The 2002 season was the Green Bay Packers' 82nd in the National Football League (NFL) and their 84th overall.
For the first time since 1989, LeRoy Butler was not on the opening day roster. This would be the last time until 2025 the Packers drafted a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft.
This was the first of three consecutive NFC North titles for the Packers. They achieved a 12–4 record in the regular season, before losing in the NFC Wild Card playoffs round to quarterback Brett Favre's former team, the Atlanta Falcons, at Lambeau Field. This marked the first time in franchise history that the Packers had lost at home in the playoffs. They have done so six more times since: in 2004, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2020, and 2021.
After the season, Jeff Blackshear decided he had played his final NFL game.
Background In 2001, the Packers achieved the franchise's best record since 1997, finishing 12–4 and advancing to the divisional round of the playoffs. There, they lost to the eventual NFC champion St. Louis Rams. During the game, it became clear that the Packers would need wide receivers with greater speed and ability to compete with the conference's best teams. GM Mike Sherman spent the 2002 offseason revamping Green Bay's receiving corps. The team promoted Donald Driver to starter, acquired veteran Terry Glenn from the New England Patriots and drafted Javon Walker in the first round of the 2002 NFL draft. The influx of new players seemed to position the Packers as one of the strongest contenders in the NFC.
Season summary Green Bay started the season with eight wins in their first nine games, led by quarterback Brett Favre and running back Ahman Green. The Packers led the NFC North throughout the year, winning the division by a six-game margin. Green Bay became the first team to win the newly rechristened division, formerly known as the NFC Central. It was the Packers' first division title since 1997, and the team would go on to win the NFC North for three consecutive seasons.
For the first time in years, it appeared that the Packers had a legitimate chance of reaching the Super Bowl heading into the final Sunday of the regular season. With one game left, Green Bay was 12–3, and a victory away from clinching home field advantage throughout the playoffs after the Philadelphia Eagles failed to clinch home field advantage themselves one day prior in an overtime defeat to the New York Giants. The Packers had never lost a home playoff game in franchise history, had achieved an 8–0 record at home in 2002, and had established a run of Lambeau Field dominance since the Mike Holmgren era. As a result, playing home games at Lambeau Field would seemingly give the Packers a significant advantage in the playoffs. The final game was on the road against the New York Jets, who beat the Packers handily to win the AFC East division title. The loss which coincided with the Buccaneers winning was a blow to the Packers, who dropped down to the number three seed in the NFC and had an incredibly difficult road to the Super Bowl. Six days later, the Packers were beaten by Michael Vick's Atlanta Falcons, the first home playoff loss in Packers history.
The 2002 season was another memorable year for quarterback Brett Favre. Throughout the season, Favre was a favorite to win his fourth Most Valuable Player award. The Packers' lopsided loss to the Jets in the regular season finale may have swayed voters, as Favre lost the MVP award by merely two votes to Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon.
Offseason Additions Subtractions WR Terry Glenn (Patriots) WR Bill Schroeder (Lions) LB Hardy Nickerson (Jaguars) DT Santana Dotson (Redskins) DE Joe Johnson (Saints) RB Dorsey Levens (Eagles) WR Karsten Bailey (Seahawks) WR Antonio Freeman (Eagles) CB Darrien Gordon (Falcons) LB Bernardo Harris (Ravens) RB Ki-Jana Carter (Redskins) OT Barry Stokes (Browns) S LeRoy Butler (retirement) DE John Thierry (Falcons) WR Corey Bradford (Texans) CB Allen Rossum (Falcons) S Billy Jenkins (Bills)
Draft In the 2002 NFL draft, the Packers selected 20th overall, drafting future all-pro wide receiver Javon Walker with their first round pick.
Undrafted free agents + 2002 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeAlgie AtkinsonLinebackerKansasKevin BarryOffensive TackleArizonaRob BironasKickerGeorgia SouthernMarcus BradyQuarterbackCal State NorthridgeAndy EbyCenterKansas StateScott ElderPunterOklahoma StateTony FisherRunning backNotre DameJohn GilmoreDefensive endTennessee StateAdrian HollingshedLinebackerGeorgiaKen KocherDefensive TackleUCLARichard LewisWide receiverNorth Dakota StateSeneca McMillanCornerbackNicholls StateBill SeymourTight endMichiganErwin SwineyCornerbackNebraskaJeremy UnertlSafetyUW–La CrosseMarcus WilkinsLinebackerTexas
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Preseason Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance August 10, 2002 at Philadelphia Eagles L 13–20 0–1 Veterans Stadium 58,546 August 17, 2002 at Arizona Cardinals W 29–21 1–1 Sun Devil Stadium 35,716 August 26, 2002 Cleveland Browns W 27–20 2–1 Lambeau Field 62,668 August 30, 2002 Tennessee Titans W 21–20 3–1 Lambeau Field 62,485
Regular season
Schedule The Packers finished 12–4 overall, winning the NFC North crown by a six-game margin.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 8 Atlanta Falcons W 37–34 (OT) 1–0 Lambeau Field 63,127 2 September 15 at New Orleans Saints L 20–35 1–1 Louisiana Superdome 67,958 3 September 22 at Detroit Lions W 37–31 2–1 Ford Field 61,505 4 September 29 Carolina Panthers W 17–14 3–1 Lambeau Field 63,329 5 at Chicago Bears W 34–21 4–1 Memorial Stadium 63,226 6 October 13 at New England Patriots W 28–10 5–1 Gillette Stadium 68,436 7 October 20 Washington Redskins W 30–9 6–1 Lambeau Field 63,363 8 Bye 9 Miami Dolphins W 24–10 7–1 Lambeau Field 63,284 10 November 10 Detroit Lions W 40–14 8–1 Lambeau Field 63,313 11 November 17 at Minnesota Vikings L 21–31 8–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,153 12 November 24 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 7–21 8–3 Raymond James Stadium 65,672 13 December 1 Chicago Bears W 30–20 9–3 Lambeau Field 64,196 14 December 8 Minnesota Vikings W 26–22 10–3 Lambeau Field 64,070 15 December 15 at San Francisco 49ers W 20–14 11–3 3Com Park 67,947 16 December 22 Buffalo Bills W 10–0 12–3 Lambeau Field 64,106 17 December 29 at New York Jets L 17–42 12–4 Giants Stadium 78,733
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 2: at New Orleans Saints
Week 3: at Detroit Lions
Week 4: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 5: at Chicago Bears
Week 6: at New England Patriots
Week 7: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 9: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 10: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 12: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 13: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings
With the win, the Packers improved to 10-3 and finished 5-1 against the NFC North while also knocking the Vikings out of playoff contention. The game also notably had a brawl between both sides after a game sealing pick.
Week 15: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 17: at New York Jets
Standings Division
Conference
Playoffs Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Wild Card January 4, 2003 Atlanta Falcons L 7–27 0–1 Lambeau Field 65,358
Game summaries NFC Wild Card: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Awards and records Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Attempts (551) Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Completions (341) Brett Favre, NFC Leader(tied), Touchdown Passes (27)
References