Since Aaron Rodgers became the Packers starting Quarterback in 2008, there has been 14 seasons of football played at 1265 Lombardi Ave, Green Bay, WI. Only two men, Rodgers and Mason Crosby, have donned the Green Bay uniform throughout. Everybody else has come and gone, excluding the guys presently on the team.
In those 14 years, there’ve been many football heroes and solid players, while others were less significant. The title of the article states “Forgotten Packers” but the goal here isn’t to be as obscure as possible. This is more so a combination of players who made memorable contributions to the Green Bay franchise – while others were in the shadows.
2008 – Donald Lee (TE), Will Blackmon (Returner), Aaron Kampman (DE)
Believe it or not, Donald Lee spent six seasons with the Packers, from 2005-2010. A three year stretch between 2007 and 2009 were his most productive years, where he logged 48, 39 and 37 receptions, respectively. Lee was also a part of the 2010 Super Bowl Team. My most vivid memory of Lee from the 2008 season was when he caught the Packers opening touchdown (1:58 marker in the video below) against the Colts, when Peyton Manning and co. was beat down in Lambeau Field.
Will Blackmon contributed in a very meaningful way for the 2008 Packers, averaging 11.1 yards per punt return and taking two to the house. One of those house calls came in Aaron Rodgers’ first career start on Monday Night Football against the Vikings to give the Packers a 16-6 lead in the 3rd quarter.
Aaron Kampman, a Packer from 2002-2009, had 54 sacks in those 8 seasons. Specifically in the 2008 season, under Defensive Coordinator Bob Sanders scheme, he logged 9.5 sacks at Defensive End.
2013 – Seneca Wallace (QB), Scott Tolzien (QB), Jarrett Boykin (WR)
It’s almost hard to believe that Seneca Wallace actually played snaps for the Packers at QB, including starting a game less than 10 years ago. In the 2013 season, Seneca Wallace replaced an injured Aaron Rodgers in a Monday Night Football game against the Bears. Wallace did not play well in replacement duty and the Bears won the game. The following week, Wallace got the call and started against the Eagles, where he promptly got hurt in the first quarter and never played in the NFL again.
Scott Tolzien was the guy who replaced Wallace in that 2013 game against the Eagles, where he went on to pass for 280 yards in his first ever NFL action. Tolzien would go on to start the next two games for the Packers and is most remembered for his dazzling spin move against Minnesota.
Jarrett Boykin had 49 receptions, 682 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 2013 season for the Packers, very solid statistics. In his other two seasons in the NFL, Boykin logged 5 receptions (2012) and 3 receptions (2014).
2010 – Brandon Jackson (RB) and Jarrett Bush (CB)
The 2010 season ended in a Super Bowl Championship for the Packers and these two guys made enormous contributions. Brandon Jackson led the Packers in rushing yards (703) after starting RB Ryan Grant went down with a season ending injury. Additionally, Jackson caught 43 passes out of the backfield for 342 yards. He played in all 16 games for the 2010 Packers and started in 13 of them. Ironically enough, 2010 would be his last season with the Packers and his second to last season in his career.
Jarrett Bush intercepted Ben Roethlisberger in the Super Bowl. Forced into action because of injuries to the Packers starting corners, Bush came up with one of the biggest plays in franchise history. In addition to this, Bush played for the Packers for a staggering 9 seasons, from 2006-2014, where he was a core contributor on Special Teams.
2009 – Spencer Havner (TE/LB)
Spencer Havner may be the most unique player to play for the Packers in the Aaron Rodgers era. To give context, Havner had 7 receptions in his entire career (3 seasons total). All 7 of those receptions came in 2009 with Aaron Rodgers. He tallied 112 yards and get this….FOUR touchdown catches on those 7 balls. If that wasn’t enough, he had 2 catches for 16 yards and you guessed it, another touchdown in the Wild Card Playoff game against the Cardinals.
In addition to all of that, Havner registered 19 tackles in the 2010 season and appeared in all 16 games.
2018 – Muhammad Wilkerson (DT)
Wilkerson was a member of the New York Jets from 2011-2017 and a 2 Time All-Pro Team member. He had a very fine career. When signed by the Packers in 2018, many were excited. Unfortunately, Wilkerson only appeared in 3 games during the 2018 season due to a season ending injury that ultimately ended his career.
2016 – Aaron Ripkowski (FB)
Aaron Ripkowski was a nice contributor for the Packers in his 3 NFL seasons, his best year happening in 2016. The Packers Fullback played in all 16 games and started in 8, rushing 34 times for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns while adding another 9 receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown.
2012 – DuJuan Harris (RB)
Harris had his moment in the sun in the 2012-13 season, scoring four touchdowns for the Packers in their two playoff games. What makes Harris’ story incredible is that he was out of football in October of 2012, selling cars at an auto dealership. The Packers needed RB help and gave Harris a call. The rest of that season, he was a significant contributor for the team.
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Alex grew up in a family of Chicago Bears fans in the suburbs of Chicago but was always a Packers guy. Alex\'s AIM name when he was in elementary/middle school was PackerAlex. He now lives in Nashville, Tennessee and you can follow him on twitter at @Alex_Mayer93.
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