The first game in the 2023 Green Bay Packers schedule is a September 10th matchup at the Chicago Bears. This means we have 82 days until the kickoff of the 2023 Packers season. As our official countdown here on Let’s Go Wisconsin, we will go over the best players ever to wear the jersey number for the Packers equal to the number of days remaining. Follow along to keep track of how many days until the Packers’ season begins, and share who YOU think the best player to ever wear the Packers’ number is!
With 82 days until the 2023 Green Bay Packers season, we give you the best players to wear Packers number 82. The official ranking of these players is based on the Approximate Value (AV) from Pro Football Reference. The AV is based on performance and accolades during the time they wore this number in Green Bay.
Without further ado, here are the all-time best players to wear Green Bay Packers number 82.
Best Players to Wear Green Bay Packers Number 82
1) Lionel Aldridge, DE (1964-71)
NFL Draft: 1963, Round 4, Pick 54 to the Green Bay Packers
After being drafted by the Packers in the fourth round of the 1963 draft, Lionel Aldridge became one of the few rookies to start under Vince Lombardi. Aldridge was a fantastic player for the Packers, playing a big part in three NFL Championships and two Super Bowls.
Aldridge wore number 62 in his rookie season, but he had the Green Bay Packers’ number 82 for his remaining eight seasons in Green Bay. With this number, he totaled 57 sacks, recovered 15 fumbles and scored one touchdown.
After being traded to the San Diego Chargers, Aldridge played two more NFL seasons before becoming a sports analyst in Milwaukee. He also become a great advocated for mental health, due to the circumstances he went through.
2) Paul Coffman, TE (1978-85)
NFL Draft: Undrafted in 1978
After going undrafted in 1978, Paul Coffman found a home in Green Bay. He ended up playing eight years with the Packers, putting together a very solid career. Coffman was voted to the Pro Bowl three times as a Packer. He totaled 322 receptions, 4,224 yards and 39 touchdowns in his eight years in Green Bay.
3) Richard Rodgers, TE (2015-17)
NFL Draft: 2014, Round 3, Pick 98 to the Green Bay Packers
Richard Rodgers is tied with Don Beebe for the third-best player to wear the Packers’ number 82 jersey, but we will pick Rodgers to talk about.
For the most part, Richard Rodgers was a mediocre tight end that found production in the NFL thanks to Aaron Rodgers being very good at football. However, he does still have stats to be proud of. In four Packer seasons, Rodgers totaled 120 receptions for 1,166 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Richard Rodgers’ most notable reception on the Packers was the hail mary touchdown in Detroit, nicknamed “The Miracle in Motown.”
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Who Wears Packers’ Number 82 in 2023?
Currently, Jeff Cotton wears the Green Bay Packers’ number 82 jersey. While you may not have heard of Cotton, he is the “old man” in the wide receiver room, at 26 years old. He was undrafted out of Idaho in 2020. Since then, Cotton has spent time on a number of practice squads, and now he will try to make this season’s Packers roster.
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