Packers Hall welcomes Holmgren

The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame announced today it will induct Mike Holmgren into the hall this summer.  The Super Bowl winning coach will be the only member of the Class of 2012 when the Hall of Fame holds the induction banquet at the Lambeau Field Atrium on Saturday July 21.  Holmgren was hired by General Manager Ron Wolf in 1992 and led the resurgence of the Packers culminating with the 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.  The former San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator began the turnaround immediately, going 9-7 in his first season, a five game improvement from the previous season.  It started a run of 7 straight winning seasons and club record-six consecutive playoff appearances.   In 1993 and 1994, the Packers under Holmgren earned Wild Card berths and defeated the Detroit Lions only to fall to the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round.  In 1995, the Packers won the NFC Central Title for the first time since 1972, defeated Atlanta in the opening round and then broke through with a victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Candlestick Park, before bowing out in the NFC Championship game, again, against the Cowboys in Dallas.  Not to be denied, in Holmgren's 5th year, the Packers produced the NFC's best record at 13-3 and defeated the 49ers and hosted the NFC Title game against Carolina, winning 30-13 to reach the Super Bowl in New Orleans.   Led by Brett Favre, Reggie White and Super Bowl MVP Desmond Howard, the Packers defeated the Patriots to capture their third Super Bowl title and 12th NFL Championship.  Holmgren led the Packers to a second straight Super Bowl in 1997, only to be denied back to back titles by the upset minded Denver Broncos.  In Holmgren's final year, the Pack again reached the post-season with an 11-5 record but were knocked out of the Wild Card round by the 49ers at Candlestick 30-27 when Terrell Owens caught a Steve Young touchdown in the closing seconds.   Holmgren's career record of 84-42 included a regular season mark of 75-37 and 9-5 in the playoffs.  It's third on the franchise victory list behind Curley Lambeau and Vince Lombardi and only Lombardi had a higher winning percentage.  Under Holmgren, the Packers went 47-5 at Lambeau Field and reeled off a club record 25 straight victories, second longest home winning streak in NFL history.  Holmgren went on to become head coach and general manager of the Seattle Seahawks, leading that team to a Super Bowl berth and after a year in retirement, returned to the NFL as president of the Cleveland Browns.  Holmgren and his wife Kathy have three daughters.

Tickets for the banquet which begins with a cash bar reception at 4:30 with a dinner and program following at 7:00 PM, are $135.00 each and can be purchased by calling Gwen Borga at (920) 965-6984.