At −15°F, the 1967 NFL Championship became the coldest game in NFL history — where a referee's whistle froze to his bleeding lips.
The 1967 NFL Championship Game was played on December 31 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with a kickoff temperature of −15°F (−26°C) and wind chills plunging to around −48°F. It remains the coldest game ever played in NFL history.
When referee Norm Schachter blew his metal whistle to start the game, it froze to his lips. As he ripped it free, the skin tore off and his lips bled — but the blood simply froze rather than forming a scab. Officials used voice commands for the rest of the game.
Lambeau Field's $80,000 turf-heating system, made by General Electric, malfunctioned before kickoff. When the tarpaulin was removed, moisture left on the field froze into a treacherous icy surface, earning the system the nickname 'Lombardi's Folly.'
The Wisconsin State University–La Crosse marching band attempted to perform but woodwind instruments froze solid, brass mouthpieces stuck to players' lips, and seven band members were hospitalized for hypothermia. All further performances were canceled. An elderly spectator in the stands died from exposure during the game.
The game was a rematch of two legendary coaches who had once shared a staff on the New York Giants — Vince Lombardi as offensive coordinator and Tom Landry as defensive coordinator. Their contrasting personalities made the rivalry electric: Lombardi was fiery and emotional, while Landry was famously stoic.
The Packers jumped to a 14–0 lead on two Bart Starr touchdown passes to Boyd Dowler. But Dallas clawed back to 14–10 by halftime, scoring off two Green Bay fumbles, including George Andrie's fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.
Dallas took a 17–14 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter when running back Dan Reeves threw a 50-yard halfback option pass to Lance Rentzel — a trick play run to the left side to disguise the right-handed Reeves' throw.
With just 4:50 left and trailing 17–14, Bart Starr led the Packers on a legendary final drive from their own 32-yard line. Green Bay scored the game-winning touchdown with only 13 seconds remaining to win 21–17 and capture their third consecutive NFL championship.
CBS commentator Frank Gifford memorably said during the broadcast, 'I'm going to take a bite of my coffee,' because even his drink had frozen solid in his mug. Over 30 million viewers tuned in, yet no complete copy of the telecast is known to exist.
The Packers were chasing something never done in the modern era — three consecutive world championships. Their victory sent them to Super Bowl II against the AFL champion, capping Vince Lombardi's legendary tenure in Green Bay.