Past Packers Drafts Led to Super Bowl wins
Nick Collins, a 2005 draft pick, celebrates his Super Bowl touchdown. The Packers drafts of 1995 and 2005 were critical in both recent Super Bowl wins.
The 2025 NFL Draft will be one remembered for a long time for Green Bay Packers fans. Being the host of this year’s draft will put the spotlight on Titletown for the week. Hopefully the three-day draft will also bring in players who one day help the franchise hoist another Lombardi Trophy.
The drafts of 1995 and 2005, 30 and 20 years ago respectively, were largely responsible for the last two Super Bowl wins.
In January 1997, the Green Bay Packers capped off one of the dominant seasons in the Super Bowl era with a 35-21 win over the New England Patriots, ending a 29-year Super Bowl drought for the franchise. The Packers led the league in points scored, while also allowing the fewest, something only done by the 1972 Dolphins in the Super Bowl era.
But it was the 1995 draft, a year and a half earlier, which was so important for the Packers during that 1996 season.
| Round | Player | Position | School |
| 1 | Craig Newsome | CB | Arizona State |
| 3 | Darius Holland | DL | Colorado |
| 3 | William Henderson | FB | North Carolina |
| 3 | Brian Williams | LB | Southern Cal |
| 3 | Antonio Freeman | WR | Virginia Tech |
| 5 | Travis Jervey | RB | The Citadel |
| 7 | Adam Timmerman | G | South Dakota State |
The 1995 draft featured seven key contributors to both the 1996 and 1997 Super Bowls, including five of the 22 starters in the win over New England. Antonio Freeman would have two memorable Super Bowls, catching three touchdowns and going over 100 yards in both games against the Patriots and Denver Broncos. His 10 touchdown catches in the playoffs are the most in franchise history. In 1998 he became the last Packers wide receiver to lead the league in receiving yards. He was first-team All Pro that season.
𝙏𝙃𝙍𝙊𝙒𝘽𝘼𝘾𝙆 𝙏𝙃𝙐𝙍𝙎𝘿𝘼𝙔-
Antonio Freeman’s 81-yard TD propels the #Packers to a WIN in Super Bowl XXXI (1.26.97) pic.twitter.com/oDBq5Djgav— ESPN Madison (@ESPNMadison) February 8, 2024
Henderson, the team’s starting fullback, would play 12 seasons, being one of the longest tenured Packers of the 1990’s and 2000’s. After being a solid starting right guard for four seasons, Timmerman would move onto the St. Louis Rams where he would win one more Super Bowl and play in another, being a mainstay on the line that protected the “Greatest Show on Turf.”
The 1996 defense was one of the best in franchise history, leading the league in points allowed, yards and takeaways. Not many defenses lead the league in all three categories in a season. The play of both standout second-year players, Craig Newsome and Brian Williams was a big factor in the defense’s success. Unfortunately knee injuries would cost both Newsome and Williams longer careers.
Fast Forward 10 years and it was another draft that would someday lead the Packers back to prominence. General Manager Ted Thompson had solid drafts from 2006 thru 2010, putting together the team that would win Super Bowl XLV. A win over the Pittsburgh Steelers that had five rookies starting in the game (Bryan Bulaga, James Starks, Andrew Quarless, Frank Zombo, Sam Shields).
But it was the 2005 draft that started it all for Thompson. His first two draft picks as an NFL General Manager were slam dunks and the fruits of his labor were on full display that February night in 2011 in Arlington, Texas.
After falling to the late first round, Thompson could not pass up on Aaron Rodgers, who was in the running for the first overall pick going into the 2005 draft. After three seasons of sitting behind Brett Favre and three more as an up-and-coming starter, Rodgers burst into stardom with his MVP performance in Super Bowl XLV.
14 years ago today, Aaron Rodgers won his first and only Super Bowl against the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV 💪pic.twitter.com/kOifqf5jJZ
— Caesars Sportsbook (@CaesarsSports) February 6, 2025
But the biggest play of Super Bowl XLV was arguably by the guy who was chosen next in 2005, safety Nick Collins. The second-round pick out of Bethune Cookman, a Division I-AA program in Florida, Collins was given LeRoy Butler’s No. 36, and was the Packers starting free safety from the get-go. However, it was in 2008 that he broke out as a Pro Bowl performer, intercepting seven passes, with three being returned for touchdowns. From 2008 to 2010, Collins had 17 interceptions, earning him Pro Bowl honors each season.
SUPER BOWL XLV
February 6, 2011On the first play from scrimmage after their opening touchdown, #Packers DE Howard Green smacks the arm of the #Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger.
Nick Collins collects Ben's errant floater and swivel-hips 37 yards for a pick-six and a 14-0 lead.… pic.twitter.com/LL3tqRX2Fi
— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 6, 2025
The last interception of his career, ended up being the biggest of them all, a 1st-quarter pick 6 in Super Bowl XLV, which gave the Packers a 14-0 lead. On the play, Collins showed his tremendous skill to play centerfield, and then his amazing ability to run after the catch.
Twenty years after that draft, which also produced starting linebacker Brady Poppinga, the Packers could use another successful three days of selecting college players.
Addressing some much needed weaknesses on their roster (edge rusher, cornerback, wide receiver) could very well lead the team back to prominence and once again compete in February for the trophy that will be on full display this week in Green Bay.
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Mitch McLaughlin is a Packers fan and shareholder residing in Sacramento, California. He will be writing Packers stories each week on Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter: @McLaughlinMitch
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Comments (6)
LambeauPlain
April 20, 2025 at 12:05 pm
The Packers 2010 Schumer Defense was the catalyst for winning the Lombardi. All three levels had dominate players. It was the Front Four of Reggie, Gravedigger, Santana, and Sean that set the tone for the entire D and the gave the Offense point cushions and more opportunities to score.
It is Hafley's vision, too. And it seems Lafleur and Gutey are fully on board. Double up on D line this draft and build that wall!
St. Nick Collins was destined for HOF greatness. As a Packer, he was one of the greatest Safeties to wear the Green and Gold. Xavier reminds me of him...heady, field general, excellent read and react skills like Nick had.
Happy Easter!
LLCHESTY
April 20, 2025 at 06:40 pm
2010? Collins was much faster than McKinney.
WestCoastPackerBacker
April 21, 2025 at 03:14 pm
The guys you named on that line were not on the 2010 team. That was the Favre Super Bowl. The 2010 team had guys like Ryan Pickett and Cullen Jenkins and BJ Raji.
ricky
April 20, 2025 at 12:05 pm
Instead of draft and develop, we'd have draft and play? Sounds good. And if last year was an indicator, it could happen.
SDPack
April 20, 2025 at 06:40 pm
This article is a just a flimsy recap of Thompson’s drafting but the author’s dots don’t connect at all. “Addressing some much needed weaknesses on their roster (edge rusher, cornerback, wide receiver) could very well lead the team back to prominence and once again compete in February for the trophy that will be on full display this week in Green Bay.” That was just plopped in at the end but ties back to nothing in the article.
Drafting for current need was not even addressed regarding Thompson’s draft strategies. In fact, he praised Thompson’s decision to draft Aaron Rodgers even though he wouldn’t start for three years. A contradiction to his closing statement. There is no analysis on draft strategy during those times. Just a basic report out on the good results of those players. 1 star!
careerservice
April 21, 2025 at 01:35 am
So instead of “draft and develop,” it would be “draft and play”? That actually sounds promising. And judging by how things went last year, it’s definitely possible.