Remember Dave Hampton's 1,000-yard day?

Were you there the day Dave Hampton finally ran for 1,000 yards?

It never happened while Hampton played halfback for the Packers from 1969 to 1971, but it happened against the Packers in 1975.

Joe Posnanski, writing on his blog and at SI.com, recalls the remarkable story of how Hampton twice came close to gaining 1,000 yards in a season while playing for the Atlanta Falcons, only to come up just short.

The third time was the charm, and it happened on a 12-degree day at Lambeau Field, in the season finale on Dec. 21, 1975.

The Packers were leading 22-13 with less than 3 minutes left in the game. The Falcons gave up on winning the game and focused instead on getting Hampton his 1,000 yards. He started the drive 28 yards shy of 1,000.

Hampton carried first for 4 yards, then for 22 yards.

Posnanski writes:

"The Green Bay crowd was into it ... heck, they had to be into something, both teams stunk. They cheered. The Falcons players on the sideline cheered. Fate cheered. The next play, Hampton carried it over the right side for four yards. He had done it. He had become both the first Atlanta Falcons runner to gain 1,000 yards AND the first Atlanta Falcons runner to finish the season with 1,000 yards. And make no mistake, his season was done. The Green Bay crowd gave him a standing ovation as he came off the field -- no way they were leaving Dave Hampton out there for even one more play."

The Packers won 22-13 that day. Both teams finished 4-10 that season. Hampton finished with 1,002 yards and was named the NFL's comeback player of the year.

After that 1,000-yard season, Hampton was released by the Falcons. He played one more season for the Philadelphia Eagles, then retired.

(Hampton wore No. 25 when he played for the Packers. His best season in Green Bay was his rookie year, 1969, when he was second on the team with 80 carries for 365 yards and four touchdowns. He came close to that in 1971, when he had 67 carries for 307 yards and three TDs.)

-- Jeff Ash, jash@greenbaypressgazette.com

Photo: Dave Hampton at the Packers' 50th anniversary celebration in September 1969. Press-Gazette archives