73 Days Until Green Bay Packers Football: Greatest Player #73- George Koonce

The Green Bay Packers will kickoff their 2023 season 73 days from now against the Chicago Bears. In celebration of a new era of Packers football and in anticipation for the upcoming season, Wisconsin Sports Heroics will present the top 100 players in franchise history in the 100 days leading up to the start of the regular season. Our rankings are based on Pro Football References Approximate Value stat, which gives a numeric value to each season a player plays in.

Green Bay Packers Greatest Player #73: George Koonce

Green Bay Packers, George Koonce — Sep 20, 1998; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker George Koonce (53) runs with the ball after a turn-over against the Cincinnati Bengals at Riverfront Stadium. The Packers beat the Bengals 13-6. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

If you were to ask the great Gilbert Brown who the most important leaders were of the 1996 Green Bay Packers defense, the number one defense in the NFL that year (and one of the best in the history of the NFL), he would name three players: Reggie White, LeRoy Butler, and George Koonce.

Over the course of the past few months, I have been writing a series about Gilbert Brown’s weekly segment on The Earl Ingram Show. Numerous times, he has brought up DOCTOR George Koonce as one of the unsung leaders in that locker room.

In fact, he invited Dr. Koonce onto the show as a guest one week. His words about the importance of leadership on both of the Packers’ Super Bowl teams in the 1990’s ring true and remain relevant today. His interview can be heard here.

Dr. George Koonce went undrafted in 1991 and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons. However, the Falcons released him prior to the season.

In 1992, Koonce signed with the Packers and became an instant impact player. He started 10 of the 16 games he played that season and would remain a starter for Green Bay for eight years, playing all three linebacker positions.

That magical 1996 season was his best in the Green and Gold, as he posted an AV of 12. He had 97 total tackles, a fumble recovery, and three interceptions (including a pick-six).

Koonce played with the Packers through the 1999 season. He played one more year in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks, and still was an impactful player. With Seattle, he 97 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and an interception that he returned for a touchdown.

Since retiring from the NFL, Koonce earned his Master’s Degree in Sports Management from East Carolina University. He then earned a PhD in the same field from Marquette University, leading to his nickname “The Doctor of Defense.”

Dr. Koonce has served in various administrative and athletic director roles at Marquette, UWM, and Marion University.

Green Bay Packers Greatest Players List

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