Ted Thompson, former Green Bay Packers Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, died Wednesday night following an illness, at the age of 68.
Mark Murphy, President and CEO of Packers, said, “Ted lived a life of true Christian humility in a world where it’s more common to proclaim one’s own greatness.”
“Those who knew him well admired his brilliance as a scout and his extraordinary ability to find players of good character,” he added. “He was slyly funny and a loyal and true friend. We will all miss him very much and we send our deepest sympathy to his family who loved and supported him throughout his life.”
Thompson spent 13 seasons as the leader of the Packers’ football operations, building it into one of the NFL’s strongest teams.
While he was managing the team, Packers made nine playoff appearances, including a run of eight in a row (2009-16) that set a franchise record, according to the team.
In 2007 and 2011, Thompson was named NFL Executive of the Year by Sporting News in a vote of his peers.
According to the Packers’ website, of the 53 players on Green Bay’s Super Bowl XLV championship roster, 49 were acquired by Thompson.
Following his tenure as General Manager, Thompson remained involved with the team as a senior advisor to football operations.
“To honor Thompson’s contributions to the organization’s success and recognize his legacy, the team will install his name on the Lambeau Field façade before next season,” according to the team’s website.
Born on January 17, 1953, Thompson was a native of Atlanta, Texas. He was a three-year starter at Southern Methodist University. He then enjoyed playing as a linebacker with the Houston Oilers (1975-84).
He previously served an eight-year tenure with Packers’ personnel department (1992-99) and five seasons in Seattle (2000-04) as the Seahawks’ vice president of football operations before re-joining the Packers in 2005. In May 2019, Thompson announced that he was diagnosed with an autonomic disorder, citing this health issue as a reason for his resignation.
