We continue the series on Packer Receivers of History with Packer Tight Ends. To read the articles you missed, go to the Packer Receivers of History category page.

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Marv Fleming followed right on the tails of Ron Kramer as the next great Packers Tight End. Like many others in that era, Marv was drafted by teams in both the NFL and AFL. He was drafted in the 9th round of the AFL draft by the Denver Broncos. He turned the Broncos down when he was drafted in the 11th round of the NFL draft by the powerhouse of pro football, the Green Bay Packers.Fleming spent seven seasons with the Packers and played under Vince Lombardi. He played in 95 games and caught 109 passes for 1300 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. Marv was a prototypical Tight End. He was 6’4″, weighed 232 pounds and was insanely versatile. He was always a threat to snag a pass from way up in the air, but, in Lombardi’s offense he played a much more important role.

The Packer power sweep never missed a beat in the transition from Ron Kramer to Marv Fleming. Everyone in the league knew it was coming and no one in the league could stop it.

Fleming arrived at Green Bay just as the Packers had made the transition from force to be reckoned with to absolutely unstoppable. After his rookie season and sophomore season in 1963 and 64, and under Vince Lombardi’s tutelage, Fleming and the Packers dominated the gridiron as the team methodically marched their way to the organization’s second three peat of their history.

As with most players, Fleming didn’t play his entire career with the team that drafted him. But, fortune was on his side. After earning three world championships with the Packers, including Super Bowl rings in the first two Super Bowls, Fleming joined the Dolphins and finished his career adding another two Super Bowl rings and playing on the undefeated 1972 Dolphins team.

After playing for two great coaches in Vince Lombardi and Don Shula, Fleming had this to say in comparison of the two coaches. “Shula was a great football coach but Lombardi was a coach of life.”

In fact, Marv would credit Lombardi for making him into the player he was. Vince told Marv, “I’m going to make you into a star…”

And he did.