The Ten Best Appearances by Green Bay Packers Players in Films and on TV

The Green Bay Packers have been around for more than a century now and their influence extends beyond the football field. The team has become a part of pop culture over the years. Many Packers players and former players have appeared in films and on TV over the years. He is a look at the ten best appearances by Packers players in films and on TV:

The 10 Best Appearances by Packers Players in Films and on TV, Number 10: Numerous Players in “The 60-Yard Line”

“The 60-Yard Line” was an independent film released in 2017. It has the most Packers-oriented plot possible: Two best friends purchase a house next to Lambeau Field and have to balance their love for the Pack and their love interests. The film stars Ryan Churchill and Kimberly Crossman.

It featured cameos by multiple Packers and former Packers including Ahman Green, Mark Tauscher, Michael Montgomery, John Kuhn, and Gary Ellerson.

This film is fun for Packers fans with the team focused plot and the many cameos by former and current players.

Number Nine: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Aaron Rodgers in “Key and Peele”

In January of 2015, Key and Peele had a Super Bowl special to celebrate the big game. They featured numerous NFL stars in football related sketches. The Packers players featured were safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The 10 Best Appearances by Packers Players in Films and on TV, Number Eight: Paul Hornung in “Semi-Tough”

Hall of Fame halfback Paul Hornung did numerous Lite Beer commercials and some broadcasting for Notre Dame football and for CBS’ NFL broadcasts in the late 1970s.

Hornung’s broadcast career led him to get a cameo in the 1977 film, Semi-Tough, which starred Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson. The football themed film movie featured game action and Hornung had a cameo as himself broadcasting some games for the fictional Dallas team alongside broadcaster Lindsay Nelson.

Number Seven:  Reggie White in “Reggie’s Prayer”

Reggie White made this film in 1996 which co-starred Pat Morita of “Karate Kid” and “Happy Days” fame. White played Reggie Knox, a retired football player who became a 10^th grade history teacher and football coach.

Fellow Packers Brett Favre and Keith Jackson made appearances in the film as did head coach Mike Holmgren.

The film had religious themes and fit in well with the White’s off-field ministry.

The 10 Best Appearances by Packers Players in Films and on TV Number Six: Donald Driver on “Dancing with the Stars”

Back in 2012, Packers all-time receiving leader Donald Driver was entering his final season with the team. But during the offseason, he competed in season 14 of “Dancing with the Stars.”

Driver didn’t just compete, he and partner Peta Murgatroyd won the season, beating out Katherine Jenkins and Mark Ballas who finished second.

It was a successful stint for Driver who got to show his athleticism, talent, and showcase his personality to a national television audience.

Number Five: Aaron Rodgers Hosting “Jeopardy”

Aaron Rodgers first appeared on “Celebrity Jeopardy” as a contestant in 2015. He won $50,000 for charity after defeating Senator Mark Kelly and “Shark Tank” co-host Kevin O’Leary.

In 2021, Rodgers served as the guest host of “Jeopardy” for two weeks. He was being considered for the permanent host job but did not get the position.

Rodgers also made a cameo on “The Office” in 2013 and on “Game of Thrones” in 2019 while he was with the Packers.

The 10 Best Appearances by Packers Players in Films and on TV Number Four: Carlos Brown (Alan Autry) in “In the Heat of the Night”

Carlos Brown served as the Packers backup quarterback in 1975 and 1976 and started three games when Lynn Dickey got injured. But that was the extent of Brown’s NFL career.

He later changed his name to Alan Autry and enjoyed a long career as an actor. His most memorable role came as Captain Bubba Skinner in the TV show “In the Heat of the Night” which he starred in with Carroll O’Connor of “All in the Family” fame. “In the Heat of the Night” ran from 1988-1995.

Prior to that, Autry had guest appearances on “Cheers,” “Newhart,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” and “The A-Team” among other TV shows.

He also later served as the mayor of Fresno, California for two terms.

While Carlos Brown’s NFL career was brief, he went on to a successful acting career as Alan Autry.

Number Three: Ray Nitschke in “The Longest Yard” and “Head”

In addition to being a Hall of Fame middle linebacker for the Packers, Ray Nitschke also dabbled in acting. He appeared as Private One in the 1968 film, “Head” featuring the musical group, the Monkees and co-written by Jack Nicholson.

In 1974, Nitschke played prison guard Bogdanski in the original version of “The Longest Yard” starring Burt Reynolds. He had a football thrown at his groin in one painful scene that put his character out of action.

Nitschke never had a big acting career, but he seemed to truly enjoy the two films he appeared in and had memorable scenes in each.

The 10 Best Appearances by Packers Players in Films and on TV Number Two: Brett Favre in “There’s Something About Mary”

In 1998, Brett Favre was coming off back-to-back Super Bowl appearances and three straight NFL MVP awards. He made a cameo appearance in the hit Farrelly Brothers’ film, “There’s Something About Mary” starring Cameron Diaz and Ben Stiller.

Favre turned out to be Diaz’s ex-boyfriend, “Brett” who she refers to several times during the film.

Favre was clearly not an actor, but his cameo made for a good joke at the end of the film. The film itself remains one of the most popular comedies of all time.

Number One: Clay Matthews and Friends in “Pitch Perfect 2”

Five Packers players made a cameo in the 2015 film, “Pitch Perfect 2,” starring Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson. It was a sequel to the 2012 hit “Pitch Perfect.”

The Packers featured were Clay Matthews, David Bakhtiari, Don Barclay, Josh Sitton, and T.J. Lang. They sing a version of “Bootylicious” during the “riff-off,” but Matthews blanks out when presented with a second category.

The players clearly had fun making the film and representing the team. The film outdrew the original and was, at the time, the highest grossing musical comedy of all-time.