Acme Packing Company
I mean, you’ve gotta have a fullback.
In our continuing series on the Packers All-Quarter Century Team, let’s take a look at a position beloved by hardy Midwesterners everywhere, the Fullback.
While the Packers have seen quite a few people have a cup of coffee as the team’s unsung lead-blocker and outlet pass receiver, and there are technically four choices available here, two of them are legends. Absolute units. But can the man who played some of his best ball in the 90s defeat the man who had his own fan favorite cheer?
Note: All stats shown are as a member of the Green Bay Packers only, from the 2000 through 2024 seasons only.
Pro Bowler, AP All Pro
Regular season stats (2000-2006): 109 games played, 16 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD, 182 receptions, 1374 yards, 10 TDs.
Postseason stats: 6 games played/started, 1 carry, 7 yards, 12 receptions, 97 yards.
Henderson is almost certainly the greatest modern fullback in franchise history, with an impressive 12-year career, all in Green Bay. He was an absolutely outstanding blocker, an incredibly reliable outlet receiver, and among the most durable ever to play the position, having missed only four games in his career.
Henderson was a thumper to be sure, at 6-1, 252, but he was also ahead of his time as a proto-Kyle Juszczyk. The 49er fullback receiving specialist has gained just 237 total yards on the ground over 12 seasons, but he excels as a blocker, and especially as a high-efficiency receiver in the Shanahan offense, where he has accumulated 2,664 yards over his career. Henderson gained 426 yards on the ground, and a robust 2,409 through the air, and while he was not as dynamic as Juszczyk, he averaged over 8.8 yards per reception in four of his seasons, while in the more horizontal West Coast offense.
The biggest problem for Henderson is simply his timing. The Favre Super Bowl glory days took place prior to the turn of the century, and while Henderson remained valuable into his 30s (especially as a receiver), he was past his prime. Henderson is a Packer legend, and as a receiver, no one here can match him, but he’s not the only legend on this list.
3x Pro Bowl, All Pro, Second Team All Pro.
Regular season stats: 139 Games, 601 yards on 196 carries, 15 TDs, 551 yards on 81 receptions, 8 TDs.
Postseason stats: 15 Games, 28 yards on 19 carries, 4 TDs, 115 yards on 17 receptions, 3 TDS.
Having a last name that rhymes with moon or tune or June will always give a player an unfair advantage in terms of popularity, and there are some who will hold Kuhn’s lackluster career performance in short-yardage situations against him. I used to be one of these people, however, I’ve come around on Kuhn. First of all, the man doesn’t call the plays. Second, it’s become clear over time that the...
