won the AFC Championship in 1985.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Jon Arnett, 1957

Halfback, Los Angeles Rams

Age: 22

1^st season in pro football

College: Southern California

Height: 5’11” Weight: 194

Prelude:

“Jaguar Jon” received All-American recognition from the AP, NEA, and Football Writers Assoc. of America in 1955 and was recipient of the Voit Trophy as top college football player on the Pacific Coast in 1954 and ’55. His senior year was limited to five games due to NCAA sanctions that were leveled against USC. Arnett was a natural choice for the Rams in the first round of the ’57 NFL draft (second overall). His speed, agility, and outstanding running instincts made him a fit both at halfback and as a kick returner.

1957 Season Summary

Appeared in all 12 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 86
Most attempts, game - 20 (for 42 yds.) vs. Baltimore 12/15

Yards – 347

Most yards, game – 149 yards (on 17 carries) at Green Bay 11/17

Average gain – 4.0 [15]

TDs – 2
100-yard rushing games - 1

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 18
Most receptions, game - 4 (for 65 yds.) at San Francisco 10/6

Yards – 322

Most yards, game – 137 (on 4 catches) at Chi. Bears 10/20

Average gain – 17.9

TDs – 3

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 18 [5]

Yards – 504 [5]

Average per return – 28.0 [1]

TDs – 1 [1, tied with Billy Wells]

Longest return – 98 yards

Punt Returns

Returns – 14 [13, tied with Bert Zagers]

Yards – 85 [10]

Average per return – 6.1 [5]

TDs – 0

Longest return – 22 yards

All-Purpose yards – 1258 [3]

Scoring

TDs – 6 [9, tied with ten others]

Points – 36 [19, tied with ten others]

Awards & Honors:

Pro Bowl

Rams went 6-6 to finish fourth in the NFL Western Conference while leading league in total yards (4143), rushing yards (2142), and scoring (307 points).

Aftermath:

Arnett was chosen to the Pro Bowl following each of his first five seasons and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection in 1958 when he had career highs in rushing yards (683), pass receiving yards (494, on 35 catches), yards from scrimmage (1177), and all-purpose yards (1731) and he led the league in punt return yards (223) and average (12.4). He was used more as a spot player over the years, lining up at both halfback and flanker while continuing to return kicks. In 1961 Arnett received second-team All-NFL honors from the NEA, UPI, and New York Daily News in a year in which he ran the ball 158 times, his highest total, for 609 yards, gained 1531 all-purpose yards, and returned a kickoff 105 yards. Injuries became a factor in 1962 and ’63, and he was traded to the Chicago Bears prior to the 1964 season, having gained 8076 all-purpose yards in seven years with the Rams (2892 rushing, 1911 receiving, 683 on punt returns, and 2590 returning kickoffs). Arnett led the Bears with 400 rushing yards in ’64 but the arrival of rookie HB Gale Sayers in 1965 relegated him to a backup role in his last two seasons. Overall, Arnett rushed for 3833 yards on 964 carries (4.0 avg.), caught 222 passes for 2290 yards, averaged 8.2 yards on 120 punt returns and 24.7 yards on 126 kickoff returns. He scored a total of 39 touchdowns and was named to five Pro Bowls. Arnett was chosen to the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Percentage, Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

[Updated 2/21/17]

1957: Morrall Leads Steelers to Upset of Slumping Colts

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a 3-2 record and were struggling to score points as they faced the Baltimore Colts on November 3, 1957. Buddy Parker had taken over as head coach following his abrupt departure from the Lions during the preseason, and while Pittsburgh had a tough defense, the offense had deficiencies at running back and on the line. Second-year quarterback, Earl Morrall (pictured at right), who had been obtained from the 49ers, showed promise but was inexperienced and having difficulty against teams that sent a heavy pass rush. To help Morrall and the passing game, Parker countered against Baltimore by realigning the running backs so that FB Fran Rogel was behind G Mike Sandusky and could thus provide extra protection.

The Colts, under Head Coach Weeb Ewbank, had gotten off to a 3-0 start before losing their last two games prior to hosting the Steelers. Second-year QB Johnny Unitas, originally drafted by Pittsburgh, was rapidly developing into a star, and there were plenty of other formidable weapons on offense, such as ends Raymond Berry and Jim Mutscheller, FB Alan Ameche, and HB Lenny Moore. The defense was good, in particular the line – a further reason for Buddy Parker to sacrifice the already-suspect running game in order to better protect the young quarterback.

There were 42,575 fans in attendance at Memorial Stadium. The Colts scored the first time they had the ball, going 81 yards in 15 plays. On a third-and-five play, Unitas connected with Raymond Berry in the end zone for a five-yard touchdown. However, DHB Jack Butler blocked Bert Rechichar’s extra point attempt and the score remained 6-0.

In response, the Steelers put together a long drive of their own that extended past the opening period. While they had problems running the ball, Morrall made up for it with his passing. As the second quarter began, Pittsburgh had second-and-goal at the Baltimore nine but came up empty when Morrall was sacked for a seven-yard loss, overthrew a pass into the end zone intended for end Ray Mathews, and Gary Glick missed a 24-yard field goal attempt that was wide to the right.

The Colts had to punt following their next possession and Cotton Davidson’s kick went only 25 yards to give Pittsburgh good starting field position near midfield. A fumble and incomplete pass brought up third down, but then Morrall went deep for Mathews, who pulled it in for a 48-yard TD. Glick added the extra point and the Steelers led by 7-6.

The Colts had a chance to score before the first half ended, but a pass intended for end Jim Mutscheller in the end zone was picked off by Butler.

In the third quarter, the Colts had a promising series that reached Pittsburgh territory, but Butler (pictured at left) intercepted a Unitas pass at his 22 to end the threat. Later in the period, LB Aubrey Rozelle picked off a pass to give the Steelers the ball at the Baltimore 21. After HB Billy Wells lost a yard, Morrall again fired a long pass to Mathews for a 22-yard TD. Glick added the PAT and the visitors were up by 14-6.

After DB Dick Nyers returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards for the Colts, George Shaw relieved Unitas at quarterback and directed the home team on a seven-play, 61-yard drive. Keeping the ball on rollouts, Shaw gained 20 rushing yards himself and went the final eight yards around right end for a TD. This time Rechichar successfully converted to make it a one-point game at 14-13.

Early in the fourth quarter, Rechichar missed a 41-yard field goal attempt that would have put the Colts in front. The Steelers then added to their lead on a possession highlighted by Mathews made a tumbling catch to gain 31 yards. Glick added a 16-yard field goal to make it a four-point game.

The Colts hurt themselves further when the kickoff bounced away and was finally corralled by Nyers at the two, who was only able to pick up two yards. Following a one-yard carry by Alan Ameche, the Colts were penalized half the distance and Unitas, fading back into his end zone, was pulled down by DE Bill McPeak for a safety. That was it for the scoring as Pittsburgh’s defense continued to frustrate the Colts. The Steelers won by a final score of 19-13.

Pittsburgh outgained the Colts (271 yards to 255) although Baltimore had the edge in first downs (17 to 12). The Steelers managed only 15 yards on the ground in 30 attempts, to 168 rushing yards for the Colts, but Baltimore was held to just 87 net yards through the air. The Colts also turned the ball over four times, all on interceptions, to one suffered by Pittsburgh.

Earl Morrall completed 18 of 30 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns with one intercepted. He also led the anemic running game with 23 yards on three carries. Billy Wells gained 20 yards on 13 attempts. End Jack McClairen had 7 pass receptions for 64 yards and Ray Mathews (pictured at right) contributed 6 catches for 165 yards and two TDs. Of Pittsburgh’s four interceptions on defense, Jack Butler accounted for three of them and also had the blocked extra point to his credit.

For the Colts, Johnny Unitas had an abysmal day as he was successful on only three of 9 throws for 56 yards and a TD. George Shaw went three-of-six for 44 yards. Alan Ameche rushed for 56 yards on 10 carries. Raymond Berry had three catches for 56 yards and a score.

The game did not mark a turnaround for the Steelers – they lost their next three contests and finished third in the Eastern Conference at 6-6. Baltimore recovered to win four straight and stay in contention in the Western Conference, but losses in the final two games put them in third place at 7-5.

Earl Morrall had a respectable season, ranking second in the league in pass attempts (289) and third in completions (139) for 1900 yards and 11 touchdowns with 12 intercepted. His completion percentage (48.1) and yards per attempt (6.6) were ordinary, but he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first of two times over the course of his long, 22-year career.

The game against the Colts was the biggest of the season for Ray Mathews, who ended up with 15 catches for 369 yards (24.6 avg.) and four touchdowns. Jack Butler, on the other hand, co-led the NFL with 10 interceptions and was a consensus first-team All-NFL selection as well as Pro Bowl honoree.

Johnny Unitas went on to have an outstanding breakout season, leading the NFL in pass attempts (301), yards (2550), TD passes (24), and yards per attempt (8.5). He was named league MVP by the NEA as well as receiving first-team All-NFL recognition from the organization and second-team honors from the AP, UPI, and New York Daily News. He was also chosen to the Pro Bowl for the first of an eventual ten times over the course of his career.

1957: Packers Upset Bears in First Game at New Stadium

On September 29, 1957 the Green Bay Packers not only played their opening game of the new NFL season, but achieved a significant milestone in the history of the franchise as well. That day marked the official opening of a new home venue, City Stadium (or New City Stadium, to distinguish it from its predecessor, until renamed Lambeau Field in 1965).

The Packers had endured mediocrity on the field throughout the decade of the fifties and the future of the franchise was in question. They were playing home games at a high school stadium, the original City Stadium, and owners of other NFL teams were complaining that the facility was no longer up to league standards. The Packers had also been playing some home games in Milwaukee each year (and would continue doing so until 1994), and there was sentiment to move the team there permanently. Upon receiving an ultimatum from the NFL, a bond issue was put before the voters of Green Bay to build a new stadium and received 70 percent approval. The result was the new 32,000-seat stadium.

As for the team itself, the Packers were coming off a 4-8 season in 1956 and had not posted a winning record since 1947. Coached by Lisle Blackbourn, who was commencing his fourth year at the helm, the team had traded star QB Tobin Rote to Detroit during the offseason and was going with 23-year-old second-year QB Bart Starr to start the opening game, although 28-year-old QB Babe Parilli, who had started out with the Packers in 1952, gone into the military, and been dealt to Cleveland, was back with the club. End Billy Howton was one of the NFL’s best receivers, center Jim Ringo was a solid performer on the offensive line, and safety Bobby Dillon a highly-regarded member of the defense. They also had high hopes for their first round draft choices, QB Paul Hornung from Notre Dame and Michigan end Ron Kramer, but by and large the Packers simply had too many holes on the roster.

The team they were hosting, the Chicago Bears, was coming off a 9-2-1 record in ’56 that had topped the Western Division, although they lost badly to the Giants in the NFL title game. Coached by Paddy Driscoll, the Bears had a fine quarterback tandem in Ed Brown and George Blanda with Zeke Bratkowski now in the mix after a stint in the Army. FB Rick Casares had led the league in rushing and end Harlon Hill was an outstanding deep threat.

Dignitaries were present for the stadium dedication, including Vice President Richard M. Nixon who pronounced the new facility the “best spectator stadium” he had visited. A capacity crowd of 32,132 was on hand on a windy but sunny day.

The Bears scored first on their third series in the opening period, following an interception of a Bart Starr pass.  Ed Brown capped a 77-yard drive with a five-yard run on the ninth play. Blanda added the extra point and it was 7-0 heading into the second quarter.

Starr was struggling and the Packers were also hurt by the loss of FB Howie Ferguson to an injury in the first quarter. Babe Parilli (pictured below) relieved at quarterback and the Packers put together a scoring drive that went 79 yards in 10 plays, the biggest a pass that Howton caught over his shoulder for a 37-yard touchdown. Fred Cone tied the score at 7-7 with the successful point after.

Chicago got another TD, again taking nine plays to advance 72 yards and scoring on a pass from Brown to Harlon Hill from eleven yards out. The second TD for the Packers culminated a nine-play, 59-yard drive that was helped by a pass interference call in the end zone after Chicago DHB Vic Zucco hit Howton in the end zone. With the ball at the one yard line, Cone dove into the end zone and added the extra point that made the score 14-14 at the half.

Early in the third quarter, George Blanda kicked a 13-yard field goal for the Bears to give them the lead, but the Green Bay defense began to assert itself. In addition to intercepting four passes during the second half, the Packers also made a key stop in the fourth quarter. On a fourth-and-one play near midfield, Chicago HB Bobby Watkins was unable to gain the necessary yardage and the Packers came alive with a three-play, 49-yard series that proved to be decisive.

Parilli first threw to Howton for a 41-yard gain and Cone ran for two yards. Then Parilli, breaking free of DE Jack Hoffman, fired the ball to end Gary Knafelc, who dropped to his knees between the goal posts and caught the ball squarely in his stomach for a six-yard touchdown.

With 8:21 remaining to play, there was still plenty of time left, but Green Bay’s defense rose to the occasion and the Bears were unable to get into Packers territory for the rest of the game. Chicago’s last opportunity came when the Packers had to punt with two minutes remaining, but HB Perry Jeter fumbled when hit hard by DE Jim Temp and center Larry Lauer recovered for the Packers, who were then able to run out the clock. The Packers came away with an upset 21-17 win.

Chicago led in total yards (362 to 297) and first downs (19 to 16). However, the Bears also turned the ball over six times, with most coming in the second half, to four suffered by Green Bay.

Babe Parilli completed 9 of 17 passes for 197 yards and two touchdowns and Billy Howton had 8 catches for 165 yards and a TD. Chicago’s quarterback combo of Ed Brown and Zeke Bratkowski gave up five interceptions, two of which were by Bobby Dillon.

While it made for a great opening in a new facility, the win over the Bears did not mark a turnaround for the Packers. They lost their next three games and ended up at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 3-9 record. Coach Blackbourn was dismissed, but it would take an even worse finish in 1958 and another coaching change to bring about a revival in the team’s fortunes.

The loss did presage a down year for the Bears, who sagged to 5-7 and fifth place in the conference, although they did beat Green Bay in the rematch at Chicago. The drop in fortunes persuaded owner George Halas to come out of his two-year coaching retirement in 1958.

Babe Parilli started one game for the Packers in ’57 and returned to the bench to back up Bart Starr. For the year, he completed 39 of 102 passes (38.2 %) for 669 yards with four touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He played one more season with Green Bay, was cut during the 1959 preseason and played in Canada, and then spent 10 years in the American Football League with the Raiders, Patriots (where he had his greatest success), and Jets.

Billy Howton had another fine season in 1957, catching 38 passes for 727 yards (19.1 avg.) and five touchdowns. He received consensus first-team All-NFL recognition for the second straight year and was named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time.

As for City Stadium, the bond issue that financed its near-million dollar construction cost was paid off in 1978. Following several expansions, and the renaming to Lambeau Field, the seating capacity has since risen to over 73,000.

1957: Lions Obtain Tobin Rote from Packers

On July 26, 1957 QB Tobin Rote of the Green Bay Packers stopped by the team’s offices on the eve of training camp and was stunned to find out he had been traded to the Detroit Lions.  He was dealt along with DB Val Joe Walker for HB Don McIlhenny, tackles Ollie Spencer and Norm Masters, and G Jim Salsbury.

Chosen in the second round of the 1950 NFL draft out of Rice, Rote, a native Texan, had spent seven years with the Packers. While not always a consistent passer, he nevertheless led the league in pass attempts and completions on two occasions (1954 and ’56) and passing yards in ’56 with 2203. He also topped the circuit in touchdown passes in each of the previous two seasons, with 17 in 1955 (tied with San Francisco’s Y.A. Tittle) and 18 in ’56. Additionally, the 6’3”, 215-pound Rote was a fine runner who led the Packers in ground gaining on four occasions and topped all of the league’s quarterbacks in rushing six times, including a record 523 yards in 1951 that remained the NFL standard for a quarterback until 1971. Along the way he received his share of honors, including first-team All-NFL recognition from NEA in 1955 and selection to the Pro Bowl in ’56.

Things had not gone as well for the Packers as a whole as they never posted a record above .500 during that time period. Coach Lisle Blackbourn explained that, while the club hated to give up Rote, it had four quarterbacks on the roster and was in need of offensive line help. Other quarterbacks included Bart Starr (still a work in progress after one season), Babe Parilli, and rookie Paul Hornung – none of whom held the same trade value.

Both Rote and Val Joe Walker had talked retirement prior to the trade. Walker had been with the Packers for four seasons, both as a defensive halfback (modern cornerback) and safety, intercepting a total of 15 passes. He ended up not playing for the Lions, who traded him to the 49ers two months later.

The veteran Ollie Spencer was considered to be the key to the deal at the time for the Packers. A member of the 1953 team that won the NFL Championship as a rookie, he had spent the next two years in the military before returning in ’56.

Norm Masters, meanwhile, played in Canada in 1956 and had only recently been obtained in a trade from the Cardinals. Both regular tackles from the preceding season were gone, with John Sandusky having retired to go into coaching and Bob Skoronski in the service. Forrest Gregg played at guard in ’56 and was also in the military (Gregg returned to the team in 1958, Skoronski in ’59).

Jim Salsbury had been with the Lions for two years, having been taken in the second round of the 1955 NFL draft out of UCLA.

Don McIlhenny was Detroit’s leading rusher after the first four games of the ’56 season, his first after being drafted in the third round out of Southern Methodist, but ran into problems with injuries thereafter and finished up with 372 rushing yards in nine games.

In Detroit, star QB Bobby Layne had been bothered with a sore shoulder and then a concussion suffered on a blindside hit in a key game against the Bears late in the ’56 season had damaged the club’s ability to return to the top of the Western Conference. Rote was brought in as insurance.

Things got off to a rocky start for the Lions just before the preseason when Head Coach Buddy Parker abruptly quit, but with George Wilson at the helm the Lions went 8-4 and finished in a tie with San Francisco at the top of the conference. Layne and Rote alternated for most of the season with good results as they accumulated nearly identical passing statistics, and when Layne went down with a broken ankle in the eleventh week, Rote took over the job full-time. Detroit won both of the contests to end the regular season and then defeated the 49ers in a stunning come-from-behind victory to advance to the Championship game. The Lions went on to thrash Cleveland for the NFL title by a 59-14 score as Rote passed for four touchdowns and ran for another in the rout.

Early in the 1958 season, the Lions traded Layne to Pittsburgh and Rote had the starting job to himself. However, the injury-riddled team dropped to 4-7-1. The veteran quarterback threw for 1678 yards with 14 TDs. Rote struggled with a shoulder injury in ’59 and had a dreadful year, tossing 19 interceptions and only five TD passes. Young Earl Morrall saw considerable action and, with his contract expired, Rote jumped to the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. After three successful seasons with the Argos, Rote moved on to the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League and guided them to a league title in 1963. A quarterback who experienced success in three leagues, Rote finished his career as a backup with the Denver Broncos at age 38 in 1966.

Meanwhile, the Packers didn’t gain much immediate benefit from the big trade, going 3-9 in Coach Blackbourn’s last year and a dismal 1-10-1 under Ray “Scooter” McLean in 1958. The arrival of Vince Lombardi in ’59 marked a significant turnaround, and Norm Masters (pictured below), along with Forrest Gregg, Bob Skoronski, Bart Starr, and Paul Hornung, was a part of it. Masters was with the Packers for eight seasons, including two that ended in NFL titles.

Don McIlhenny led the team in rushing in 1957 with 384 yards and returned 14 kickoffs for a 25.9-yard average. In three seasons with the Packers, he rushed for 854 yards, caught 46 passes for 459 more yards, and scored seven TDs before moving on to the expansion Dallas Cowboys in 1960.

Ollie Spencer spent two years with the Packers before returning to Detroit in 1959. Ultimately, he finished up his career with the AFL’s Oakland Raiders and stayed on as an assistant coach for many years. Jim Salsbury also spent two seasons in Green Bay, after which his NFL career ended.