Rookie of the Year: J.C. Caroline, 1956

Defensive Halfback, Chicago Bears

Age: 23

College: Illinois

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

Caroline led the nation in rushing with 1256 yards as a sophomore at Illinois, but was declared academically ineligible the next year. He spent 1955 playing for Toronto and Montreal in Canada, where he rushed for 575 yards in 10 games. Eligible for the NFL draft in 1956, he was taken by the Bears in the 7th round and was used on defense until injuries depleted the backfield later in his rookie season.

1956 Season Summary

Appeared in all 12 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 6 [9, tied with Jack Butler, Dicky Moegle & Emlen Tunnell]

Int. return yards – 182 [4, tied with Yale Lary]

Int. TDs – 2 [1]

Fumble recoveries – 1

Rushing

Attempts – 34

Yards – 141

Average gain – 4.1

TDs – 2

Punt Returns

Returns – 2

Yards – 29

Average per return – 14.5

TDs – 0

Longest return – 16 yards

Kickoff Returns

Returns – 2

Yards – 32

Average per return – 16.0

TDs – 0

Longest return – 18 yards

Scoring

TDs – 4

Points – 24

Postseason: 1 G (NFL Championship at New York Giants)

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Kickoff returns – 1

Kickoff ret. yds. – 14

Kickoff ret. TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: Sporting News

1^st team All-NFL: NY Daily News

Pro Bowl

Bears went 9-2-1 to finish first in the Western Conference. Lost NFL Championship to New York Giants (47-7).

Aftermath:

Caroline continued to be a versatile performer with the Bears over the course of a 10-season career that ended in 1965. He saw action on offense and as a kick returner in 1957 and ’58 but was most effective on defense where he was used at both cornerback and safety. Caroline intercepted a total of 24 passes and scored six touchdowns, three of them on offense.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year).

MVP Profile: Peyton Manning, 2004

Quarterback, Indianapolis Colts

Age:  28

7^th season in pro football & with Colts

College: Tennessee

Height: 6’5”   Weight: 230

Prelude:

Son of NFL quarterback Archie Manning and a star in college, Manning was chosen by the Colts with the first overall draft pick in 1998. It didn’t take long for him to justify the selection as he set NFL rookie records with 3739 passing yards and 26 TD passes. He led the league with 575 pass attempts, also a record for a rookie at the time, but also with 28 interceptions on a 3-13 club. The record turned around to 13-3 in ’99, the Colts qualified for the postseason, and Manning was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time as he passed for 4135 yards and, while he again threw 26 TD passes, his interceptions dropped to 15. A classic drop-back passer, he lacked his father’s mobility but made up for it with a quick release – not to mention an excellent work ethic. Manning led the NFL with 357 completions, 4413 yards, and 33 TD passes in 2000 and again was chosen for the Pro Bowl. Following a lesser year in ’01 as the Colts dropped to 6-10, he bounced back with a third Pro Bowl season in 2002, passing for 4200 yards (his fourth straight year over 4000) and 27 touchdowns. The team was back in the playoffs, but for the third straight time Manning and the Colts came up short in their initial postseason game. In 2003 he achieved consensus first-team All-NFL and MVP consideration for the first time as he led the league in completions (379), completion percentage (67.0), and yards (4267). This time the Colts advanced to the AFC title game before falling to the Patriots.

2004 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 497 [8]

Most attempts, game – 44 at Kansas City 10/31, vs. San Diego 12/26

Completions – 336 [4]

Most completions, game – 28 vs. Green Bay 9/26

Yards – 4557 [3]

Most yards, game – 472 at Kansas City 10/31

Completion percentage – 67.6 [3, 1st in AFC]

Yards per attempt – 9.2 [1]

TD passes – 49 [1]

Most TD passes, game – 6 at Detroit 11/25

Interceptions – 10

Most interceptions, game – 2 vs. Houston 11/14, vs. Tennessee 12/5

Passer rating – 121.1 [1]

400-yard passing games – 2

300-yard passing games – 6

200-yard passing games – 14

Rushing

Attempts – 25

Most attempts, game - 4 (for 20 yds.) vs. Minnesota 11/8

Yards – 38

Most yards, game – 20 yards (on 4 carries) vs. Minnesota 11/8

Yards per attempt – 1.5

TDs – 0

Postseason: 2 G

Pass attempts – 75

Most attempts, game - 42 at New England, AFC Divisional playoff

Pass completions – 54

Most completions, game - 27 vs. Denver, AFC Wild Card playoff, at New England, AFC Divisional playoff

Passing yardage – 696

Most yards, game - 458 vs. Denver, AFC Wild Card playoff

TD passes – 4

Most TD passes, game - 4 vs. Denver, AFC Wild Card playoff

Interceptions – 2

Most interceptions, game - 1 vs. Denver, AFC Wild Card playoff, at New England, AFC Divisional playoff

Rushing attempts – 2

Most rushing attempts, game - 1 vs. Denver, AFC Wild Card playoff, at New England, AFC Divisional playoff

Rushing yards – 8

Most rushing yards, game - 7 at New England, AFC Divisional playoff

Average gain rushing – 4.0

Rushing TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:

NFL MVP: AP, PFWA, NEA, Bert Bell Award, Sporting News

NFL Offensive Player of the Year: AP

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, Sporting News

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Colts went 12-4 to finish first in the AFC South while leading the NFL in passing offense (4623 yards), scoring (522 points), and touchdowns (66). Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Denver Broncos (49-24). Lost AFC Divisional playoff to New England Patriots (20-3).

Aftermath:

Manning was consensus first-team All-Pro for the third consecutive year in 2005 and, in ’06, finally overcame years of frustration in the playoffs as the Colts won the Super Bowl. Manning led the NFL in TD passes with 31 that year, against just 9 interceptions. Overall, he started 227 regular season games at quarterback, with 208 straight, until sidelined for all of 2011 with a neck injury. Released by the Colts and signed by the Denver Broncos for 2012, Manning made a successful comeback and led the NFL in completion percentage (68.6) while passing for 4659 yards and 37 TDs, garnering consensus first-team All-Pro honors for the sixth time as well as selection to a 12^th Pro Bowl. Thus far, he has passed for 59,487 yards, with 12 seasons over 4000, and 436 TD passes.

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).

[Updated 11/30/14]

Rookie of the Year: Willie Buchanon, 1972

Cornerback, Green Bay Packers

Age: 22 (Nov. 4)

College: San Diego State

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 190

Prelude:

Following a college career that was capped by receiving All-America honors and being named MVP of the East-West Shrine Game, Buchanon was taken by the Packers in the first round of the 1972 NFL draft (seventh overall) and moved directly into the starting lineup. He combined with Ken Ellis to create a fast and effective cornerback tandem.

1972 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Interceptions – 4 [20, tied with twenty-four others]

Most interceptions, game – 2 at Minnesota 12/10

Int. return yards – 62

Most int. return yards, game – 26 (on 1 int.) vs. Dallas 10/1

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 3

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points – 6

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Divisional playoff at Washington)

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP

NFC Rookie of the Year: NEA

Packers went 10-4 to finish first in the NFC Central while leading the NFC in fewest yards surrendered (3474). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to Washington Redskins (16-3).

Aftermath:

Buchanon suffered a broken leg six games into the 1973 season that cost him the remainder of the year but he still received Pro Bowl recognition. He was chosen again in ’74 but once again broke his leg two games into the 1975 season. He returned to spend three injury-free years with the Packers capped by a 1978 season in which he led the NFC with 9 interceptions and received consensus first-team All-NFL as well as Pro Bowl honors. Having played out his option, Buchanon moved on to San Diego in ’79 where he was reunited with his college coach, Don Coryell. He played four seasons for the Chargers, until 1982, and retired with a total of 28 interceptions (21 of them with the Packers). Buchanon was named to a total of three Pro Bowls and received All-NFL honors once.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year). 

1969: Jets Withstand Second Half Rally to Beat College All-Stars

The 36^th annual College All-Star Game on August 1, 1969 featured the New York Jets as the pro representative. Last seen upsetting the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, the Jets became the first American Football League Champion to appear in the annual contest sponsored by the Chicago Tribune for Chicago Charities.

There had been turmoil for the Jets in June when star QB Joe Namath (pictured above) announced he would retire rather than sell his interest in the Bachelors III nightclub, as demanded by Commissioner Pete Rozelle, but “Broadway Joe” finally relented and reported to training camp just two weeks prior to the All-Star contest.

On the All-Star side, a shadow was cast by the absence of star running backs O.J. Simpson, the Heisman Trophy winner out of USC, Leroy Keyes from Purdue, and Michigan’s Ron Johnson, who had chosen to skip the game to avoid the risk of injury prior to signing pro contracts. Still, there were plenty of future pro stars playing, including Notre Dame OT George Kunz, TE Bob Klein from USC, and WR Jerry LeVias of Southern Methodist on offense and, defensively, ends Bill Stanfill from Georgia and Fred Dryer of San Diego State, Arkansas State MLB Bill Bergey, cornerbacks Jim Marsalis of Tennessee State and Bill Thompson from Maryland – Eastern Shore, and Missouri safety Roger Wehrli. The team was coached by Otto Graham for the ninth time, returning after a three-year hiatus while he was head coach of the Redskins.

There was a crowd of 74,206 in attendance on a Friday night at Soldier Field and many of them loudly booed Namath when he was introduced. The All-Stars looked tight throughout the first half and were especially hampered by their lack of a running attack. The Jets scored first on a 43-yard Jim Turner field goal. Less than four minutes later, New York struck again on another Turner field goal, this time from 16 yards, and the pro champs led by 6-0 after a quarter of play.

In the second quarter, the Jets added to their lead as they put together a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with FB Matt Snell running the final three yards for a TD. They failed to add to their margin when the All-Stars put together an impressive goal-line stand after the Jets got a first down inside the five yard line, stopping four straight running plays (two each by HB Emerson Boozer and FB Bill Mathis).

The All-Star defense foiled another possible score by the Jets when Snell attempted an option pass intended for TE Pete Lammons from the three yard line that was picked off by DB Bill Bradley. But the All-Stars were unable to mount a threat as they managed just one first down (which was due to a penalty) and scored no points in the first half with Notre Dame’s Terry Hanratty and Bobby Douglass of Kansas appearing at quarterback.

Down 13-0 at the half, the All-Stars fell further behind in the third quarter thanks to Turner’s 42-yard field goal for the Jets. But fortunes changed when QB Greg Cook from Cincinnati (pictured below) entered the contest. The collegians took advantage of a 78-yard kickoff return by RB Altie Taylor to the New York 19 to get on the board. Cook fired a 17-yard touchdown pass to WR Gene Washington from Stanford for a touchdown and Roy Gerela from New Mexico State added the extra point.

Following an interception by CB Rudy Redmond, Gerela kicked a 28-yard field goal that made the Jets’ margin just 16-10. New York responded with a 63-yard drive in four plays that ended with a touchdown on a 35-yard sweep by Snell.

The All-Stars struck back quickly, however, as Cook tossed a bomb to Taylor in a third-and-one situation for a 44-yard gain to the New York 12. On the next play Cook floated a pass into the corner of the end zone that was pulled in by the 242-pound Bob Klein for a TD and Gerela’s successful PAT made it 23-17, which was the tally at the end of the eventful third quarter.

The All-Stars regained possession when Roger Wehrli intercepted a Namath pass at the All-Star 36. Cook completed a 27-yard pass and the All-Stars reached the New York 29 before the drive stalled and Gerela missed on a 37-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide. The Jets, making the most of their reprieve, responded with a 69-yard series that concluded with Jim Turner kicking his fourth field goal of the game, from 18 yards, with just under six minutes remaining to play.

It was still 26-17 when the All-Stars got the ball back at their 20 with slightly less than two minutes to go. Cook threw to Jerry LeVias for 11 yards and connected with him again on a big play that covered 59 yards to the New York 8. A penalty on the Jets edged the collegians closer, but controversy ensued on the next play when a throw intended for Gene Washington that was defended by CB Johnny Sample was incomplete. Otto Graham, believing that Sample interfered with Washington, loudly complained to the officials and was in turn confronted by Sample. Graham came away with a bloody scrape on his nose from Sample’s helmet and a 15-yard penalty for being outside his assigned sideline area.

Still, the collegians managed to capitalize when Cook handed off to Taylor who tossed the ball back to him and the quarterback then threw to LeVias for a 19-yard touchdown with 16 seconds left on the clock. Gerela’s PAT was successful, but any last chance for the All-Stars ended when the ensuing onside kick failed to go the required ten yards, and the Jets were able to run out the remaining time for the 26-24 win.

As close as the score was, the Jets dominated statistically, outgaining the All-Stars by 463 yards to 260 and holding a substantial edge in first downs of 28 to 8.

Joe Namath, who was wearing a three-bar linemen’s face mask for the first time in his career, had to remain in the game far longer than Head Coach Weeb Ewbank would have liked due to the All-Star rally. While not fully up to par, he completed 17 of 32 passes for 292 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Matt Snell (pictured above) rushed for 114 yards and two TDs on 19 carries as the Jets piled up 201 yards on the ground. WR Bake Turner, in for the injured George Sauer, caught 8 passes for 145 yards.

With a lack of strong runners, the All-Stars gained just 16 rushing yards, on 13 attempts, and the individual leader was Kansas QB Bobby Douglass with 7 yards on one carry. Greg Cook’s passing was nevertheless nearly enough to pull out the contest as he was successful on 12 of 23 throws for 241 yards and three touchdowns. Jerry LeVias was the leading receiver with three catches for 89 yards.

In the ensuing season, the Jets went 10-4 to again top the Eastern Division in the AFL’s last campaign prior to merging with the NFL, but they lost to Kansas City in the Divisional playoff round. Joe Namath had another outstanding year, receiving AFL Player of the Year recognition from the Associated Press.

Greg Cook had a remarkable rookie season with the Cincinnati Bengals, leading the AFL in passing and garnering Rookie of the Year honors, but unfortunately his career went no further due to his sustaining a serious arm injury along the way. 

MVP Profile: O.J. Simpson, 1975

Running Back, Buffalo Bills

Age: 28

7^th season in pro football & with Bills

College: Southern California

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 212

Prelude:

Following an outstanding college career capped by winning the 1968 Heisman Trophy, the highly-coveted Simpson was drafted by the Bills with the first overall pick in the combined AFL/NFL draft. His pro career started slowly, as he was used sparingly and missed time due to injury during his first three seasons, never carrying more than 182 times or gaining more than 742 yards. However, the return to Buffalo of Head Coach Lou Saban in 1972 marked a change as Simpson became the centerpiece of the offense and led the NFL in rushing with 1251 yards, earning 1^st-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. He followed that up in 1973 by shattering the single-season rushing record with 2003 yards and gaining consensus MVP honors. While his rushing total dropped to 1125 yards in ’74, Simpson still received consensus 1^st-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors for the third straight year and the Bills reached the postseason.

1975 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 329 [1]

Most attempts, game - 34 (for 126 yds.) vs. NY Giants 10/20

Yards – 1817 [1]

Most yards, game – 227 yards (on 28 carries) at Pittsburgh 9/28

Average gain – 5.5 [1]

TDs – 16 [1, tied with Pete Banaszak]

200-yard rushing games – 1

100-yard rushing games – 8

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 28      

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 117 yds.) at Miami 12/7

Yards – 426

Most yards, game - 117 (on 8 catches) at Miami 12/7

Average gain – 15.2

TDs – 7 [9, tied with five others]

100-yard receiving games – 1

All-Purpose yards – 2243 [2, 1st in AFC]

Scoring

TDs – 23 [1]

Points – 138 [1]

Awards & Honors:

AFC Player of the Year: Sporting News

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly

1^st team All-AFC: AP, UPI, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

Pro Bowl

Bills went 8-6 to finish third in the AFC East while leading the NFL in total offense (5467 yards), rushing yards (2974), scoring (420 points), and touchdowns (57).

Aftermath:

Simpson led the NFL in rushing for the fourth time in five years in 1976 with 1503 yards and received All-NFL and Pro Bowl recognition for the fifth and last time (he had also been chosen to one AFL All-Star Game). Injuries in 1977 limited him to seven games and he was dealt to the 49ers, where he spent his last two seasons (1978 and ’79). Upon retirement, he had gained 11,236 rushing yards, the second-highest total up to that time. Simpson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1985.  

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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). 

[Updated 11/29/14]

Rookie of the Year: Jerome Bettis, 1993

Running Back, Los Angeles Rams

Age:  21

College: Notre Dame

Height: 5’11” Weight: 243

Prelude:

After gaining over a thousand all-purpose yards in his last college season, Bettis was taken by the Rams in the first round (10^th overall) of the 1993 NFL draft. Head Coach Chuck Knox anticipated that the classic fullback would be the key to the team’s running game with his hard-running style and demonstrated ability to hold onto the football.

1993 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 294 [3]

Most attempts, game - 39 (for 146 yds.) vs. Chicago 1/2

Yards – 1429 [2]

Most yards, game – 212 yards (on 28 carries) at New Orleans 12/12

Average gain – 4.9 [3]

TDs – 7 [9, tied with four others]

200-yard rushing games – 1

100-yard rushing games – 7

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 26      

Most receptions, game – 5 (for 71 yds.) vs. Chicago 1/2

Yards – 244

Most yards, game - 71 (on 5 catches) vs. Chicago 1/2

Average gain – 9.4

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 7 [19, tied with nine others]

Points – 42

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: Sporting News

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

NFC Rookie of the Year: UPI

1^st-team All-NFL: AP, PFWA

1^st-team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Rams went 5-11 to finish fourth in the NFC West.

Aftermath:

Bettis tailed off badly during the second half of the 1994 season and, while he still gained 1025 rushing yards and was selected to the Pro Bowl (and also caught a career-high 31 passes), averaged just 3.2 yards per carry. After running for 637 yards behind a poor line following the shift of the Rams to St. Louis in ’95, Bettis was traded to the Steelers. “The Bus” rejuvenated his career in Pittsburgh, where his power-running style was a perfect fit, and ran for 1431 yards, his first of six straight 1000-yard performances. He returned to the Pro Bowl as well as gaining consensus first-team All-NFL honors. Bettis reached his career high in rushing with 1665 yards in 1997. Overall, he played a total of 13 years, the last 10 with the Steelers, going out with a Super Bowl win following the 2005 season. Bettis rushed for 13,662 yards, which ranked fifth all-time, and scored a total of 94 touchdowns (91 rushing, 3 receiving). He was selected to the Pro Bowl six times.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year). 

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.