3 Packers named to Super Bowl Golden Team

Three Green Bay Packers players were voted to the Super Bowl 50 Golden Team, but the legendary coach for whom the Super Bowl trophy is named was not.

Defensive end Reggie White, tackle Forrest Gregg and kick returner Desmond Howard are Green Bay’s representatives on the team, which was selected by voters for the Hall of Fame inductions (including the Press-Gazette’s Pete Dougherty).

But coach Vince Lombardi, who won the first two Super Bowls and whose name adorns the trophy, was bypassed in favor of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Chuck Noll, the only coach to win four Super Bowls.

White came up big for the Packers in Super Bowl XXXI, sacking New England Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe an NFL-record three times.

Gregg’s blocking helped pave the way to the Packers’ victories over the Kansas City Chiefs in the first Super Bowl and the Oakland Raiders in the second.

Howard was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXXI after returning a kickoff 99 yards for a game-breaking touchdown.

Were any deserving Packers players left off the team, which was chosen based on overall career performance in the Super Bowl? One could make a strong argument for safety Willie Wood, the bedrock of the Green Bay secondary in the first two Super Bowls whose interception and 50-yard return was a pivotal play against the Chiefs. But the voters went with safeties Ronnie Lott of the San Francisco 49ers and Jake Scott of the Miami Dolphins.

Here’s a position-by-position look at the entire team:

OFFENSE

Quarterback:  Joe Montana, 49ers.

Running backs:  Franco Harris, Steelers; Emmitt Smith, Cowboys.

Wide receivers:  Jerry Rice, 49ers; Lynn Swann, Steelers.

Tight end:  Jay Novacek, Cowboys.

Center:  Mike Webster, Steelers.

Guards:  Larry Allen, Cowboys; Gene Upshaw, Raiders.

Tackles:  Forrest Gregg, Packers and Cowboys; Art Shell, Raiders.

DEFENSE

Ends:  Charles Haley, Cowboys and 49ers; Reggie White, Packers.

Tackles:  Joe Greene, Steelers; Randy White, Cowboys.

Inside linebackers:  Jack Lambert, Steelers; Ray Lewis, Ravens.

Outside linebackers:  Jack Ham, Steelers; Lawrence Taylor, Giants

Cornerbacks:  Mel Blount, Steelers; Deion Sanders, Cowboys and 49ers.

Safeties:  Ronnie Lott, 49ers; Jake Scott, Dolphins.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker:  Adam Vinatieri, Patriots and Colts

Punter:  Ray Guy, Raiders

Returner:  Desmond Howard, Packers