Former Packers president, team Hall of Famer Bob Harlan dies at 89

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Former Packers President Bob Harlan, who helped restore the franchise to greatness, died Thursday at the age of 89, his household introduced.

Harlan is the one particular person in NFL historical past to rent two completely different common managers that gained Super Bowls with completely completely different rosters in Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson.

“Bob was a visionary leader whose impact on the franchise was transformational. From his inspired hiring of Ron Wolf to turn around the club’s on-field fortunes to his tireless work to redevelop Lambeau Field, Bob restored the Packers to competitive excellence during his tenure and helped ensure our unique and treasured flagship NFL franchise was on sound footing for sustained generational success,” present Packers president and CEO Ed Policy stated in a press release. “We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Madeline, and the entire Harlan family.”

Harlan took over as team president in 1989 when the team was greater than twenty years faraway from the success of the Vince Lombardi period. In one of his first strikes, Harlan employed Wolf as common supervisor in 1991. That opened the door for Wolf to rent Mike Holmgren as head coach, commerce for quarterback Brett Favre and signal Reggie White. The Packers gained Super Bowl XXXI throughout Harlan’s tenure.

Wolf would go on to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“Bob Harlan gave me an opportunity, and I am deeply indebted to him for that. His greatest trait, in my opinion, is that he was an honorable man, a man of his word, a man of character,” Wolf stated in a press release. “He was an honor to know and a pleasure to work with.”

Harlan served as president and CEO till his retirement in 2008. Before retiring, he employed Ted Thompson as common supervisor, which led to a different championship in Super Bowl XLV with Mike McCarthy as coach and Aaron Rodgers ace quarterback.

Harlan was additionally largely answerable for the renovation to Lambeau subject, which reopened in 2003 and secured the Packers from a financially aggressive standpoint. The preliminary $295 renovation wanted to be authorized by Brown County voters, and Harlan performed a key position in convincing the general public to assist the transfer. It paved the best way for what Lambeau Field has turn into at present, a year-round vacation spot that additionally included the Titletown space that includes eating places, workplace buildings, a luxurious lodge and residences.

Before changing into team president, Harlan served the Packers as assistant common supervisor (1971-75), company common supervisor (1975-81), assistant to the president — company (1981-88) and govt vice chairman of administration (1988-89).

Harlan was elected to the Packers Hall of Fame in 2004 and has a plaza in entrance of Lambeau Field named in his honor.