The 2001 Green Bay Packers entered the season looking to re-establish themselves as NFC royalty under head coach Mike Sherman. Following consecutive seasons missing the postseason, expectations were still high in Titletown with Brett Favre leading the offense. The front office supplemented the roster by signing veteran defensive tackle Jim Flanigan. Sherman navigated the squad to an impressive 12-4 regular season record, securing a second-place finish in the NFC Central division. While they missed the division crown to the Chicago Bears, the Packers locked up a Wild Card berth, signaling a definitive return to January football at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay showcased a lethal offensive unit that ranked fifth in the league in scoring with 390 points (24.4 ppg) and sixth in total yards. Quarterback Brett Favre remained the catalyst, throwing for 3,921 yards and 32 touchdowns with a 94.1 passer rating. The engine of the ground game was dynamic running back Ahman Green, who racked up 1,387 rushing yards and nine touchdowns alongside 62 receptions. Favre spread the ball to wideouts Bill Schroeder, who posted 918 receiving yards and nine scores, and Antonio Freeman. Tight end Bubba Franks emerged as a premier red-zone threat, matching Schroeder with nine touchdown catches.

Defensively, the Packers were equally imposing, finishing fifth in the NFL by allowing just 266 points (16.6 ppg). The unit thrived on chaos, ranking first in the league with 19 forced fumbles and second with 39 total takeaways. Defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila put together an extraordinary breakout campaign, terrorizing quarterbacks to the tune of 13.5 sacks. In the secondary, ball-hawk safety Darren Sharper anchored the defense with six interceptions, while cornerback Tyrone Williams added four. Upfront, defensive end Vonnie Holliday provided relentless pressure to go along with Gbaja-Biamila's, adding seven sacks to a formidable pass rush.

The regular season was defined by crucial division battles and statement wins. Green Bay set the tone early by shutting out Washington 37-0 in Week 2 and handling the defending champion Baltimore Ravens 31-23 in Week 5. Important turning points arrived during a sweep of the rival Chicago Bears, highlighted by a gritty 20-12 victory at Soldier Field and a 17-7 defensive masterclass in Week 13. A stumble against the Titans was erased by a strong late-season surge, as the Packers closed out the schedule with three consecutive victories against Cleveland, Minnesota, and the New York Giants.

In the postseason, Green Bay dominated the San Francisco 49ers 25-15 in the Wild Card round. However, their Super Bowl aspirations came to a crashing halt against the St. Louis Rams in a 45-17 blowout where Favre threw a career-high six interceptions. Despite the bitter end, the 2001 squad holds significance as the team that brought playoff success back to Green Bay. Favre, Green, and Franks all earned Pro Bowl honors, with Favre and Green securing second-team All-Pro nods, cementing this roster as one of the era’s most dangerous contenders.