The Green Bay Packers were sitting at 1-1, licking their wounds from a 23-15 loss to the Lions, when they lined up for their 76th matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on September 26, 1999. But this wasn’t just another early season game. The vibe was different. Why? Because their former head coach, Mike Holmgren, had just resigned to accept the head coach gig *right here in Seattle*, snagging full control as GM and VP of Football Operations. New coach Ray Rhodes was the only candidate interviewed to fill those massive shoes.
An Era’s End, A Season’s Start
Holmgren’s departure for the Emerald City really set the stage for a wild 1999 season in Green Bay. Rhodes was in charge, inheriting a team that, just the year before, saw Brett Favre lead the league in completions with 347, completion percentage at 63%, and a ridiculous 4,212 passing yards. They’d gone 11-5, only to get bounced by the 49ers in the Wild Card round. The expectation was Super Bowl. But with a new leader and a fresh start, could they really get back there after Holmgren left for our neck of the woods?
The 76th Showdown: Heart-Stopping Drama
This Week 3 clash against the Vikings was pure drama, I’m telling you. Down 7-3 in the second quarter, rookie DB Antuan Edwards stepped up big time. He picked off Vikings QB Randall Cunningham and took it to the house with a 26-yard return for a touchdown. Then things got… weird. We had four straight field goals, a real “Field Goalapalooza” between the two teams. It looked like the Vikings might run away with it when Randy Moss scored a 10-yard touchdown with just 1:56 left, putting them up 20-16. But Favre, man, he still had magic. He marched them down the field, hitting guys like WR Corey Bradford, RB Dorsey Levens, and WR Bill Schroeder. Fourth and 1, 12 seconds left. My heart would be POUNDING. Favre found Bradford for the game-winning touchdown, sealing a crazy 23-20 win at home and bumping their record to 2-1.
A Rollercoaster Ride to Nowhere
Winning that thriller had to feel amazing, sending them into their Week 4 bye on a high. They even won their next game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But then, yikes, things got bumpy. They lost three straight games not once, but twice. The team ended up finishing fourth in the NFC Central with a disappointing 8-8 record, just missing the playoffs. That 1999 season, the one that started with Holmgren heading to Seattle, would be their only non-winning year between 1992 and 2004. Ray Rhodes? He was fired the day after the season ended, replaced by Mike Sherman. Talk about a tough welcome after following a legend to Seattle!
It just goes to show you how much one move, even one involving Seattle, can shake things up for a franchise. The Packers and Vikings are set to clash again this Sunday in Minnesota for their 132nd matchup at 3:25 local time. Bet it won’t be as wild as that 76th meeting!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
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