The NFL is a professional sports league where players and coaches get paid millions of dollars to compete on a field. However, it’s also a lot more to that. Franchises and the people that they’re made of become integral members of their communities.
That’s why it’s devastating whenever an integral member of one of those communities passes away. That’s just what happened in the Green Bay Packers community, where one of the franchise’s most beloved members has said farewell.
“Former longtime Green Bay Packers President Bob Harlan passed away this afternoon at age 89, per his family. As one of the most important figures in Packers’ history, Harlan retired in 2008 as the winningest president in NFL history. He still is the only person in league history to hire two different GM’s that won Super Bowls with different rosters, in 1996 with Ron Wolf and in 2010 with Ted Thompson,” reported ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Former longtime Green Bay Packers President Bob Harlan passed away this afternoon at age 89, per his family. As one of the most important figures in Packers’ history, Harlan retired in 2008 as the winningest president in NFL history. He still is the only person in league history… pic.twitter.com/69WNSTyF1k
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2026
The Packers released a statement via current team President and CEO Ed Policuy.
“The Packers family was saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Harlan. 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.”
Hopefully, the Packers community takes however long it needs to heal.