Paul Hornung
Football · Hometown: Louisville, KY
- High school
- Flaget High School
- College
- University of Notre Dame
- Pro team(s)
- Green Bay Packers
- Hall of Fame
- ⭐ Pro Football Hall of Fame
Paul Vernon Hornung was born on December 23, 1935, in Louisville, Kentucky, and attended Flaget High School — a Catholic school on the west side of Louisville — before going on to the University of Notre Dame, where as a single-wing quarterback on a struggling team he won the 1956 Heisman Trophy, making him the only player in history to win the award on a team with a losing record. Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi converted him to halfback and Hornung became the offensive centerpiece of the greatest dynasty in NFL history, winning four NFL championships (1961, 1962, 1965, 1966 Super Bowl) with the Packers. In the 1960 season he scored 176 points — an NFL record that stood for 46 years — on 15 touchdowns, 15 field goals, and 41 extra points. He was named the NFL Player of the Year in 1960 and 1961. His career was interrupted by a 1963 suspension for gambling on NFL games — a painful episode he acknowledged and from which his reputation eventually recovered. He was dubbed "The Golden Boy" for his good looks, versatility, and winning magnetism. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986. Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky.