Jerry Kramer, a former Green Bay Packers guard and an integral part of the 1960s Packers dynasty, became the most recent former Packer to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame when he was elected as a part of the 2018 class. Kramer was arguably one of the best guards in pro football during his time with the Packers, and threw perhaps the most famous block in NFL history during the Ice Bowl in 1967 that cleared a path for Bart Starr‘s quarterback keeper in the final seconds, giving the Packers a 17-14 victory and the right to play in Super Bowl I.
With Kramer’s induction, the focus now turns to the former Packers currently not in the Hall of Fame. The Packers have a number of quality candidates currently not enshrined, players and coaches included. Here are the top five Packers currently not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Ranking the Best Former Green Bay Packers Currently Not in the Hall of Fame
5. Donald Driver
Donald Driver, a former seventh-round pick in the 1999 NFL Draft, was one of Brett Favre’s top targets in Green Bay for nearly 10 years before Favre left in 2008. Driver quickly established a connection with newcomer Aaron Rodgers, who quarterbacked the Packers to a Super Bowl title in 2010. A lifelong Packer, Driver holds the Packers record for receiving yards with 10,137. He put up seven 1,000+ yard seasons and was selected to three Pro Bowls, along with winning a Super Bowl ring. Driver may or may not one day reach the Hall, but he will forever be known as one of the greatest wide receivers in Packer history.
4. Sterling Sharpe
One of Favre’s favorite targets in his early years with the Pack, Sterling Sharpe was well on his way to a first-ballot Hall of Fame career before injuries forced him to retire. In his short seven-year NFL career, Sharpe put up monster numbers, recording five 1,000+ yard seasons and two 1,400+ yard seasons.
He recorded back-to-back 100-reception seasons in 1992 and 1993, and finished with at least 90 receptions in four of his seven NFL years. Unfortunately for Sharpe, his promising career was cut short due to injury, as he finished his career with 8,134 yards receiving yards and 65 receiving touchdowns to go along with five Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro selections.
3. Mike Holmgren
Hired as Green Bay’s head coach in 1992, Mike Holmgren led the Packers to six playoff appearances in seven years as head coach of the Packers, including two Super Bowl appearances in back-to-back years in 1996 and 1997, winning Super Bowl XXXI in the 1996 season. Holmgren was a key part of Favre’s development as he helped transition Favre from reckless gunslinger to three-time NFL MVP, and his 75 wins rank fourth among head coaches in Packers history.
After his time in Green Bay was up, Holmgren led the Seattle Seahawks to six playoff appearances in 10 seasons, including a Super Bowl appearance in 2005. Holmgren is often credited with helping the Packers turn their franchise around in the early to mid 1990s, and is seen as one of the greatest coaches in Green Bay’s storied history.
2. Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson came to Green Bay in 2006 as a free agent, and immediately made an impact on the Packers defense. In his seven years in Green Bay, Woodson recorded 38 interceptions and 11.5 sacks, winning NFL Defensive Player Of The Year in 2009 and being selected to four Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams.
Woodson was a key leader on the 2010 Packers defense, which ended the year ranked second in total defense and helped the Packers win their fourth Super Bowl title in their long history. Even though he played longer for the Oakland Raiders and is seen by many Raider fans as a lifelong Raider, his time in Green Bay was when he was at the peak of his career and he’ll always be remembered for helping the Packers win Super Bowl XLV.
1. LeRoy Butler
Over a 12-year career in Green Bay, LeRoy Butler became a Packers legend as he recorded 38 interceptions and 20.5 sacks. Butler was the first defensive back in NFL history to record at least 20 interceptions and 20 sacks in a career. Though it was only his second year in the league, Butler’s place in Packers lore was cemented in 1993 after he returned a fumble for a touchdown and leaped into the crowd, performing the first ever Lambeau Leap.
Butler was an integral part of the success of the 1990s Packers and was a key piece of the dominant defensive unit that led Green Bay to a Super Bowl title in 1996. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro during his time in Green Bay. Butler ranks ahead of Woodson because he spent his entire career in Green Bay and is more well-known as a lifelong Packer than Woodson is.
