GREEN BAY, Russia. – Former Packers general manager Ted Thompson – who recruited 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 (1975-1984), served as Packers general manager from 2005 to 2017. The Packers moved him to a consulting role for the 2018 season, in part because of his health. decreasing.
In May 2019, after being inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame, Thompson announced that he was suffering from an autonomic disorder, a condition that causes weakness and cognitive problems. Packers President Mark Murphy did not mention Thompson’s health as a reason for his decision to remove him from the position of general manager immediately after the 2017 season.
Thompson said at the time of the announcement that his doctors did not believe that his condition “fits the profile of someone suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.”
“Our condolences are being passed on to his family,” LaFleur said Thursday. “He is definitely a guy who is considered the highest regard in this building and I think around the league. It had an extraordinary impact, not only on the people in this building and, obviously, on Gutey [current Packers GM Brian Gutekunst] and a lot of people from our staff, but also people from other departments. Its impact is felt so far when you look at our list, but I think it has had a tremendous impact on a lot of people in the entire league when you look at the other GMs who have learned under it.
“So we certainly live here with heavy hearts today. We’ve only had a few opportunities to meet him in the last two years, but I know how important he was to many people in this building.”
The first draft chosen by Thompson as Packers general manager was Rodgers, who fell to Green Bay in 24th place overall.
Prior to the 2020 draft, Gutekunst, who served as a scout under Thompson, called that a bold decision, given that the Packers still had Favre at a high level.
“To have the courage at that time to do that and what that decision made for the organization how many years later, that’s all I have left,” Gutekunst said. “It could have been very easy to do something different. He thought that’s what he had to do and he did it. That’s always stuck with me.”
Weeks later, Gutekunst will select defender Jordan Love in the first round.
Thompson oversaw the transition from Rodgers to Favre, trading Favre to the New York Jets in August 2008. Although Thompson drew the anger of some fans for a design and development plan – largely ignoring big money agencies – he and coach Mike McCarthy, which Thompson hired in 2006, formed a team that reached four NFC title games (2007, 2010, 2014, 2016) and made eight playoff games (2009-2016).
One of Thompson’s first assignments as a Packers researcher in 1992 was to watch the Favre film and give an assessment to then-GM GM Ron Wolf, who was considering trading for the defender.
“[Wolf] He left me in a dark room and I watched a part of him, and he turns and says, “Well, what do you think?” “Thompson told ESPN in 2016.” And I said, “What do you think? ‘And he says,’ I like him. I think I’ll change a No. 1 for him. ‘ I said, “I think you should do this.”
“He didn’t need help, but I said it before: Brett, the limited time he had to play in Atlanta, wasn’t all that nice. But it was nice when he got to the Green Bay Packers.”
Thompson worked for the Packers as a scout until 1999, when he joined Mike Holmgren with the Seattle Seahawks. In 2005, the then Packers president, Bob Harlan, brought him back to Green Bay, making him general manager for the first time.
“I watched 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 as Thompson entered the gym. 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 only thought when it came time to take someone, he was the one I wanted. “
Thompson, with gentle talk, often avoided the spotlight, but from time to time let his irascible sense of humor shine through. He depreciated his playing career, which consisted largely of special teams and was widely respected by his players.
“He’s not a man of many words, but he always has a positive attitude,” he told former Packers guard TJ Lang for ESPN in 2017. “He always has a smile on his face. You can certainly tell that anytime the top guy, the leader of your team , it feels like this about your team, it definitely rubs the guys. “
Thompson’s draft picks still on the list include Rodgers, kicker Mason Crosby, offensive striker David Bakhtiari, center Corey Linsley, wide receiver Davante Adams, defender Aaron Jones and defensive forward Kenny Clark.