GREEN BAY, Washington – Former Packers general manager Ted Thompson, who signed for Aaron Rodgers, replaced Brett Favre and built the team that won Super Bowl XLV, has died, according to coach Matt LaFleur. He was 68 years old.
Thompson, who played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers (1975 to 1984), served as the Packers general manager from 2005 to 2017. The Packers transferred him to a consulting role for the 2018 season. partly due to his declining health.
In May 2019, after being inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame, Thompson announced that he was suffering from autonomic disorder, a condition that causes weakness and cognitive problems. Packers president Mark Murphy did not cite Thompson’s health as the reason for the decision to remove him as general manager immediately after the 2017 season.
Thompson said at the time of the announcement that his doctors did not believe his condition “fit the profile of someone suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.”
“Our condolences are presented to his family,” LaFleur said Thursday. “He’s definitely a man who has the utmost consideration in this building and I think around the league. He’s had a huge impact, not just on the people in this building and obviously on Gutey. [current Packers GM Brian Gutekunst] and many people from our staff, but also from other departments. Its impact is still noticeable so far when you look at our list, but I think it has had a big impact among a lot of people across the league when you look at the rest of the GMs who have learned under it.
“So I’m sure we’re sitting here with a heavy heart. I’ve only had a few opportunities to get to know him over the last two years, but I just know how important he was to a lot of people in this building.”
Thompson’s first selection as general manager of the Packers was Rodgers, who fell to Green Bay at number 24 in the overall standings.
Prior to the 2020 draft, Gutekunst, who was an explorer under Thompson, called the decision brave, as the Packers kept Favre at a high level.
“Having the courage to do it at the time and what made that decision for the organization for how many years later, that stayed with me,” Gutekunst said. “It could have been very easy to do something different. He thought it was the right thing to do and he did it. That’s always stuck with me.”
Weeks later, Gutekunst would select quarterback Jordan Love in the first round.
Thompson oversaw Rodgers’ transition to Favre, negotiating Favre with the New York Jets in August 2008. Although Thompson caught the wrath of some fans of a project and development project (largely ignoring the big money free agents), he and coach Mike McCarthy, whom Thompson hired in 2006, formed a team that won four NFC title games (2007, 2010, 2014, 2016) and made eight consecutive appearances (2009 to 2016).
One of Thompson’s first tasks as a Packers scout in 1992 was to watch the film in Favre and make an assessment of then-GM Ron Wolf, who was thinking of negotiating with the quarterback.
“[Wolf] he left me in a dark room, and I saw a part of it, and he came back and said, “Well, what do you think?” Thompson told ESPN in 2016. “And I said,‘ What do you think? ‘And he says,’ I like it. I think I’ll change his number 1 for him. ‘ I said, “I think you should.”
“He didn’t need help, but I’ve said it before: Brett, that limited time he played in Atlanta, wasn’t all that nice. But he was nice when he got to the Green Bay Packers.”
Thompson worked for the Packers as an explorer until 1999, when he joined Mike Holmgren with the Seattle Seahawks. In 2005, then-Packers president Bob Harlan lured him back to Green Bay making him general manager for the first time.
“I saw him come in and join us when he was very green, working for Ron Wolf, who is a demanding boss, and he was so good that Ron promoted him twice,” Harlan said of Thompson’s addition to the salon. the fame of the Packers. “The first man Mike Holmgren wanted to take to Seattle with him was Ted Thompson. Ted went to Seattle, built a Super Bowl team, and I just thought that when it was time to look for someone, it was what I I wanted to. “
Thompson, soft-spoken, often escaped the spotlight but occasionally let his ridiculous sense of humor shine through. He depreciated his career as a player, which consisted largely of special teams, and was highly respected by his players.
“He’s not a man with a lot of words, but he always has a positive attitude,” former Packers keeper TJ Lang told ESPN in ESPN in 2017. “He always has a smile on his face. that at any moment the guy at the top, the leader of your team, feels that way with your team, he definitely rubs the guys. ”
Thompson’s draft picks still on the list include Rodgers, kicker Mason Crosby, offensive tackle David Bakhtiari, center Corey Linsley, wide receiver Davante Adams, back Aaron Jones and defensive tackle Kenny Clark .