We’ve got nothing against Donald Driver, but he is NOT the greatest receiver in Green Bay Packers history. Some of you obviously need that history lesson.
Why do we bring this up?
Fox Sports Wisconsin is running a poll asking who is the greatest receiver in Packers history. The choices are Driver, Sterling Sharpe, James Lofton, Don Hutson and Antonio Freeman.
Why the hell is Freeman on that list? Good question, but that’s another matter entirely.
Driver, of course, is far and away the leading vote getter.
If you have to ask who the best receiver in Packers history is, you don’t deserve to be a Packers fan.
It’s Don Hutson. There’s no debate. So let us educate you.
Hutson played from 1935-45. Yeah, we know, that’s before your time, but that doesn’t excuse your ignorance.
Hutson is credited with inventing the modern receiver position. In any poll of people who know anything, you’ll see Hutson ranked as the second-greatest receiver of all time. Not on the Packers, in the entire history of the NFL.
The only guy you’ll see ranked ahead of Hutson on those lists is Jerry Rice.
At the time of his retirement, Hutson held 18 NFL records. Many of those have since been broken, but it took decades to happen. For example, his record of 99 career receiving touchdowns stood until 1989. His record of 17 receiving touchdowns in a season stood until 1984.
Here are the records Hutson still holds.
- Most seasons led league, scoring: 5
- Most consecutive seasons led league, scoring: 5
- Most points scored in a quarter: 29
- Most touchdowns scored in a quarter: 4
- Most touchdown receptions in a quarter: 4
- Most seasons led league, touchdowns: 8
- Most consecutive seasons led league, touchdowns: 4
- Most seasons led league, receiving touchdowns: 9
- Most consecutive seasons led league, receiving touchdowns: 5
- Most seasons led league, receptions: 8
- Most consecutive seasons led league, receptions: 5
- Most seasons led league, receiving yards: 7
- Most consecutive seasons led league, receiving yards: 4
How many NFL records does Donald Driver have? Oh yeah, zero.
Further, Hutson is a Hall of Famer, a two-time NFL MVP, an eight-time first-team All Pro, a member of the NFL’s 75th anniversary team and won three championships.
Driver cannot and will not ever be able to say anything of those things.
He was the first man in history to record 1,000 yards receiving in a season.
He did all of this playing in 10, 11 and 12-game seasons. That’s right Poindexter, the NFL season wasn’t always 16 games long.
Lesson complete.