The Ice Bowl Game (1967)
Frozen turf and a legendary sneak: the coldest game in football history.
The Ice Bowl is the colloquial name for the NFL Championship Game played on December 31, 1967, between the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field. Often cited as the greatest game in National Football League history, it is defined by its brutal environmental conditions, with an official air temperature of -13°F (-25°C) and a wind chill estimated at -48°F (-44°C). This contest served as the ultimate test of endurance for Vince Lombardi's dynasty, cementing their legacy just before his departure from the team.
The game is legendary not only for the freezing weather but for its dramatic conclusion. With seconds remaining on the clock and the Packers facing a fourth-and-goal situation at the one-yard line, quarterback Bart Starr executed a perfectly timed quarterback sneak to secure a 21-17 victory. This win sent Green Bay to Super Bowl II, marking the final championship of the Lombardi era.
- Date
- December 31, 1967
- Location
- Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Opponent
- Dallas Cowboys
- Final Score
- Green Bay 21, Dallas 17
- Weather Conditions
- -13°F air temperature, -48°F wind chill
- Deciding Play
- Bart Starr quarterback sneak
- Significance
- Last NFL Championship of the Vince Lombardi era
Lore & Background
As the game wore on, the cold became a physical adversary as formidable as the Dallas defense. Skin froze instantly upon contact with helmet facemasks or the icy turf; players scrambled for purchase on ground that offered none. The iconic image of Bart Starr huddled beneath the bench, cupping his hands to warm them over the heater before the final drive, has transcended sports history into legend. Facing a do-or-die fourth down at the Dallas one-yard line with the clock bleeding out and the Packers trailing 17-21, the risk of a pass seemed insurmountable—hands too numb to grip, receivers sliding uncontrollably on the black ice. Lombardi made the call that would define an era: not a field goal, but a quarterback sneak.
In Their Own Story
The wind roared across Lambeau Field's frozen tundra, whipping stinging ice crystals through wool coats and leather gloves until they felt like thin paper. Bart Starr stood on the sideline, breath erupting in thick white plumes, frantically rubbing hands that had long since lost all sensation. The field was no longer a playing surface but a treacherous sheet of black glass where linemen slipped helplessly with every snap attempt.
Fourth down. One yard. Ten seconds remaining. Inside the huddle, voices were swallowed by the gale; there was no shouting, only a silent, frozen consensus among men whose faces had turned pale and numb. Starr locked eyes with his linemen, knowing this play was their final stand. He called 'Blue 42.' As the ball snapped, Green Bay's line drove forward into a wall of Dallas defenders, creating a sliver of light. Starr followed through the gap, diving headfirst into the frozen mud as time expired. The roar from the stands was muffled by the cold, but the victory was absolute and eternal.
Reader's Guide
The Ice Bowl stands as the emotional anchor of Green Bay Packers history, marking the violent crescendo of the Vince Lombardi dynasty. It defined the franchise's identity not through perfect execution, but through sheer, unyielding resilience—proving that the Packers could conquer elite competition even when the elements themselves conspired against them. This was a victory forged in suffering, where every player demonstrated a level of toughness that remains the gold standard for the team to this day.
This era matters because it marked the final time the NFL crowned a champion without a Super Bowl, closing the chapter on the original dynasty just as Lombardi prepared to step away. The game serves as a timeless reminder that in Green Bay, even when the world freezes over, the spirit of the team refuses to shatter.
Did You Know?
- The field was so icy that several players, including Cowboys linebacker Dave Edwards and Packers guard Jerry Kramer, suffered frostbite during the game.
- Bart Starr later revealed he had not felt his hands for a significant portion of the game due to the extreme cold.
- The artificial turf installed at Lambeau Field that year was blamed for making the field dangerously slippery when frozen.
- This was the last NFL Championship Game played before the AFL-NFL merger officially created the Super Bowl era starting with the 1968 season.