GREEN BAY, Wis. – Exactly 100 years ago today, the Green Bay Packers made their NFL debut.
In 1920, what would become the National Football League began operation as the American Professional Football Association. After two years of beating up on regional semi-pro clubs, Curly Lambeau’s squad played its first league game on Oct. 23, 1921, at Hagemeister Park against the Minneapolis Marines.
In the inaugural Dope Sheet – the “Official Program and Publication (of the) Acme-Packers Football Team” and the name the Packers still use for their game previews – the game was hyped as a matchup between championship contenders.