In 1961, Hornung set the scoring record in an NFL championship game with 19 points. Paul Hornung won the Heisman Trophy and went on to the College and NFL Football Halls of Fame, matching the High School Hall of Fame selection he achieved at Flaget. 1? Although Hornung's statistics don't translate to modern pro football, he was generally regarded by his Lombardi-era teammates as their biggest star and their spiritual leader. Hornung threw for … [citation needed]. "Vince called him our money player and he was just that. Image not available. Paul Hornung, nicknamed the "Golden Boy," won the Heisman Trophy in 1956 as the year's outstanding player in United States College football and is the only player from a losing team to ever to win the trophy. A pinched nerve in Hornung's neck severely curtailed his playing time in 1966,[21] and Hornung did not see action in Super Bowl I, when the Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 35–10. Wolf once asked them if there was a draft of Lombardi's players who would they take No. Hornung finished his professional football career with 3,711 rushing yards, 50 rushing touchdowns, 1,480 receiving yards, 12 receiving touchdowns, 66 field goals and 190 extra points. Paul Hornung, a Hall of Fame running back who played for the Green Bay Packers, has died. Hornung was selected in the expansion draft by the New Orleans Saints,[21] who later traded for Hornung's backfield mate at Green Bay, Jim Taylor. Guard Jerry Kramer said, "He was always the star of our team, even after he stopped being the best player.". A pinched nerve sidelined him, and he chose not to enter the game in the fourth quarter. He also played defense, led in passes broken up, and was second in interceptions and tackles made. When Lombardi arrived in 1959, he quickly settled on Hornung as his left halfback. Mouse over to Zoom- Click to enlarge. Hornung was accused of betting on his own team and on other games. Hornung was never the workhouse of Lombardi's offense. Many consider Hornung the greatest all-around football player in Notre Dame history. On one hand, Hornung's all-around athletic ability was his best asset. "He was an outstanding player and an incredible man. All three answered Hornung. He also lettered in basketball as a sophomore. While the organization never followed through with an official ceremony after Lombardi left, only coaches Forrest Gregg and Lindy Infante ever issued the number during the regular season and only for brief periods. He could run. He is the first Heisman Trophy winner to be selected as the first overall selection in the NFL Draft, play pro football, win the NFL most valuable player award, and be inducted into both the profe… He also worked as a sideline reporter for CBS' coverage of Super Bowl XII. [40][41] Hornung also performed color commentary for games on College Football on TBS in the early 1980s. We invite you to share condolences for Paul Hornung in our Guest Book. He was an actor, known for The Devil's Brigade (1968), Run to Daylight (1964) and Semi-Tough (1977). Live interview during the broadcast of the March 15, 2012, Samuel A. Donaldson, "Federal Income Taxation Of Individuals: Cases, Problems and Materials", 2d. As a professional, Hornung played the halfback position as well as field goal kicker for several seasons. I say, 'Who the hell could do all those things?' Nicknamed "The Golden Boy," he won the 1956 Heisman Trophy, despite playing for a Notre Dame team that finished 2-8. Ending Today at 4:08PM PDT 9h. Pro Football Hall of Fame general manager Jim Finks was an assistant coach for the Fighting Irish during Hornung's senior season and he wrote in a scouting report for the Packers, "Paul is the best prospect I have seen," and someone who could play any of three positions. However, Hornung announced his retirement in late July after spending three days at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Doctors there determined he not only had a pinched nerve in his neck, but damage to his spinal cord that could result in paralysis if he continued to play football. He played on teams that won four NFL titles and the first Super Bowl. He is one of only nine players to have won both the Heisman Trophy and the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award. Overall, Hornung played in 104 games, but had to commute on weekends over the last half of the 1961 season while on active military duty and struggled with injuries for most of his career. Hornung also set the Packers' single-game scoring record with 33 points in 1961 and scored a club-record five touchdowns in a game in 1965. He set the record in a 12-game season yet it stood for 46 years, long after the NFL had expanded its schedule, first to 14 games and later 16. Ultimately the neck injury ended Hornung's career when he suffered a recurrence against Chicago in the sixth game of the 1966 season. [31], Sport magazine named Hornung the most outstanding player in the 1961 championship game, which led to a tax dispute that cemented the tax status of awards to athletes. Hornung responded with 112 yards rushing on 16 carries, including a league-long 72-yard run. edition (St. Paul: Thompson-West 2007, 2d edition), 353-359, Notre Dame Fighting Irish starting quarterbacks, Green Bay Packers first-round draft picks, List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders, "Green Bay's ball-control tactics beat Browns for title, 23-12", "Paul's pure gold for Pack; Sayers scores 6 Bear TD's", "Move to New Orleans no surprise to Hornung". In 1958, Scooter McLean kept Hornung at fullback until late in the year, but had him share the position with Howie Ferguson. 4 bids. 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