American football player and coach (1930?2008)
American football player
Joel David "Hawg" Hanner
, (May 20, 1930 ? September 11, 2008) was an American professional
football
player, coach, and scout.
Following a collegiate career with the
Arkansas Razorbacks
, in 1952 Hanner was drafted by the
Green Bay Packers
of the
National Football League
(NFL), for whom he started at
defensive tackle
. He was twice selected to the NFL Pro Bowl and was a member of two World Championship teams. He immediately moved into coaching with the Packers following his retirement as an active player, serving as defensive coordinator under two head coaches.
Hanner's streak of 28 consecutive years associated as a player or coach of the Packers is second in team history to that of legendary player-coach
Curly Lambeau
.
Biography
[
edit
]
Early years
[
edit
]
Born and raised in
Parkin, Arkansas
, Hanner grew up with four siblings on a family farm west of
Memphis
and played college football at the
University of Arkansas
.
[2]
Hanner played
tackle
for the Arkansas varsity football for three seasons (freshmen were prohibited from varsity play during this era). He was honored as a member of the Associated Press' 1950 All-Southwest Conference team
[3]
and unanimously picked to the All-Southwest Conference team in 1951.
[4]
His association with the Razorbacks provided the source of his nickname.
[5]
Playing career
[
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]
Selected in the fifth round of the
1952 NFL draft
, 52nd overall, Hanner played
defensive tackle
for the Packers for 13 seasons, from
1952
to
1964
, and was selected for the
Pro Bowl
in
1953
and
1954
.
He started at left defensive end in
1961
and
1962
for the team's first two
National Football League
championships
under head coach
Vince Lombardi
.
During his NFL career, Hanner played in 160 of 164 possible regular season games, missing three of those in his rookie season.
[6]
Coaching career
[
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]
Following his playing career, Hanner immediately stepped into coaching with the Packers, initially being named as defensive line coach by head coach Vince Lombardi.
[7]
He would ultimately spend 16 seasons as an assistant coach with the team.
When
Dan Devine
took over as head coach in
1971
, he was promoted to the defensive coordinator, a position he served in until
1974
.
[8]
Bart Starr
became the team's head coach in
1975
and Hanner remained as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.
Hanner was fired by Starr following the disappointing
1979
season, during which the team finished with record of 5?11. This marked an end to Hanner's 28 consecutive year stint with the team ? the second longest run in team history to that of legendary player and coach
Curly Lambeau
.
[7]
"I just felt the decision had to be made because we weren't getting the total effort from our defense," head coach Starr told the media following the surprising termination. "I can't say that Dave is solely responsible or that this move is a total cure-all. I just felt a change in leadership was needed."
[7]
A nine-year teammate of Starr's, Hanner was regarded as the head coach's closest confidant on the staff and was taken aback by the firing. "I was surprised, but these things happen in this game," he said. "I'm more hurt than I am bitter."
[7]
Hanner subsequently took a position with the rival
Chicago Bears
), but returned as the Packers' quality control assistant in
1982
.
[9]
[10]
He transferred into a scout role until he retired in 1996.
[2]
[11]
Hanner was inducted into both the
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
and the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
[12]
Death and legacy
[
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]
After being in poor health for an extended period, Hanner suffered a heart attack and died two days later on September 11, 2008, at the age of 78.
[1]
He was survived by his wife, six children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
[13]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
a
b
Vandermause, Mike (2008-09-12).
"Ex-Packer 'Hawg' Hanner dies"
.
Green Bay Press-Gazette
. Retrieved
2008-09-12
.
[
dead link
]
- ^
a
b
Norris, Tim (April 30, 1996).
"Leaving Hawg heaven"
.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
. p. 1C. Archived from
the original
on March 12, 2016
. Retrieved
February 23,
2016
.
- ^
Allan A. Gilbert, Jr.,
"Inside Angles,"
Northwest Arkansas Times,
Nov. 29, 1951, p. 13.
- ^
"Green Bay Signs Dave Hanner from Arkansas,"
[Wisconsin Rapids] Daily Tribune,
March 28, 1952, p. 6.
- ^
Ted Roberts, "Watch Out for 'Hawg,'"
Sports Review Football: 1956 College and Pro Issue.
Mt. Morris, IL: Sports Review Publishing Co., 1956; p. 93.
- ^
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080912/PKR01/80912121/1058
[
permanent dead link
]
- ^
a
b
c
d
Cliff Christl,
"Hanner Fired After 28 Seasons,"
Green Bay Press-Gazette,
Dec. 28, 1979; p. B1.
- ^
Lea, Bud
(October 25, 1974).
"Rap on Hanner just Hawg-wash"
.
Milwaukee Sentinel
. p. 1, part 2. Archived from
the original
on March 12, 2016
. Retrieved
February 23,
2016
.
- ^
Christopulos (May 15, 1982).
"Hanner back on Packers' coaching staff"
.
Milwaukee Sentinel
. p. 1, part 2. Archived from
the original
on March 12, 2016
. Retrieved
February 23,
2016
.
- ^
Kupper, Mike (September 5, 1982).
"
"Hawg" is big man in small Packer office"
.
Milwaukee Journal
. p. 3, sports. Archived from
the original
on March 12, 2016
. Retrieved
February 23,
2016
.
- ^
Hall of Honor page
[
permanent dead link
]
- ^
Christl, Cliff
.
"Dave Hanner"
.
Packers.com
.
Archived
from the original on May 23, 2023
. Retrieved
September 20,
2023
.
- ^
"Joel Dave "Hog" Hanner Jr"
. Legacy.com. (obituary). September 14, 2008
. Retrieved
February 23,
2016
.
External links
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]
Dave Hammer?awards, championships, and honors
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