View source for Don Majkowski

{{Short description|American football player (born 1964)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Don Majkowski
| image       = Don Majkowski BrettFavre-Edit.JPG
| caption     = Majkowski (right) greeting [[Brett Favre]] in [[2007 Green Bay Packers season|2007]]
| number      = 1, 5, 7
| position    = [[Quarterback]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1964|2|25}}
| birth_place = [[Buffalo, New York]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 2
| weight_lb   = 208
| high_school = [[Depew High School|Depew (NY)]]
| college     = [[Virginia Cavaliers football|Virginia]]
| draftyear   = 1987
| draftround  = 10
| draftpick   = 255
| pastteams   =
* [[Green Bay Packers]] ({{NFL Year|1987|1992}})
* [[Indianapolis Colts]] ({{NFL Year|1993|1994}})
* [[Detroit Lions]] ({{NFL Year|1995|1996}})
| highlights  =
* Second-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1989 All-Pro Team|1989]])
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1990 Pro Bowl|1989]])
* [[List of NFL season passing yards leaders|NFL passing yards leader]] (1989)
* [[Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame]]
| statlabel1  = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue1  = 66–67
| statlabel2  = Passing yards
| statvalue2  = 12,700
| statlabel3  = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue3  = 72.9
| pfr         = M/MajkDo00 
}}

'''Donald "Majik" Vincent Majkowski''' (born February 25, 1964) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[quarterback]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[Green Bay Packers]], [[Indianapolis Colts]], and [[Detroit Lions]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[Virginia Cavaliers football|Virginia Cavaliers]].

==College career==
Following graduation from the [[Fork Union Military Academy]] in central [[Virginia]], Majkowski played college football at the [[Virginia Cavaliers football|University of Virginia]] in nearby [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]]. He became the starting quarterback for the Cavaliers partway into the 1983 season, his first year there. The next year, Majkowski led the Cavaliers to the school's first ever bowl appearance and bowl win, in the [[1984 Peach Bowl|Peach Bowl]]. During his college career, Majkowski wore jersey number one.

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 1 1/2
|       weight = 199
|         dash = 4.83
|    ten split = 1.62
| twenty split = 2.80
|      shuttle = 4.13
|   cone drill =
|     vertical = 34.0
|     broad ft =
|     broad in =
|        bench =
|     arm span = 32 1/4
|    hand span = 9
|    wonderlic = 21<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://footballiqscore.com/wonderlic-score-database/don-majkowski |title=Don Majkowski's Wonderlic Test Score |website=footballiqscore.com |access-date=July 10, 2022}}</ref>
|         note = All values from [[NFL Combine]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=26370 |title=Don Majkowski, Combine Results, QB - Virginia |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=July 10, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===Green Bay Packers===
Majkowski was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the tenth round of the [[1987 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1987 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1987/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He was originally issued jersey #5, but switched to #7 the following season in anticipation that #5 would be retired for [[Paul Hornung]].  The jersey was never officially retired.  As a rookie in [[1987 Green Bay Packers season|1987]], he split time with [[Randy Wright]], with whom he also shared quarterback duties in [[1988 Green Bay Packers season|1988]]. During the 1987 season Majkowski's salary was $65,000; he also received a $10,000 roster bonus.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_-gtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vSoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5269%2C7641701 Packers are 27th in salary survey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117034838/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_-gtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vSoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5269%2C7641701 |date=November 17, 2015 }}''The Milwaukee Journal'', accessed March 24, 2012</ref>

Nicknamed "The Majik Man", Majkowski broke out during the [[1989 Green Bay Packers season|1989]] season. He was given the starting job and Randy Wright was released. Majkowski had one of the finest seasons in Packers history, with 353 completed passes in 599 attempts. He also threw for 27 touchdowns, and his 4,318 passing yards led the NFL.  Notably, the Packers won their first game against the hated rival [[1989 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] since [[1984 Green Bay Packers season|1984]]. The key was a touchdown play, first nullified by an illegal forward pass by Majkowski, then upheld by [[instant replay]] as a legal pass. The season ended with 10 wins and 6 losses; Majkowski capped the season with being selected to the [[1990 Pro Bowl|Pro Bowl]].

Majkowski signed a new one-year contract for over $1.5 million in September [[1990 Green Bay Packers season|1990]],<ref name=mmnewcn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tLcSAAAAIBAJ&pg=7006%2C424646|newspaper=Spokane Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |last=Goldberg |first=Dave |title=Packers Majik Man ends holdout |date=September 5, 1990 |page=D2 }}</ref><ref name=endhobrn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lfhTAAAAIBAJ&pg=1744%2C1886482 |newspaper=Boca Raton News |location=Florida|agency=Associated Press |title=Majkowski ends holdout with 1-year contract |date=September 5, 1990 |page=1D}}</ref><ref name=bryoh>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QoxPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3734%2C6796539 |newspaper=Bryan Times|location=Ohio|agency=UPI |title=Majkowski signs pact|date=September 5, 1990|page=12}}</ref> but his success was cut short in the tenth game of the season. He was injured when he was upended and tackled on his shoulder by [[Freddie Joe Nunn]] of the [[History of the Arizona Cardinals|Phoenix Cardinals]], who drew a personal foul on the play. At first thought to be a bruise, Majkowski's injury turned out to be more serious, a torn [[rotator cuff]]. The Packers finished the season with backups [[Anthony Dilweg]] and [[Blair Kiel]]. During the [[1991 Green Bay Packers season|1991]] season, Majkowski was benched by head coach [[Lindy Infante]] and replaced by [[Mike Tomczak]] as starter, but resumed starting duties at the beginning of [[1992 Green Bay Packers season|1992]]. On a play on September 20 against the [[1992 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]], Majkowski tore a ligament in his ankle in the first quarter. He was replaced by 22-year-old [[Brett Favre]], who completed the game, a one-point victory,<ref name=pbngfv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mgsSAAAAIBAJ&pg=2723%2C86360 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Packers 24, Bengals 23 |date=September 21, 1992 |page=C2}}</ref> and went on to start every Packers game through [[2007 Green Bay Packers season|2007]]. In 2005, Majkowski was inducted into the [[Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.packers.com/history/hof/don-majkowski | title = Don Majkowski | last = Christl | first = Cliff | author-link = Cliff Christl | website = Packers.com | access-date = September 20, 2023 | archive-date = May 24, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230524002414/https://www.packers.com/history/hof/don-majkowski | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Indianapolis Colts===
After the Packers elected to keep [[Brett Favre]] as their starting quarterback and bench Majkowski, he decided to leave Green Bay after the 1992 season and signed with the [[1993 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] as a backup for [[1994 Indianapolis Colts season|two seasons]].

===Detroit Lions===
Majkowski finished his football career with the [[Detroit Lions]] in [[1995 Detroit Lions season|1995]] and [[1996 Detroit Lions season|1996]] as a backup to starter [[Scott Mitchell (quarterback)|Scott Mitchell]]. In his final season in 1996, Majkowski faced Favre and the [[1996 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] on November 3, completing 15 of 32 passes for 153 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions in a 28–18 loss. He was also [[Sack (football)|sacked]] five times. Majkowski's final career start was two weeks later against the [[1996 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] at the [[Pontiac Silverdome]]. He went 18 for 23  (78% completion percentage) for 157 yards, one TD and one interception for a passer rating of 91.5.  The Lions won the game, 17–16, and improved their record to 5–6.<ref name=shsnstr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8PNYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5994%2C6003015 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |last=Farnsworth |first=Clare |agency=(Seattle Post-Intelligencer)|title=Seahawks snap streak |date=November 18, 1996 |page=C1}}</ref> However, this was the Lions' last win of the season; Mitchell started the remaining five games, which the Lions lost to finish 5–11.

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="9"| Passing
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="2"| Sacks
|-
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|GS|Games started}} !! {{abbr|Record|Record as a starter}} !! {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} !! {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} !! {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} !! {{abbr|Y/A|Yards per passing attempt}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest pass completion}} !! {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} !! {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}} !! {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Yards per rushing attempt}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest rushing attempt}} !! {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Sck|Times sacked}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Yards lost due to sacks}}
|-
! [[1987 NFL season|1987]] !! [[1987 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 7 || 5 || 2-2-1 || 55 || 127 || 43.3 || 875 || 6.9 || 70 || 5 || 3 || 70.2 || 15 || 127 || '''8.5''' || '''33''' || 0 || 10 || 77
|-
! [[1988 NFL season|1988]] !! [[1988 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 13 || 9 || 3-6 || 178 || 336 || 53.0 || 2,119 || 6.3 || 56 || 9 || 11 || 67.8 || 47 || 225 || 4.8 || 24 || 1 || 31 || 176
|-
! [[1989 NFL season|1989]] !! [[1989 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| '''16''' || '''16''' || '''10-6''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''353''' || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''599''' || 58.9 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| '''4,318''' || 7.2 || '''79''' || '''27''' || '''20''' || 82.3 || '''75''' || '''358''' || 4.8 || 20 || '''5''' || '''47''' || '''268'''
|-
! [[1990 NFL season|1990]] !! [[1990 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 9 || 8 || 4-4 || 150 || 264 || 56.8 || 1,925 || 7.3 || 76 || 10 || 12 || 73.5 || 29 || 186 || 6.4 || 24 || 1 || 32 || 178
|-
! [[1991 NFL season|1991]] !! [[1991 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 9 || 8 || 2-6 || 115 || 226 || 50.9 || 1,362 || 6.0 || 39 || 3 || 8 || 59.3 || 25 || 108 || 4.3 || 15 || 2 || 30 || 152
|-
! [[1992 NFL season|1992]] !! [[1992 Green Bay Packers season|GB]]
| 14 || 3 || 1-2 || 38 || 55 || 69.1 || 271 || 4.9 || 32 || 2 || 2 || 77.2 || 8 || 33 || 4.1 || 8 || 0 || 9 || 60
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] !! [[1993 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 3 || 0 || 0-0 || 13 || 24 || 54.2 || 105 || 4.4 || 17 || 0 || 1 || 48.1 || 2 || 4 || 2.0 || 4 || 0 || 1 || 5
|-
! [[1994 NFL season|1994]] !! [[1994 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 9 || 6 || 3-3 || 84 || 152 || 55.3 || 1,010 || 6.6 || 29 || 6 || 7 || 69.8 || 24 || 34 || 1.4 || 10 || 3 || 9 || 76
|-
! [[1995 NFL season|1995]] !! [[1995 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 5 || 0 || 0-0 || 15 || 20 || '''75.0''' || 161 || '''8.1''' || 22 || 1 || 0 || '''114.8''' || 9 || 1 || 0.1 || 4 || 0 || 1 || 5
|-
! [[1996 NFL season|1996]] !! [[1996 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 5 || 2 || 1-1 || 55 || 102 || 53.9 || 554 || 5.4 || 27 || 3 || 3 || 67.2 || 14 || 38 || 2.7 || 12 || 0 || 10 || 61
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 90 !! 57 !! 26-30-1 !! 1,056 !! 1,905 !! 55.4 !! 12,700 !! 6.7 !! 79 !! 66 !! 67 !! 72.9 !! 248 !! 1,114 !! 4.5 !! 33 !! 12 !! 180 !! 1,058
|}

===Playoffs===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="9"| Passing
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="2"| Sacks
|-
! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! {{abbr|GS|Games started}} !! {{abbr|Record|Record as a starter}} !! {{abbr|Cmp|Passes completed}} !! {{abbr|Att|Passes attempted}} !! {{abbr|Pct|Completion percentage}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Passing yards}} !! {{abbr|Y/A|Yards per passing attempt}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest pass completion}} !! {{abbr|TD|Passing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Int|Interceptions}} !! {{abbr|Rtg|Passer rating}} !! {{abbr|Att|Rushing attempts}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Rushing yards}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Yards per rushing attempt}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest rushing attempt}} !! {{abbr|TD|Rushing touchdowns}} !! {{abbr|Sck|Times sacked}} !! {{abbr|Yds|Yards lost due to sacks}}
|-
! [[1995 NFL season|1995]] !! [[1995 Detroit Lions season|DET]]
| 1 || 0 || 0-0 || 14 || 23 || 60.9 || 206 || 9.0 || 68 || 3 || 2 || 93.5 || 3 || 16 || 5.3 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 1 !! 0 !! 0-0 !! 14 !! 23 !! 60.9 !! 206 !! 9.0 !! 68 !! 3 !! 2 !! 93.5 !! 3 !! 16 !! 5.3 !! 8 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0
|}

==Personal life==
Majkowski lived in [[Johns Creek, Georgia]] with his family. He previously ran a real estate investment company, but sold it due to being unable to keep up with its demands because of a string of serious health issues related to his playing career.<ref>[https://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/at-49-majkowski-has-already-lived-a-nightmare-032813 "At 49, Majkowski Has Already Lived 'a Nightmare'"] ''[[Fox Sports]]'' (March 28, 2013) Retrieved July 28, 2021</ref> His son Bo played [[baseball]] at [[Clemson University]].<ref>[https://clemsontigers.com/sports/baseball/roster/bo-majkowski/ Bo Majkowski] ''[[Clemson Tigers baseball|Clemson Tigers]]'' Retrieved July 28, 2021</ref>

In 2020, Majkowski and [[Aveion Cason]] filed a lawsuit against the NFL and the [[NFLPA]] over cuts made to their disability payments.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/12/sports/football/nfl-union-disability-payments.html "Two Ex-Players Sue N.F.L. and Union Over Cuts in Disability Payments"] ''[[New York Times]]'' (July 12, 2020) Retrieved July 28, 2021 ([[Paywall]])</ref> It was dismissed in 2021 by U.S. District Court Judge [[Trevor N. McFadden]].<ref>[https://www.sportico.com/law/analysis/2021/don-majkowski-lawsuit-1234629455/ "Retired NFLers’ Suit Dismissed as CBA Revote Ruled Out"] ''[[Penske Media Corporation|Sportico]]'' (May 11, 2021) Retrieved July 28, 2021 ([[Paywall]])</ref>

In 2025, Majkowski was involved in an altercation in an [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]] bar, in which he grabbed the throat of an employee of the bar. He was cited for disorderly conduct and fined $213.<ref>https://www.wbay.com/2025/09/11/fine-apparently-paid-former-packers-qb-don-majkowskis-disorderly-conduct-citation/</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline|Don Majkowski}}

{{Virginia Cavaliers quarterback navbox}}
{{Green Bay Packers 1987 NFL draft picks}}
{{Green Bay Packers starting quarterbacks}}
{{Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Detroit Lions starting quarterback navbox}}
{{NFL passing yardage leaders}}
{{Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Majkowski, Don}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Detroit Lions players]]
[[Category:Fork Union Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Colts players]]
[[Category:Virginia Cavaliers football players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Buffalo, New York]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Johns Creek, Georgia]]
[[Category:Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame]]