"The Golden Boy", Paul Vernon Hornung, was a celebrated American football player who significantly impacted the Green Bay Packers and the NFL. From 1957 to 1966, he achieved numerous accolades, including four NFL titles, the first Super Bowl victory, the Heisman Trophy, and the NFL Most Valuable Player award. His legacy as one of football's greatest, recognized by his induction into both the Pro Football and College Football Halls of Fame, is cemented by coach Vince Lombardi's high praise.
December 23, 1935: Paul Hornung is Born
On December 23, 1935, Paul Vernon Hornung, who would become a renowned American football player, was born.
1952: Harder Sets Postseason Scoring Record
In 1952, Pat Harder established a postseason scoring record, which would later be matched by Hornung.
1954: Hornung's Sophomore Season
In 1954, Paul Hornung spent his sophomore season as a backup fullback.
1955: Hornung Excels as Halfback and Safety
During his junior year in 1955, Hornung thrived in his roles as halfback and safety.
1956: Hornung Wins the Heisman Trophy
Despite Notre Dame's losing record, Paul Hornung's exceptional skills earned him the Heisman Trophy in 1956.
1957: Hornung Drafted by the Green Bay Packers
As the first overall pick in the 1957 NFL draft, Paul Hornung was selected by the Green Bay Packers.
1957: Hornung's Famous Match Race
At the 1957 College All Star game, Paul Hornung famously won a 100-yard match race against Abe Woodson.
1957: Hornung Joins the Green Bay Packers
In 1957, Paul Hornung began his professional football career with the Green Bay Packers.
1959: Hornung's Scoring Streak Begins
Paul Hornung's impressive scoring streak started in 1959, marking the beginning of his dominance in the league.
1960: Hornung Sets Scoring Records
Hornung's 1960 season was marked by setting multiple scoring records, including most games with 30+ and 25+ points.
1960: Hornung Sets All-Time Scoring Record
In 1960, Hornung etched his name in the record books by setting an all-time scoring record with 176 points.
1961: Hornung Named Most Outstanding Player, Leading to Tax Dispute
In 1961, Paul Hornung was named the most outstanding player in the championship game, which resulted in a tax dispute with the IRS over a Chevrolet Corvette he received as an award.
1961: Hornung's Military Service and Special Arrangement
During the 1961 season, Hornung served in the U.S. Army but received special permission to play in the NFL championship game.
1961: Hornung Named League MVP
Hornung's exceptional skills and contributions to the game earned him the prestigious title of the league's Most Valuable Player in 1961.
1961: Hornung Ties Postseason Scoring Record
Hornung's exceptional performance in the 1961 postseason game saw him equal Pat Harder's scoring record.
1962: Tax Dispute over Award Car Settles Athlete Compensation Precedent
In 1962, The US Tax Court ruled that the Chevrolet Corvette Hornung received as an award should have been included in his 1962 income taxes, setting a precedent for the taxation of athlete awards.
April 1963: Hornung Suspended for Betting on NFL Games
In April 1963, Paul Hornung was suspended indefinitely from football by NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle for betting on NFL games and associating with undesirable persons.
1964: Hornung Reinstated to the NFL
After being suspended for a year, Paul Hornung was reinstated into the NFL in 1964.
1964: Agreement with Lombardi Leads to Reinstatement
In 1964, Hornung agreed to Lombardi's terms, including avoiding gambling and staying away from Las Vegas, in exchange for Lombardi advocating for his reinstatement to the NFL.
1964: Hornung Sets Dubious Field Goal Record
In 1964, Hornung unfortunately set an NFL record for the most missed field goals in a season.
1964: Hornung Achieves Rare Feat
In a testament to his versatility, Hornung achieved a rare feat in 1964 by making a 50+ yard fair catch kick.
1965: Hornung Scores Five Touchdowns Against Colts
Hornung delivered a memorable performance on December 12, 1965, scoring five touchdowns against the Baltimore Colts.
1965: Hornung's Impressive Performances
Hornung delivered standout performances throughout 1965, including a remarkable game against the Cleveland Browns and a record-setting month for points scored.
1966: Hornung's Time with the Packers Ends
In 1966, Paul Hornung's tenure with the Green Bay Packers came to an end.
1966: Hornung's Career Cut Short by Injury
In 1966, a neck injury forced Paul Hornung to retire from professional football.
January 1967: Hornung Wins Super Bowl I with the Packers
In January 1967, Paul Hornung achieved a significant career milestone by winning Super Bowl I with the Green Bay Packers.
July 10, 1967: Hornung's Number Unofficially Retired
On July 10, 1967, Lombardi unofficially retired Hornung's number 5, recognizing his significant contributions to the Packers.
1970: Hornung Begins Broadcasting Career
Paul Hornung started his broadcasting career in 1970 as a color analyst on Minnesota Vikings radio broadcasts.
1974: Hornung Joins TVS WFL and CBS
Hornung worked on TVS WFL telecasts in 1974, and later joined CBS NFL telecasts from 1975 to 1979.
1975: Hornung Joins CBS NFL Broadcasts
From 1975 to 1979, Hornung worked as a broadcaster on CBS NFL telecasts.
1975: Hornung Inducted into Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
Hornung's legacy as a Green Bay Packer was further cemented in 1975 with his induction into the team's Hall of Fame.
1979: Hornung's Time with CBS Concludes
In 1979, Hornung's tenure with CBS NFL broadcasts came to an end.
1982: Hornung Provides Commentary for TigerVision and TBS
In 1982, Hornung worked as a color commentator for TigerVision and College Football on TBS, showcasing his knowledge and insights into the game.
1983: Hornung Joins ABC Radio USFL Broadcasts
Paul Hornung continued his broadcasting career by joining ABC Radio USFL broadcasts from 1983 to 1985.
1985: Hornung Enters College Football Hall of Fame
In 1985, Hornung received one of college football's highest honors - induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.
1985: Hornung Concludes Work with ABC Radio USFL
Hornung's time with ABC Radio USFL broadcasts ended in 1985.
1986: Hornung Joins Pro Football Hall of Fame
Hornung's exceptional career in professional football was recognized in 1986 with his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
1989: Hornung Praises Pete Rozelle
Upon Pete Rozelle's retirement in 1989, Paul Hornung wrote him a letter expressing gratitude for his contributions to the NFL's growth and acknowledging him as the best commissioner of any sports league.
1990: Hornung Inducted into Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame
Hornung's impact on sports in Wisconsin was acknowledged in 1990 when he was inducted into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame.
1994: Watters Surpasses Postseason Scoring Record
Ricky Watters raised the bar for postseason scoring in 1994, surpassing the record previously held by Hornung and Harder.
March 30, 2004: Hornung's Comments Spark Controversy at Notre Dame
On March 30, 2004, during a radio interview, Hornung's comments about Notre Dame needing to recruit more black athletes to compete sparked controversy, with the university and former coach Ara Parseghian disagreeing with his views.
September 2006: Hornung Credits Lombardi for Reinstatement
In September 2006, Paul Hornung stated that he believed it was coach Vince Lombardi's lobbying efforts that led to his reinstatement into the NFL in 1964 in exchange for Hornung's promise to avoid gambling.
November 2006: Tomlinson Breaks Monthly Scoring Record
Tomlinson further solidified his place in NFL history by breaking Hornung's monthly scoring record in November 2006.
2006: Tomlinson Breaks Hornung's Scoring Record
In 2006, LaDainian Tomlinson surpassed Hornung's long-standing scoring record, amassing 180 points.
2010: Paul Hornung Award Established
Starting in 2010, the Paul Hornung Award was created to honor the most versatile college football player annually.
2013: Hornung's Horse Competes in the Preakness Stakes
Paul Hornung's horse, Titletown Five, competed in the 2013 Preakness Stakes, fulfilling a lifelong dream of Hornung's to have a horse in a major race.
November 13, 2020: Paul Hornung Passes Away
On November 13, 2020, Paul Hornung, a celebrated figure in American football, passed away.