Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr, who played for the Packers from 1956-71 and served as head coach from 1975-83, passed away Sunday morning in Birmingham, Ala. Starr was 85, and had suffered a serious stroke in 2014.
"The Packers Family was saddened today to learn of the passing of Bart Starr," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "A champion on and off the field, Bart epitomized class and was beloved by generations of Packers fans. A clutch player who led his team to five NFL titles, Bart could still fill Lambeau Field with electricity decades later during his many visits. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Cherry and the entire Starr family."
Starr was drafted in the 17th round in 1956, the 200th overall selection, and wound up winning five NFL championships as a starting quarterback. He was named NFL's MVP by The Associated Press in 1966. Starr led the Packers to victory in Super Bowls I and II and was named the game's MVP each time and was one of three quarterbacks picked on the NFL's 1960s All-Decade Team. Starr led the NFL in passing in 1962, '64 and '66 and passed for 24,718 yards with a 57.4 completion percentage during his career. Named to the Pro Bowl four times, he held the Packers' career record for most games played (196) until surpassed by Brett Favre in 2004. He also served as head coach of the Packers from 1975-'83, compiling a 52-76-3 record.
Starr was born Jan. 9, 1934, in Montgomery, Ala., and played college football at Alabama.
A look back at the life and career of former Packers QB and Head Coach Bart Starr
The officials signal a touchdown as quarterback Bart Starr (15) dives across the goal line for the game-winning touchdown in the Packers' 21-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL championship game at Lambeau Field on Dec. 31, 1967. Press-Gazette archives
Bart Starr in action as #15 QB on Green Bay Packers team, Vs. Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 21, 1965. (AP Photo)
Bart Starr signage in Lambeau Field during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers won 30-24. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr carries a Green Bay Packers flag on the field during introductions before an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr waves to fans during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
NFL Hall Of Famers, from left, Bart Starr, Frank Gifford and Len Dawson chat at a Pro Football Hall of Fame Party at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland on Saturday, July 29, 2000. (AP Photo/Jamie-Andrea Yanak)
NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr, left, and former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, right, during a news conference Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, in Dallas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Legendary Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr, center, presents current Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, right, with the the Bart Starr Award for Character and Leadership, Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, at the Super Bowl Breakfast in New York. The Seattle Seahawks will play the Denver Broncos Sunday in the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
FILE Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, right, talks with former Packers quarterback Bart Starr, left, before the NFC Championship football game against the New York Giants in Green Bay, Wis., in this Jan. 20, 2008 file photo. Favre has decided to retire from the NFL after 17 seasons. FOX Sports first reported Tuesday March 4, 2008 that the Green Bay Packers quarterback informed the team in the last few days. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, file)
Legendary Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr, left, presents current Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers, right, with the the Bart Starr Award for Character and Leadership, Friday, Jan. 31, 2014 at the Super Bowl Breakfast in New York. The Seattle Seahawks will play the Broncos Sunday in the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Former pro football players from left: Gale Sayers, Joe Namath, Bart Starr and National Football League commissioner Paul Tagliabue, right, look over poster-sized illustrations of new stamps honoring legendary football coaches on the first day of issue by the U.S. Postal Service on the steps of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, Friday, July 25, 1997. Sayers introduced the stamp of George Halas, Namath the stamp of Paul "Bear" Bryant, Starr the stamp of Vince Lombardi and Tagliabue the stamp of Glenn "Pop" Warner. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
St. Louis Cardinals head Coach Jim Hanifan (left) offers his congratulations to Green Bay Packers head Coach Bart Starr at mid-field after the Packers' 41-16 first-round playoff victory, Jan. 8, 1983 in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn)
Green Bay Packer quarterback Bart Starr, right, huddles with his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Starr of Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 13, 1968 at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Mr. and Mrs. Starr will be in the stands on Sunday, cheering for their son Bart and the Green Bay Packers when the meet the AFL champions, the Oakland Raiders in the Super Bowl at Miami. (AP Photo/Toby Massey)
Quarterback Bart Starr of the Green Bay Packers looks over the windshield of the convertible presented to him in New York, Feb. 3, 1967 by Sport Magazine. Starr won the publication's "Super Bowl Award." (AP Photo/John Rooney)
Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr carries a Green Bay Packers flag on the field during introductions before an NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
These sports heroes of 1967 will receive awards at the All Sports Banquet in Dallas, March 8, 1968. From left: Tommy Nobis, former Texas football star and now with the Atlanta Falcons, pro athlete of the year; Bart Starr, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, will be the national athlete receiving award; and Gene Stallings, coach of Texas A&M football, will be awarded the plaque as senior college coach of the year. Man at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/SS)
Bart Starr, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, is shown on Jan. 31, 1962. (AP Photo)
Packers quarterback Bart Starr studies rookies as they performed in pass drill at short training camp at Green Bay, Wisc., June 7, 1970. Jack Clancy, recently traded to the Packers by the Miami Dolphins for Marv Flemming, is to the left of Starr. (AP Photo/Paul Shane)
Bart Starr, dressed in heavy sweat suit, looks up at his locker in Green Bay, Wisc., Dec. 19, 1967, after finishing a long practice session at the Green Bay Packer stadium. The Packers' star quarterback will lead the team against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL Western Division playoff. (AP Photo/Paul Shane)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr is pictured in 1962. (AP Photo)
Chicago Bears' Mike Pyle, right, president of the NFL Players Association, chats with Bart Starr, left, and Willie Davis, both of the Green Bay Packers, at an awards dinner in Chicago, July 9, 1967. Starr and Davis are candidates for the Byron R. White Award which goes to the NFL player "contributing most to his team, league and community." Awards was named for the former All-America and NFL star who currently is a U.S. Supreme Court associate justice. (AP Photo/Charles Harrity)
The Green Bay Packers were defeated by the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day by a score of 13-17 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on November 26, 2015.
The Green Bay Packers were defeated by the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day by a score of 13-17 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on November 26, 2015.
The Green Bay Packers were defeated by the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day by a score of 13-17 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on November 26, 2015.
The Green Bay Packers were defeated by the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day by a score of 13-17 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on November 26, 2015.
The Green Bay Packers were defeated by the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day by a score of 13-17 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on November 26, 2015.
The Green Bay Packers were defeated by the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day by a score of 13-17 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on November 26, 2015.
The Green Bay Packers were defeated by the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day by a score of 13-17 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on November 26, 2015.
The Green Bay Packers were defeated by the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day by a score of 13-17 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on November 26, 2015.
The Green Bay Packers were defeated by the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving Day by a score of 13-17 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI on November 26, 2015.
Green Bay Packers vs. Buffalo Bills, Regular Season Game, September 19, 2010
Green Bay Packers vs. Buffalo Bills, Regular Season Game, September 19, 2010
Green Bay Packers vs. Buffalo Bills, Regular Season Game, September 19, 2010
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr is introduced at halftime of an NFL football game between the Packers and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
