The Green Bay Packers are mourning the passing of former General Manager Ted Thompson who died this morning in Texas just days after turning 68. Head Coach Matt LaFleur spoke for the organization at his Thursday morning news conference.
Thompson played 10 seasons for the Houston Oilers as an undrafted, special teams linebacker and was hired by then Packers General Manager Ron Wolf in 1992 as a scout. His diligent work ethic and devotion to scouting had him rise through the ranks to become director of pro personnel. Thompson left Green Bay to follow Mike Holmgren to the Seattle Seahawks where he was the Vice-President of Football Operations. After Wolf retired with the Packers in 2001, Head Coach Mike Sherman was also given the GM duties. Packers President Bob Harlan convinced Thompson to return as General Manager in 2005 and after one season, he fired Sherman and hired Mike McCarthy. Thompson’s very first draft choice was Aaron Rodgers. The Thompson-McCarthy tandem produced a Super Bowl XLV Champion in 2010. In 2017, Thompson was re-assigned to a consultant’s role after it was disclosed he was suffering from an autonomic disorder that impacted his ability to perform the tireless duties as GM. He moved back to Texas but returned to Green Bay for his rightful induction into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 2019.
Thompson was the quintessential scout. He loved watching film, then video of college players for hours on end. The first assignment Wolf gave him was to break down every piece of film they had on the third string quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons and give him his recommendation. That QB was Brett Favre whom Wolf acquired in a trade days later. Not only did Thompson take a huge risk by drafting Rodgers with Favre still in his prime, he selected other cornerstones of a championship club like Greg Jennings, Mason Crosby, Jordy Nelson, B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews.
His imprint even on this year’s team is strong with All Pro players like David Bakhtiari, Corey Linsley and Davante Adams.
Thompson never did enjoy the media spotlight his job placed him in but he steadfastly held to his principles that every decision he made was in the best interests of the Green Bay Packers.
On a personal side, I got to know Ted away from Lambeau Field but getting together every Saturday morning during the winters for a game of pick-up basketball with the likes of John Dorsey and Mike Reinfeldt. While he didn’t make many public appearances, Thompson was a guest on my 5th Quarter Show every single season he was GM and it became one of my favorite hours each year. It was an honor to be on the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame selection committee that elected Ted as the sole inductee in 2019.
