The 1974 Green Bay Packers season was their 56th season overall and their 54th season in the National Football League. The team finished with a 6–8 record under fourth-year head coach Dan Devine, a consecutive third-place finish in the NFC Central division. The Packers lost their last three games, all to non-playoff teams.
After Week 6, the 3–3 Packers traded five future draft picks to the Los Angeles Rams for veteran quarterback John Hadl, who had recently been benched in favor of James Harris. The trade occurred the day after the Packers' offense (under quarterback Jerry Tagge) managed only three field goals in a 10–9 road loss to rival Chicago on Monday night. The Packers had defeated the Rams 17–6 in Milwaukee the week prior, intercepting four passes.
With a year remaining on his five-year contract, Devine resigned a day after the last game of the regular season and returned to college football at Notre Dame, following the sudden retirement of Ara Parseghian. Devine was succeeded as head coach at Green Bay by Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr, hired on Christmas Eve.
Offseason
Draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1974 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeMichael BasingerDefensive endUC RiversideTyrone ByrdWide receiverDartmouthJohn CherryQuarterbackMissouriGary CoxTackleBall StateBrent LongwellTight endNebraskaZaven YaralianSafetyNebraska
Roster 1974 Green Bay Packers roster Quarterbacks Jack Concannon John Hadl Jerry Tagge
Running backs John Brockington Les Goodman Larry Krause MacArthur Lane Charles Leigh Barty Smith Eric Torkelson
Wide receivers Steve Odom Ken Payne Barry Smith Jon Staggers
Tight ends Mike Donohoe Rich McGeorge Offensive linemen Gale Gillingham G Dick Himes T Bill Lueck G Larry McCarren C Lee Nystrom T John Schmitt C Harry Schuh T Malcolm Snider G Keith Wortman T
Defensive linemen Mike Fanucci DE Mike McCoy DT Steve Okoniewski DT Dave Pureifory DT/DE Alden Roche DT Clarence Williams DE Linebackers Ron Acks OLB Fred Carr OLB Jim Carter MLB Mark Cooney OLB Larry Hefner MLB Ted Hendricks OLB Noel Jenke OLB
Defensive backs Willie Buchanon CB Ken Ellis CB Charlie Hall SS Jim Hill FS Dave Mason FS Al Matthews SS Perry Smith CB
Special teams Chester Marcol K Randy Walker P Reserve lists Ken Bowman C (IR) Aaron Brown DE (IR) Tyrone Byrd WR (IR) Bill Hayhoe T (IR) Charlie Napper QB (IR) Bart Purvis T (IR) Tom Toner LB (IR) Bruce Van Dyke G (IR) Dave Wannstedt T (IR) Ron Widby P (IR)
Rookies in italics
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 15 Minnesota Vikings L 17–32 0–1 Lambeau Field 56,267 2 September 22 at Baltimore Colts W 20–13 1–1 Memorial Stadium 41,252 3 September 29 Detroit Lions W 21–19 2–1 Milwaukee County Stadium 47,292 4 October 6 Buffalo Bills L 7–27 2–2 Lambeau Field 56,267 5 October 13 Los Angeles Rams W 17–6 3–2 Milwaukee County Stadium 47,499 6 at Chicago Bears L 9–10 3–3 Soldier Field 50,623 7 October 27 at Detroit Lions L 17–19 3–4 Tiger Stadium 51,775 8 November 3 Washington Redskins L 6–17 3–5 Lambeau Field 56,267 9 November 10 Chicago Bears W 20–3 4–5 Milwaukee County Stadium 46,567 10 November 17 at Minnesota Vikings W 19–7 5–5 Metropolitan Stadium 47,924 11 November 24 San Diego Chargers W 34–0 6–5 Lambeau Field 56,267 12 December 1 at Philadelphia Eagles L 14–36 6–6 Veterans Stadium 42,030 13 December 8 at San Francisco 49ers L 6–7 6–7 Candlestick Park 47,475 14 December 15 at Atlanta Falcons L 3–10 6–8 Atlanta Stadium 10,020 Monday (October 21) Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1 vs Vikings
Week 2 at Colts
Week 3
Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 9
Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com
Standings
Awards and records Chester Marcol, NFL Leader, Field Goals Made, (25) Don Woods, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
References
Sportsencyclopedia.com