Most Underrated Players in Packers History

We call Green Bay “Titletown” because of its long history of producing championship-caliber teams that fans can watch on a deep playoff run well into the cold months of January and February in the upper Midwest. Believe it or not, there have been players whose last names aren’t Favre, Rodgers, or Sharper who have been instrumental in the Packers’ success, as well as the development of professional football as a whole. Join us below as we review some of the most underrated Packers players in the history of the storied franchise.

Arnie Herber

Let’s start way back. The Green Bay Packers have been fortunate to be led by several Hall of Fame-caliber quarterbacks. Arnie Herber, who was amongst the first to throw a long ball, was the first in green, white, and gold to earn the honor. Herber’s stats aren’t all that stunning because he played from 1930 to 1940, when the forward pass hadn’t become the engine that drove offenses and television ratings forward.

Here is a fun fact, too. At a time when contracts weren’t as big and traveling wasn’t too common yet, Herber was born and raised in Green Bay. The native son went on to lead the fledgling league in passing 3 of his 10 seasons and was the first quarterback to throw for more than 1,000 yards in a season.

Herber’s teammates, especially wide receivers, loved him, too. They said that although Herber didn’t have a rocket arm, he could loft the ball 60 yards or more with a touch that made it very easy to catch.

While Herber was undoubtedly successful in his playing career, we believe he is among the most underrated players. His unique playing style, characterized by his ability to throw long balls, became a cornerstone for the modern NFL. His overall talent shone through as he led the Packers to four championships in the pre-Super Bowl era.

Ken Ruettgers

The offensive line on any football team tends to be the unsung heroes, both before and after the NFL’s passing era started. Ruettgers played left tackle for 12 solid seasons in the 1980s and mid-1990s. He was the highest-graded offensive lineman on the team in 1992 and continued to play at his peak level for a couple more years. Overall, Ruettgers displayed remarkable consistency, and some say he was responsible for at least delaying Lawrence Taylor’s single-season sack record by not giving up a sack in the season’s final game.

Ruettgers had a history of knee injuries that unfortunately held him back a bit, and he played only four games in 1996 before retiring due to medical issues. He was, however, in attendance for the game, and the Packers, being the generous organization they are, gave him a ring. He earned it!

William Henderson

Henderson was among the last of Green Bay’s blocking, running, and pass-catching fullbacks. Like modern fullbacks, he didn’t receive many handoffs, but he averaged 27 receptions per season and was also known for his formidable pass and run-blocking skills. 

Known for his durability, William played in 188 games and only missed 4 due to injury. He also helped lead the 1996 Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl victory by giving Brett Favre and Edgar Bennett plenty of time and space.

Nick Collins

Nick Collins brought some fire to the safety position for the Packers from 2005 to 2011. He definitely earned the title “ball hawk” as he corralled 21 interceptions in 95 games, along with 4 defensive touchdowns overall. But Collins was not just good at getting between the quarterback and receiver, he also had many solo tackles—a total of 345 in his career. 

Unfortunately, one of those tries at a tackle ended his career after just seven seasons. Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart attempted to hurdle over Collins during a tackle and landed on Collins’s head, forcing some serious compression into his neck and spine, requiring a surgery that made football too risky to play.

On a team well known for offensive prowess over the past few decades, Collins is still seen as underrated simply because his abilities are not talked about too much. While that’s unfortunate, his teammates say he was a very humble player and a leader during their 2011 Super Bowl Championship run.

Tim Lewis

Much like Nick Collins, Tim Lewis isn’t talked about much in Packers’ circles, as his career ended with injury. Lewis played cornerback from 1983 to 1986. Admittedly, the team wasn’t great as they finished 8-8 three years in a row, but Lewis certainly helped the defense with 16 interceptions in his 51 games. However, if you ask Lewis, who now coaches football, he will surely tell you he is glad he played well when he had the chance.

Chad Clifton

If you asked football fans who kept Brett Favre—and briefly Aaron Rodgers—blindside protected, we would place a bet on casinos.com that they would probably have no idea. Clifton was up to that task from 2000 to 2011, winning the Super Bowl in 2011 too. Clifton is more than a bit overshadowed by now Hall of Fame offensive linemen like Joe Thomas, as Clifton never made the All-NFL team or even a Pro Bowl. We suppose that winning a Super Bowl kind of puts those two honors in the shadows though, doesn’t it?

Conclusion

In a team sport like football, some positions and players won’t be talked about much, or for long. The Packers’ success has been driven in part by players who were leaders on and off the field, whether they were blocking for a running back or reading the quarterback’s eyes and moving for the ball at just the right time. We think we’ve found some of the underrated Packers of all time, and believe us, there were many to choose from.