How did the Green Bay Packers get their name? History and meaning of the nickname
The Green Bay Packers are one of few NFL teams that have not changed their name, mascot or location since they were first founded in 1919.
Over the last few decades, the NFL has witnessed several franchises change cities, names, or even adopt new labels and mascots while remaining in the same location.
Out of the current 32 NFL teams, only half are called by their original nicknames and play in the same location, and only five teams in NFL history haven’t moved cities or rebranded their identities, one of which is the Green Bay Packers.
But how did the Wisconsin-based team got their “Packers” title?
Why the Green Bay Packers?
In 1919, Curly Lambeau, who was the franchise’s founder, decided to start up a local football team in Green Bay, Wisconsin. At the time, he was working for the meat packing company, Indian Packing, as a shipping clerk, and he managed to convince his employer to sponsor his new team.
Indian Packing agreed to sponsor the team by providing uniforms, financing the start of the club and offering up he company’s football field for the team to train on. In return, the team was named after the company, the “Packers” for advertising purposes.
A few years later, in 1921, Acme Packing bought out Indian Packing, and the club used the “Acme Packers” title on the players’ jerseys in their first year in the American Professional Football Association, the precursor to the National Football League (NFL).
The Acme Packers later became the Green Bay Packers, taking on the name of the city where the franchise is based to this day.
This article provides further information on all of the 32 NFL teams’ nicknames, and the story behind each franchise’s name-choosing process.