1998 Green Bay Packers season

1998 Green Bay Packers season
1998 Green Bay Packers season
Owner	Green Bay Packers, Inc.
General manager	Ron Wolf
President	Bob Harlan
Head coach	Mike Holmgren
Home field	Lambeau Field
Results
Record	11–5
Division place	2nd NFC Central
Playoff finish	Lost Wild Card Playoffs; (at 49ers) 27–30
Pro Bowlers	5 WR Antonio Freeman; TE Mark Chmura; DE Reggie White; SS LeRoy Butler; KR Roell Preston;
AP All-Pros	4 WR Antonio Freeman (1st team); DE Reggie White (1st team); SS LeRoy Butler (1st team); KR Roell Preston (2nd team);
	← 1997; Packers seasons; 1999 →;

The 1998 season was the Green Bay Packers' 78th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 80th overall. The Packers entered the 1998 campaign as the two-time defending NFC champions, losing the Super Bowl the year before. The season began with the team attempting to improve on their 13–3 record from 1997, three-peat as National Football Conference (NFC) champions, and win their second Super Bowl in three years.

Quick Facts Green Bay Packers season, Owner ...

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With an 11–5 record on the season, during which the Minnesota Vikings brought an end to the Packers' 25-game home winning streak in Week 5, Green Bay finished second in the NFC Central, the first time in four years that they had not won the division. They qualified for the playoffs as the NFC's fifth seed, but they were beaten 30–27 by the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card round, with Steve Young throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Owens with three seconds left.^[1] This was the final season that the Packers would qualify for the postseason during the 1990s; they would not return to the playoffs until 2001.^{[citation needed]} It was also the last season with the team for both head coach Mike Holmgren and Hall of Fame defensive end Reggie White.^[2]^[3]

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More information Additions, Subtractions ...

Additions	Subtractions
P Sean Landeta (Buccaneers)	FS Eugene Robinson (Falcons)
LB Antonio London (Lions)	RB Edgar Bennett (Bears)
S Pat Terrell (Panthers)	CB Doug Evans (Panthers)
OT Matt Willig (Falcons)	DE Gabe Wilkins (49ers)
	OT Bruce Wilkerson (Raiders)
	WR Terry Mickens (Raiders)
	G Aaron Taylor (Chargers)
	QB Steve Bono (Rams)
	WR Don Beebe (retirement)
	P Craig Hentrich (Oilers)

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1998 NFL draft

Notably, the Packers drafted future all-pro quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in the 6th round (187th overall).^[4]

More information Round, Pick ...

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1998 Green Bay Packers draft
1	19	Vonnie Holliday	Defensive end	North Carolina
3	90	Jonathan Brown	Defensive end	Tennessee
4	121	Roosevelt Blackmon	Cornerback	Morris Brown
5	150	Corey Bradford	Wide receiver	Jackson State
6	156	Scott McGarrahan	Safety	New Mexico
6	187	Matt Hasselbeck *	Quarterback	Boston College
7	218	Edwin Watson	Running back	Purdue
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

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Supplemental draft

More information Round, Pick ...

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1998 Green Bay Packers draft
2	--	Mike Wahle *	Offensive tackle	Navy
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

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Undrafted free agents

More information Player, Position ...

1998 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player	Position	College
Magic Benton	Wide receiver	Miami (FL)
Mike Bowman	Wide receiver	Valdosta State
Keaton Cromartie	Linebacker	Tulane
Jason Davis	Punter	Oklahoma State
Terrell Farley	Cornerback	Nebraska
David Hoelscher	Defensive end	Eastern Kentucky
Chris McCoy	Running back	Navy
Jude Waddy	Linebacker	William & Mary

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**1998 Green Bay Packers staff**
	Front office President/Chief Executive Officer – Bob Harlan Executive vice president/general manager – Ron Wolf Director of player personnel – Ted Thompson Director of pro personnel – Reggie McKenzie Director of college scouting – John Dorsey Pro personnel assistant – Will Lewis Head coaches Head coach – Mike Holmgren Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Sherman Lewis Quarterbacks – Andy Reid Running backs – Harry Sydney Wide receivers – Nolan Cromwell Offensive line – Tom Lovat Assistant offensive line/tight ends – Mike Sherman Offensive assistant/quality control – Gary Reynolds			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Fritz Shurmur Defensive line – Larry Brooks Linebackers – Jim Lind Defensive backs/secondary – Bob Valesente Defensive assistant/quality control – Ken Flajole Special teams coaches Special teams – Johnny Holland Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Kent Johnston Assistant strength and conditioning – Barry Rubin

^[5]

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background: #203731; color: white; border: 2px solid #FFCC00; text-align: center;"}]]}" class="notheme">1998 Green Bay Packers roster

Quarterbacks

4 Brett Favre

13 Rick Mirer

18 Doug Pederson

Running backs

27 Michael Blair

33 William Henderson FB

22 Darick Holmes

48 Jim Kitts FB

25 Dorsey Levens

Wide receivers

85 Corey Bradford

87 Robert Brooks

16 Russell Copeland

86 Antonio Freeman

82 Brian Manning

80 Derrick Mayes

88 Roell Preston RS

Tight ends

89 Mark Chmura

81 Tyrone Davis

47 Scott Galbraith

83 Jeff Thomason

Offensive linemen

70 Joe Andruzzi G

67 Jeff Dellenbach C

72 Earl Dotson T

58 Mike Flanagan C

62 Marco Rivera G

63 Adam Timmerman G

78 Ross Verba T

68 Mike Wahle G

76 Matt Willig T

Defensive linemen

96 Vaughn Booker DE

93 Gilbert Brown DT

91 Jonathan Brown DE

71 Santana Dotson DT

90 Vonnie Holliday DE

94 Bob Kuberski DT

98 Billy Lyon DT

95 Keith McKenzie DE

92 Reggie White DE

Linebackers

55 Bernardo Harris MLB

56 Lamont Hollinquest OLB

53 George Koonce OLB

51 Brian Williams OLB

Defensive backs

36 LeRoy Butler SS

45 Kerry Cooks SS

43 Scott McGarrahan SS

21 Craig Newsome CB

39 Mike Prior FS

42 Darren Sharper FS

31 Rod Smith CB

40 Pat Terrell FS

37 Tyrone Williams CB

Special teams

60 Rob Davis LS

7 Sean Landeta P

8 Ryan Longwell K

Injured Reserve

50 Anthony Hicks LB (IR)

32 Travis Jervey RB (IR)

57 Antonio London LB (IR)

-- Ronnie McAda QB (Military Reserve)

41 Chris McCoy RB (Military Reserve)

77 John Michels T (IR)

28 Roderick Mullen CB (IR)

84 Bill Schroeder WR (IR)

99 Jermaine Smith DT (NF-inj.)

54 Jude Waddy LB (Susp.)

35 Edwin Watson RB (IR)

52 Frank Winters C (IR) C

Practice squad

11 Matt Hasselbeck QB

-- Taj Johnson WR

23 Denorse Mosley CB

-- Jim Nelson LB

-- Pat Palmer WR

53 active, 12 inactive, 5 practice squad

rookies in italics

Preseason

In the 1998 NFL Preseason, the Packers traveled to Japan to face off against the Kansas City Chiefs at the Tokyo Dome. It was the ninth American Bowl game to be staged at the 48,000 capacity stadium.^[6]

More information Week, Date ...

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1	August 1	Kansas City Chiefs	W 27–24	1–0	Tokyo Dome	42,018
2	August 8	New Orleans Saints	W 31–7	2–0	Lambeau Field	60,080
3	August 16	Oakland Raiders	L 21–27	2–1	Lambeau Field	60,078
4	August 24	at Denver Broncos	L 31–34	2–2	Mile High Stadium	73,183
5	August 28	at Miami Dolphins	L 7–21	2–3	Pro Player Stadium	61,915

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Regular season

The Packers finished the 1998 regular with an 11–5 record in 2nd place in the NFC Central (qualifying for an NFC Wild Card playoff game), behind the Randall Cunningham-led 15–1 Vikings.^[7]

More information Week, Date ...

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1	September 6	Detroit Lions	W 38–19	1–0	Lambeau Field	60,102
2	September 13	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 23–15	2–0	Lambeau Field	60,124
3	September 20	at Cincinnati Bengals	W 13–6	3–0	Cinergy Field	56,346
4	September 27	at Carolina Panthers	W 37–30	4–0	Ericsson Stadium	69,723
5	October 5	Minnesota Vikings	L 24–37	4–1	Lambeau Field	59,849
6	Bye
7	October 15	at Detroit Lions	L 20–27	4–2	Pontiac Silverdome	77,932
8	October 25	Baltimore Ravens	W 28–10	5–2	Lambeau Field	59,860
9	November 1	San Francisco 49ers	W 36–22	6–2	Lambeau Field	59,794
10	November 9	at Pittsburgh Steelers	L 20–27	6–3	Three Rivers Stadium	60,507
11	November 15	at New York Giants	W 37–3	7–3	Giants Stadium	76,272
12	November 22	at Minnesota Vikings	L 14–28	7–4	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	64,471
13	November 29	Philadelphia Eagles	W 24–16	8–4	Lambeau Field	59,862
14	December 7	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 22–24	8–5	Raymond James Stadium	65,497
15	December 13	Chicago Bears	W 26–20	9–5	Lambeau Field	59,813
16	December 20	Tennessee Oilers	W 30–22	10–5	Lambeau Field	59,888
17	December 27	at Chicago Bears	W 16–13	11–5	Soldier Field	58,393

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Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text

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More information Playoff round, Date ...

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Wild Card	January 3, 1999	San Francisco 49ers (4)	L 30-27	0-1	Candlestick Park

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More information NFC Central, W ...

NFC Central
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
⁽¹⁾ Minnesota Vikings	15	1	0	.938	556	296	W8
⁽⁵⁾ Green Bay Packers	11	5	0	.688	408	319	W3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	8	8	0	.500	314	295	W1
Detroit Lions	5	11	0	.313	306	378	L4
Chicago Bears	4	12	0	.250	276	368	L1

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Week 1

More information Quarter, Total ...

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	3	3	13	0	19
Packers	10	7	7	14	38

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More information Game information ...

Game information

First quarter

GB – Ryan Longwell 32-yard field goal, 9:19. Packers 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 5:41.
GB – LeRoy Butler 32-yard interception return (Ryan Longwell kick), 6:23. Packers 10–0.
DET – Jason Hanson 47-yard field goal, 1:10. Packers 10–3. Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards, 5:13.

Second quarter

GB – Dorsey Levens 4-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 9:40. Packers 17–3. Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 6:30.
DET – Jason Hanson 43-yard field goal. Packers 17–6. Drive: 11 plays, 63 yards, 2:11.

Third quarter

DET – Herman Moore 25-yard pass from Scott Mitchell (pass failed), 12:39. Packers 17–12. Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 2:21.
GB – Antonio Freeman 6-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 0:17. Packers 24–12. Drive: 18 plays, 85 yards, 9:34.
DET – Terry Fair 101-yard kickoff return (Jason Hanson kick), 0:00. Packers 24–19.

Fourth quarter

GB – Roell Preston 100-yard kickoff return (Ryan Longwell kick), 14:38. Packers 31–19.
GB – Antonio Freeman 84-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 1:53. Packers 38–19. Drive: 3 plays, 86 yards, 0:29.

Top passers

DET – Scott Mitchell – 23/44, 248 yards, TD, INT
GB – Brett Favre – 24/32, 277 yards, 2 TD

Top rushers

DET – Barry Sanders – 17 rushes, 70 yards
GB – Dorsey Levens – 25 rushes, 59 yards, TD

Top receivers

DET – Herman Moore – 9 receptions, 100 yards, TD
GB – Antonio Freeman – 4 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TD

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Week One: Detroit Lions (0–0) at Green Bay Packers (0–0)

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Date: September 6, 1998
Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C)
Game attendance: 60,102
TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton and Matt Millen
Pro-Football-Reference.com, The Football Database

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NFC Wild Card Playoff

More information Quarter, Total ...

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Packers	3	14	0	10	27
49ers	7	3	10	10	30

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San Francisco 49ers 30, Green Bay Packers 27

at 3Com Park, San Francisco

Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C), clear
Game attendance: 66,506
Referee: Gerald Austin
TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall (play-by-play) and John Madden (color commentator)

The 49ers defeated the Packers, who had eliminated them from the playoffs in each of the past 3 seasons, in one of the wildest back-and-forth games in league playoff history. After a Brett Favre touchdown to Antonio Freeman with 1:55 to go, Steve Young began driving the Niners down field; Jerry Rice had just one catch for six yards all game, coming on this drive and when he fumbled the ball, but was ruled down by contact, but instant replay was not available at the time. The next play, Young's pass fell incomplete and was initially ruled intercepted. With eight seconds to go, Young from the Packers 25 dropped back, momentarily stumbled, then launched the ball where it was caught in the end zone by Terrell Owens, who had dropped several catches during the game.

Brett Favre, NFL leader, passing yards (4,212)
Brett Favre, NFC leader, attempts (551)
Brett Favre, NFC leader, completions (347)
Brett Favre, NFC leader, pass completion percentage (63)
Brett Favre, NFC leader (tied), interceptions (23)
Reggie White, National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award
Reggie White, NFC leader, sacks (16.0)

Milestones

Brett Favre, second 4,000-yard passing season (finished season with 4,212)

[1]
"Packers lose 30–27". Packers.com. January 3, 1999. Archived from the original on June 18, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
[2]
"Mike Holmgren's stats page". profootballreference.com. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
[3]
"Hall of Famers – Reggie White". Packers.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
[4]
"NFL Draft History – Green Bay Packers". NFL. Archived from the original on January 29, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
[5]
"All Time Coaches Database". Packers.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
[6]
"Packers win 27–24". Packers.com. August 1, 1998. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2007.
[7]
"1998 NFL Standings". NFL. Archived from the original on February 10, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2007.

[youngtoowens-1] [1]
"Packers lose 30–27". Packers.com. January 3, 1999. Archived from the original on June 18, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2007.

[holmgren1-2] [2]
"Mike Holmgren's stats page". profootballreference.com. Retrieved February 10, 2007.

[reggie1-3] [3]
"Hall of Famers – Reggie White". Packers.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2007.

[1998draft-4] [4]
"NFL Draft History – Green Bay Packers". NFL. Archived from the original on January 29, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2007.

[5] [5]
"All Time Coaches Database". Packers.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.

[tokyo-6] [6]
"Packers win 27–24". Packers.com. August 1, 1998. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2007.

[1998standings-7] [7]
"1998 NFL Standings". NFL. Archived from the original on February 10, 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2007.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

1998 Green Bay Packers season

1998 NFL draft

Supplemental draft

Undrafted free agents

Preseason

Regular season

Week 1

NFC Wild Card Playoff

Milestones

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Offseason

Staff

Roster

Schedule

Playoffs

Standings

Season summary

Playoffs

Awards and records

References