Remembering John Hadl’s Best Game with the Packers

The Green Bay Packers trade for quarterback John Hadl was definitely the worst trade in franchise history and possibly the worst trade in NFL history. The Packers acquired the 34-year-old Hadl from the Los Angeles Rams midway through the 1974 season for two first-round picks, two second-round picks and a third-round selection. The trade set the Packers back for years while the aging Hadl played only a season and a half for the Packers. Hadl could not be blamed for the high price the Packers paid to get him. Today, we remember John Hadl’s best game with the Packers, a 40-14 win over the New York Giants in 1975.

Remembering John Hadl’s Best Game with the Packers: The Buildup

The 1975 season was the first for Bart Starr as head coach of the Packers and he was off to a difficult start. The Packers lost their first four games before upsetting the Cowboys in Dallas for Starr’s first win as head coach. Then, the Pack lost their next three straight games to fall to 1-8.

The Giants weren’t much better. They played their home games at Shea Stadium that year as Yankee Stadium, their old home, was being renovated while their new home in the Meadowlands would not open for another year. The Giants entered the game with a 3-6 record. Their anemic offense had scored 20 or more points just once in their last eight games.

Both teams were looking to get back on track and salvage some pride on a 29-degree day at Milwaukee County Stadium.

A Fast Start for the Packers

The Packers opened the scoring in the first quarter. A 52-yard punt by David Beverly backed the Giants up deep. The Packers defense held and Green Bay took over at the Giants 36. It took Hadl just one play to get the Pack on the board as he hit running back Willard Harrell on a 36-yard touchdown pass. Future Giant kicker Joe Danelo booted the extra point and the Packers led 7-0.

“It was a fly pattern. I bluffed the linebacker and then just ran past the defensive back,” Harrell said after the game.

Later in the first quarter, the Packers went on a 78-yard drive. The key play was a 24-yard pass from Hadl to wide receiver Ken Payne. Running back Eric Torkelson finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run that saw him reach the end zone on a strong second effort. Green Bay lead 14-0 after the first quarter.

Remembering John Hadl’s Best Game with the Packers: Strange and Sloppy Play

The Giants offense went on a long drive to open the second quarter. They reached the Packers two-yard line. Running back Ron Johnson fumbled the ball. Nobody realized the ball was loose near the goal line and four seconds ticked off the clock before Packers safety Al Matthews realized the ball was loose and recovered the fumble.

“I thought Ron Johnson was still squirming to get the ball in the end zone,” Matthews said. “Actually, I guess he was looking for the ball. It was ironic because last week at Detroit I had a good shot at their fumble in the closing minute, but I couldn’t come up with it.”

The Packers then worked on extending their lead. A 29-yard run by Torkelson set up a 28-yard field goal by Danelo. Then, the Packers got the ball back on the ensuing kickoff when New York’s Randy Colbert fumbled the ball and backup tight end Bert Askson recovered at the Giants 23. Again, the Packers scored on a one-play drive as Harrell took a handoff and ran to his right before stopping and throwing a 23-yard touchdown pass to wideout Steve Odom.

“I’m always surprised when it works in a game although it usually works in practice,” Harrell said when asked about the halfback option pass. “I almost didn’t see Steve because there were some pretty big people coming after me.”

The Giants engineered one more drive before halftime and reached the Green Bay 1. They handed off to running back Larry Watkins who coughed up the football and Packers safety Johnnie Gray recovered at the one with 10 seconds left in the quarter.

“Clarence Williams and Dave Pureifory forced the fumble, and I was just fortunate to be in position,” Gray said.

The Packers led 24-0 at the half.

The Giants Battle Back

The Giants stormed back in the third quarter. Quarterback Craig Morton led them on a 74-yard, eight play drive that ended on a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Walker Gillette.

On their next drive, the Giants went 86 yards on eight plays and scored on a 10-yard touchdown run by running back Doug Kotar. Suddenly, the Packers lead was cut to 24-14.

Remembering John Hadl’s Best Game with the Packers: The Packers Pull Away

Beverly set up the next Packers score when his perfectly placed punt was downed at the Giants 2. On fourth down, the Giants were punting from inside their one-yard line and punter Dave Jennings elected to take a safety. The Packers now led 26-14.

The Packers drove downfield after the free kick on a 10-play, 68-yard drive. Fullback Barty Smith barged in from the three for the score and the Packers led 33-14.

Hadl put the final points on the board later on a 35-yard bomb to wideout Gerard Tinker. The former Olympic sprinter had just joined the Packers a week or so before the game.

“I just felt like playing football today,” Tinker said. “This was my second touchdown catch. I had one for Atlanta. This one was a special thrill because I’ve only been with the Packers a week and a half and really haven’t worked much on deep patterns. But Hadl did just what you’re supposed to do. He threw it up there and let me run under it.”

The Packers won the game 40-14.

The Aftermath

This was a big win for the Packers who needed to boost their confidence. The offense rolled up 508 yards of offense and scored 40 points for the first time since Week 1 of the 1971 season which was also against the Giants.

“We caught them napping a few times instead of us getting caught. When you do the job, you win, it’s as simple as that,” Hadl said. “Our execution was as good as we’ve had. Things went just like on the drawing board. We didn’t make any mistakes.”

Hadl threw for 275 yards and two touchdowns. The yardage total would be the highest of his tenure in Green Bay. The two touchdowns gave him 237 for his career which placed him fourth on the NFL’s all-time list.

Payne caught four passes for 103 yards while running back John Brockington caught seven balls for 71 yards. “When I get too old to carry the ball, I’ll become a tight end or a big wide receiver,” Brockington joked.

“This was a big win. It’s been a long struggle,” Starr told reporters after the game.

“This was Bart’s win,” Hadl added. “It was a real tribute to him. We could have folded our tents long ago, but Bart and his coaching staff have done a tremendous job. It’s starting to pay off and will continue to do so.”

The Packers went on to win two more games and finished Starr’s first year as coach with a 4-10 record. Hadl would be traded the following offseason to the Houston Oilers. In return, the Packers got quarterback Lynn Dickey.

Hadl had a rough time during his short stint in Green Bay. But this game against the Giants was his best effort in green and gold by far.