Green Bay Packers: Ranking the top 30 players in franchise history

Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

25. Paul Coffman, Tight End, 1978-1985

In today’s NFL it’s not uncommon for tight ends to experience great offensive success, but it wasn’t always this way. In Paul Coffman’s era tight ends weren’t the focus of offenses and their responsibilities were, arguably, more about blocking than they were catching the ball. Even so, Coffman became an offensive sensation for the Packers and was invited to three consecutive Pro Bowls because of his dominance. He is the only tight end to make it onto this all-time list.

In eight years in Green Bay Coffman caught 39 touchdowns (42 in his career) and his 4,223 receiving yards are still a franchise record for a Packers’ tight end. Six times he caught over 40 passes in a single season for the Packers and his career yards per catch average was 13.1 in Green Bay. That is an abnormally high number for a tight end, especially in the 1970s-80s. In 1983 he caught a career-high 11 touchdowns and that mark still stands as the most for a tight end in Packers history.

Coffman’s success is even more impressive when you consider his relatively small size. He stood only 6’3″ and weighed just 222 pounds, yet excelled in one of the more size-specific positions on a football field. He was one of the top playmakers for Green Bay in the 1980s and his greatness should definitely be remembered.

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