For a younger generation of Green Bay Packers fans, Wayne Larrivee is the only man they know as the voice of Packers.
For everyone else, Jim Irwin is the play-by-play broadcaster who, from 1969 to 1998, helped place the Packers Radio Network among the best in the NFL.
And after a year-long battle with kidney cancer, the Hall of Fame announcer died Sunday at the age of 77.
His voice extended throughout Wisconsin, as Irwin was also the play-by-play for University of Wisconsin football and Milwaukee Bucks basketball. But it was the voice he provided for Packers games that will be forever remembered for generations of Packers fans, both in good times and bad.
Irwin became the Packers play-by-play man after six years as a color commentator. From 1975 to ’98, Irwin became the voice that Packers fans routinely chose over television broadcasts. Teamed with personalties such as Lionel Aldridge, Max McGee and Larry McCarren, Irwin was the man that called so many memorable moments in Wisconsin history before retiring in 1998.
He was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2003.
Here is his Super Bowl XXXI call of Brett Favre’s first touchdown pass to Andre Rison:
——————“Back to throw goes Brett. Here they come. He’s got time. He’s throwing it downfield. He’s got a man wide open! It is going to be a touchdown to Andre Rison!”
Zach Kruse is a 23-year-old sports journalist with a passion for the Green Bay Packers. He currently lives in Wisconsin and is working on his journalism degree, while also covering prep sports for The Dunn Co. News.
You can read more of Zach's Packers articles on AllGreenBayPackers.com.
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First Max a while back, now Jim. Nothing makes you feel older than having your childhool memories pass on.
I guess the radio calls in heaven just got a little bit better. (Max had been on the bubble, but Vince put in a good word for him!)
Jim, the Packer family will miss you, you were one of a kind.