Paul Hornung facts for kids
Hornung in 1961
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| No. 5 | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Halfback, Kicker |
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | December 23, 1935 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
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| Died: | November 13, 2020 (aged 84) Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Flaget (Louisville, Kentucky) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Notre Dame (1954–1956) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1957 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Paul Vernon Hornung (December 23, 1935 – November 13, 2020) was an amazing American football player. People called him "the Golden Boy" because he was so talented. He played as a running back for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 to 1966.
Paul Hornung was a key player on teams that won four NFL championships and the very first Super Bowl. He was the first player ever to win the Heisman Trophy (for best college player), be picked first in the NFL Draft, play pro football, win the NFL's Most Valuable Player award, and be put into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame. His coach, Vince Lombardi, even said Paul was "the greatest player I ever coached."
Paul was a very versatile player. He could play halfback, quarterback, and even placekicker. In college at Notre Dame, he was a great all-around athlete, playing both football and basketball.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Paul Hornung grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. He was an incredible athlete at Flaget High School. He earned special awards for playing football, basketball, and baseball all four years. Many colleges wanted him to play for them, but he chose to go to Notre Dame.
College Football Star
Paul started playing as a backup fullback in 1954. But in 1955, his junior year, he became a star halfback and safety. He gained 1,215 yards and scored six touchdowns that year. He helped his team win big games with his touchdowns and interceptions.
In 1956, Paul led his team in almost every way. He was best in passing, rushing, scoring, and returning kicks. He also played defense, breaking up passes and making tackles. Even though his team had a tough year, Paul won the Heisman Trophy in 1956. This award goes to the best college football player in the U.S. He is the only player from a losing team to ever win it!
Paul was known as "The Golden Boy" because he could do it all. He could run, pass, block, and tackle. Many people think he was the best all-around football player in Notre Dame's history. He also played basketball during his second year at Notre Dame.
College Passing Stats
Paul Hornung's passing numbers in college:
| Year | Completions | Attempts | Completion % | Passing Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | 5 | 19 | 26.3 | 36 | 0 |
| 1955 | 46 | 103 | 44.7 | 743 | 9 |
| 1956 | 59 | 111 | 53.2 | 917 | 3 |
Professional Football Career
After college, Paul Hornung was the very first player chosen in the 1957 NFL Draft. He joined the Green Bay Packers. With the Packers, he won four league championships and the first-ever Super Bowl in 1967.
Paul was a halfback and also kicked field goals for many seasons. He was the top scorer in the league for three years in a row, from 1959 to 1961. In the 1960 season, he set a record by scoring 176 points. This record stood for a long time!
In 1961, Paul set another record by scoring 19 points in an NFL championship game. This record lasted for 56 years! In the 1965 championship game, he ran for 105 yards and scored a touchdown on a very muddy field. In October of that year, he scored 77 points in one month, which was also a record.
Paul was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 1961. He was also chosen as an All-Pro twice and played in the Pro Bowl twice. He is one of only nine players to win both the Heisman Trophy and the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award.
In 1965, Paul scored five touchdowns in one game against the Baltimore Colts. This was a team record! His team, the Packers, won that game, which helped them reach the NFL Championship. In that championship game, Paul ran for 105 yards and a touchdown, helping the Packers win their third league title under Coach Lombardi.
Paul had a neck injury in 1966, which limited his playing time. He did not play in Super Bowl I, where the Packers won 35-10. He was later picked by the New Orleans Saints in a special draft, but his neck injury forced him to retire before playing for them. Paul and his teammate Jim Taylor were known as "Thunder & Lightning" by Packers fans.
Paul holds records for scoring many points in games. He also holds a record for missing many field goals in one season (26 in 1964).
Honors and Awards
Paul Hornung received many honors for his amazing career:
- He was put into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
- He was put into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.
- He was put into the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.
There is also an award named after him, the "Paul Hornung Award". It is given to the best high school player in Kentucky each year. Since 2010, another "Paul Hornung Award" is given to the most versatile college football player in the nation. The Green Bay Packers unofficially retired his number 5 jersey.
Life After Football
Paul Hornung had to serve in the U.S. Army during the 1961 season. But his coach, Vince Lombardi, was friends with President John F. Kennedy. This friendship helped Paul get weekend passes so he could still play in games, including the 1961 NFL championship game.
In 1963, Paul Hornung and another player, Alex Karras, were suspended from football. This was because they had bet on NFL games. Paul admitted his mistake, and his image was not too badly hurt. Both players were allowed to play again in 1964. Paul believed that Coach Lombardi helped him get back into the league.
After retiring from playing, Paul worked as a sports announcer for many years. He talked about football games on radio and TV for different networks. He even worked as a sideline reporter for Super Bowl XII.
Paul Hornung passed away on November 13, 2020, at age 84. He had dementia, which he believed was caused by many concussions during his playing career. He was survived by his wife, Angela.
See also
- Paul Hornung Award
