Green Bay Packers Arnie Herber – Class of 1966
Brett Favre and Bart Starr may be the most recognizable quarterbacks in Green Bay Packers history, but Arnie Herber was certainly the team’s first great passer, if not also the NFL’s.
A local product, born and raised in Green Bay, where he was a prep star at West High School, Herber sold game programs at Packers games in his youth. He started his collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin before moving on to Regis College.
After returning to Green Bay, the 5-foot-11, 203-pound Herber worked as a handyman for the Packers until head coach Curly Lambeau gave him a tryout. And in 1930, Herber joined the Packers for the first of what would be 11 seasons with the team.
The NFL didn’t keep track of passing statistics until 1932, but Herber threw three touchdown passes as a rookie and helped the team to its second of three-straight NFL titles.
In 1932, the Packers’ title streak ended, but Herber earned NFL All-Pro recognition while leading the league in passing yards (639) and touchdowns (9). He led the league again in 1934 (799 yards, 8 TDs).
In 1935, the arrival of Don Hutson in Green Bay created the first great quarterback-receiver combination in NFL history.
Herber first connected with the now-legendary receiver in the second game of Hutson’s career on an 83-yard touchdown pass that stood as the difference in a 7-0 win over the Chicago Bears, Sept. 22, 1935. According to True Sport, Herber’s pass traveled 66 yards in the air on the play before reaching Hutson.
That pass-and-catch was the first of what would be 18 connections that season for Herber and Hutson, good enough for 420 yards and seven touchdowns.
In 1936, Herber again led the league in passing with a career-high 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns, as the Packers won their fourth NFL crown.
In 1939, Herber was a part of one more NFL title (his fourth), passing for 1,107 yards and eight touchdowns. Among the highlights that season was a 92-yard hookup with Hutson against the Chicago Cardinals – which remains one of the longest plays in team history.
Herber retired from the Packers following the 1940 season, but came out of retirement to play for the New York Giants in 1944 and 1945, when rosters were depleted due to players serving in the military during World War II.
In addition to being an outstanding passer, Herber was also an accomplished punter during his Packers career, however punting statistics are not available prior to 1939.
With 66 touchdown passes for his Packers career, Herber trails only Brett Favre, Bart Starr, Lynn Dickey and Tobin Rote in team annals.
Said to have had unusually small hands, Herber learned to palm the ball rather than use the laces in developing his accurate passing style.
Herber wore eight different uniform numbers over his Packers career, second to only Mike Michalske: 12 (1930), 16 (1933), 19 (1937), 26 (1931), 38 (1935-40), 41 (1932-33), 45 (1934) and 68 (1934).
Arnold Charles Herber, born April 2, 1910, in Green Bay, died October 14, 1969, at the age of 59.
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This is the final play of Mike Holmgren’s last coaching game at Qwest Field as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. Mike then begins his farewell walk around the stadium as the crowd cheers for the famed coach. The Seahawks won 13-3. Watch in high quality for best viewing experience. Taken with my Panasonic DMC-TZ5 in HD Video.