Former Green Bay Packers president Bob Harlan. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Former Green Bay Packers president and CEO Bob Harlan has died at age 89, the team announced Thursday.
Officials say Harlan died “following a brief illness.”
“The Packers family was saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Harlan,” said current Packers President and CEO Ed Policy in a news release. “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. We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Madeline, and the entire Harlan family.”
Harlan, who originally joined the Packers in 1971, took over as president/CEO in 1989. He led the Packers to a remarkable turnaround from a perennial loser to the Super Bowl XXXI championship following the 1996 season.
Despite leading Green Bay to its best stretch on the football field since the 1930s and ’40s, the Packers said the “crowning achievement” of Harlan’s tenure was the $295 million redevelopment of Lambeau Field, which began in 2003.
Harlan was the team’s top executive until his retirement in January 2008. Funeral arrangements are pending, the team said.
The Packers provided quotes from numerous coaches, players and executives, both past and present, who paid tribute to Harlan. You can read them all below.
Packers President and CEO Ed Policy
Bob had a profound impact on the organization and the people that worked here long after he became Chairman Emeritus. I am personally grateful for his generosity of time and wisdom in mentoring me over the years.
Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst
Bob Harlan set the standard for what the Green Bay Packers organization should be. His leadership reignited our franchise, not just in terms of success on the field, but in the culture and values that define who we are. He believed deeply in doing things the right way — treating people with respect, building trust, and always putting the Packers and the community first. Beyond his remarkable accomplishments, Bob was simply a great man — kind, humble, and genuine. He will be missed.
Former Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy
I will be forever grateful to Bob. He was extremely helpful to me when I started with the Packers. He made my transition to a very unique organization seamless. Bob was most responsible for Lambeau Field becoming the most iconic stadium in the NFL, and he left the Packers in great shape both on and off the field.
Former Packers Executive Vice President and General Manager Ron Wolf
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. He was an honor to know and a pleasure to work with.
Former Packers Head Coach Mike Holmgren
I was blessed and fortunate to have Bob Harlan as the team president for my first head coaching job. He set an incredible tone for the entire organization.
He gave us the support we needed and let us do our jobs. He certainly had other things to do in the much larger spectrum of his work, but he also took the time to visit with me. One thing he’d always do was stop in and see me every week and ask, ‘What can I do to help you?’ That was him.
Bob helped me become a good manager, a good coach, and to understand the responsibilities of leadership. That carried with me throughout my career. He was really good to me. I owe him a great deal. I’m honored to have worked for him.
Former Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy
Bob Harlan is the definition of what the Green Bay Packers embody. The foundation for continuous decades of success falls directly at his feet — and heart.
I have so many meaningful memories and moments with Bob, but what I cherish most is the consistency of him showing up to my office every week, with a cup of coffee in hand, asking about Jessica and the kids — and never leaving without asking, ‘Coach, are you getting everything you need?’
As proud as Bob was of the Packers, that pales in comparison to the pride he had in his beautiful family. My heart pours out to Madeline, Kevin, Bryan, Michael and the Harlan family as they mourn and celebrate a tremendous husband, father, grandfather — and man.
Former Packers Quarterback Brett Favre
Bob Harlan’s leadership of the Green Bay Packers was outstanding. Hiring Ron Wolf and supporting the trade that brought me to Green Bay changed my career. The organization believed in me and gave me the opportunity.
He was so supportive of me during the challenges I faced in my career. Challenges my family faced, too. He was always there offering his support. He was a great and kind man.
I appreciated the way he represented the Packers and connected so well with Packers fans. I also truly enjoyed his sense of humor and cherished the moments we shared over the years.
I know winning the Super Bowl and bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay was a proud moment for him, what the team accomplished. It was incredible to be a part of the resurgence of this great franchise and Bob set the tone with his leadership.
Former Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers
Bob Harlan is a big reason that I was selected by the Green Bay Packers. In 2005 he hired Ted Thompson as GM, and Ted drafted me in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
I really got to know Bob on the 2007 Packers Tailgate Tour. I think I speak for everyone who went on that trip when I say that we had an absolute blast during those four days and Bob was a big part of it for me!
Bob is one of the most naturally funny people that I met in the organization during my 18 years. Whether we were laughing on the bus for four days on the Tailgate Tour, embracing in the locker room after a game, or catching up at the holiday party every year, I lit up every day I got to see Mr. Harlan and give him a big hug.
To me, Bob embodied the spirit of the Green Bay Packers and he truly loved leading the greatest franchise in the NFL. His kind heart, quick wit and steady hand will be remembered by Packers people forever.
I’ll always be thankful for my time with the legend, Mr. Bob Harlan.
Seattle Seahawks President of Football Operations/General Manager and former Packers Director of Football Operations John Schneider
Bob Harlan was such an amazing man. When I started working for the Packers, Bob let me know what authentic leadership looked like: you can be you and lead in a manner that isn’t fake.
I’m so blessed to have had Bob in my life as a mentor and he’s a straight-to-Heaven person because of the way he treated people.
Former Milwaukee Brewers Owner and Major League Baseball Commissioner Emeritus Bud Selig
I have had many wonderful relationships during my long career. My relationship with Bob Harlan was one of the most treasured I have ever had. He was a remarkable human being. He was very kind, very thoughtful and very smart.
We had a great relationship starting in the 1970s when I had just gotten the Milwaukee Brewers and he had joined the Green Bay Packers from the St. Louis Cardinals. I had actually known him even earlier when he worked for Marquette University.
I cannot emphasize what a significant role he has played in my life in so many ways. I am honored to have known Bob and have enjoyed every minute of our relationship over all these years. We always have helped each other through many tough and difficult times. And, of course, I have enjoyed the fruits of our friendship through so many happy and wonderful times.
In closing, he was one of the nicest, kindest, thoughtful, and most remarkable persons that I have had the pleasure of knowing. We helped each other through so many stadium challenges. He was the best and there was and is no doubt about that.
Pro Football Writer Peter King
Bob Harlan will go down as one of the most underrated figures in the storied history of one of the great franchises in American sport.
There have been two significant hires in the last 75 years of the Packers — Vince Lombardi as coach in 1959 and Ron Wolf as general manager in 1991. It was Bob Harlan who went outside the box to hand the Packers football authority to one man, Wolf, instead of a football committee in 1991. It immediately paid dividends. Harlan hired Wolf knowing the organization needed to be shaken out of its two-decade losing lethargy. And in his first 16 months on the job, with Harlan’s approval, Wolf hired Mike Holmgren as coach, traded for Brett Favre, and signed Reggie White in free agency. There has not been a better, more consistent winning team in the NFL since then.
Bob Harlan is the man who made the decision that created this through-line to the Packers being contenders for the past 35 years. He hired Wolf, who trained successor GMs Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst. Harlan’s ethos was that the only thing that mattered was the team. Wolf, Thompson and Gutekunst have made unpopular decisions with one thing in mind: They, like Harlan, knew they were stewards of one of the great public jewels in sports history and had to look at the future.
When fans pack Lambeau Field or venture out to dinner in Titletown or brag about their great team, they do so knowing (or at least they should) that this incredible two-generation run of great football was set in motion by Bob Harlan.
Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich
I join Packers fans everywhere in mourning the passing of Green Bay legend, Bob Harlan. Bob’s vision for the franchise and love for our community transformed the team and Lambeau Field, restoring a winning tradition to the most storied of franchises and bringing the Lombardi trophy back to its rightful home. I extend my deepest condolences to Bob’s wife, Madeline, his entire family, and all who loved him.
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