The Ice Bowl: As Told by Hall of Famer Dave Robinson

Winter is undoubtedly known for frosty temperatures and, of course, football. Cold-weather games are some of the most memorable in NFL history, challenging players and fans while showcasing the toughness and resilience of the League’s best.

 

One of the most notable cold weather games played in football history was the “Ice Bowl,” which took place at Lambeau Field in Green Bay on December 31, 1967. The Green Bay Packers, led by Vince Lombardi, faced the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Championship. As the name indicates, the temperature at kickoff was a chilly -13°F, with a wind chill plunging it to a staggering -48°F on the day.

 

Hall of Famer and PFRPA Board Vice-Chair Dave Robinson recently vividly recounted his experience of the historic game.

 

“I remember everything.” Robinson said. “The pre-game, the game and the post-game. It’s a permanent memory, I won’t lose it! The day before, it was pretty warm; it was 10 degrees. I went to bed that night and the cold front moved in.”

 

On the morning of the game, Robinson tried to start his car. As a result of the cold temperatures overnight, he was unsuccessful. Instead, he asked a passerby to drive him to Lambeau Field in exchange for two tickets to the game.

 

When asked how the team stayed warm during the game in the freezing temperatures, he simply replied, “you don’t.”

 

“You had little crystals of ice in your eyes, it was bitterly cold. It was so cold that all the reeds in the band’s wind instruments froze, so they couldn’t perform. There was no halftime show.”

 

It wasn’t only the band that struggled as the temperatures plummeted; the referees’ whistles froze and wouldn’t work. Instead, they were forced to clap and shout throughout the game to alert the players on the field when the start and end of each play occurred. Furthermore, with the field exposed to the extreme elements, it added to the physical challenges of moving and tackling on the hard ice.

 

“When the game started, the field was wet and muddy. At halftime, we came back and the field had started to freeze. By the time the game was over, it was frozen in about half an inch of ice.”

 

The game is remembered, not just for the bitter conditions, but for its dramatic finish. With 16 seconds remaining, quarterback Bart Starr famously rushed for a short-yardage touchdown to win the game 21-17 and secure the Packers a spot in Super Bowl II.

 

“We had to win the game to go to Super Bowl II,” Robinson recalled. “We won the game on the last play. It was a game for the ages! It was a big thrill and a good game, I loved it.”

 

Despite the frigid climate, more than 50,000 spectators packed into Lambeau Field to witness the Packers’ victory over the Cowboys. The Ice Bowl remains a timeless symbol of resilience and determination, cementing its place in NFL history. It is a testament to the spirit of the players and fans in the harshest of conditions.

 

The Packers went on to win Super Bowl II two weeks later against the American Football League (AFL) champion, the Oakland Raiders.

 

 

Aside from the Ice Bowl, other renowned football games played in the polar-like elements include:

 

Super Bowl VI, played on January 16, 1972, between the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins, was impacted by an unexpected cold front. The temperature dropped to 39°F, still the coldest recorded temperature for any Super Bowl.

 

The Freezer Bowl, played on January 10, 1982, between the San Diego Chargers and Cincinnati Bengals, holds the distinction of being the coldest game in NFL history. The temperature at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati reached -9°F, with a wind chill of -59°F. Despite the brutal cold, the Bengals secured a 27-7 victory and a spot in Super Bowl XVI.

 

On December 7, 2008, another memorable cold-weather game unfolded at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. The Tundra Bowl between the Packers and the Seattle Seahawks saw temperatures drop to -1°F, with a wind chill of -24°F. The game ended in a dramatic 38-28 win for the Packers.

 

The Polar Bowl was held on January 10, 2016, in Minneapolis during a playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Minnesota Vikings. The temperature hovered around -6°F with a wind chill of -25°F, with the Seahawks securing a dramatic 10-9 victory.