Green Bay lost one of its most important figures Thursday. Former Green Bay Packers President and CEO Bob Harlan passed away Thursday, following a brief illness, at the age of 89. Harlan is also the father of beloved NBA broadcaster Kevin Harlan.
The tributes came quickly from across the NFL, especially from players like Aaron Rodgers, who suited up under the franchise he rebuilt.
Ex-Packers president Bob Harlan passes away at 89
Harlan joined the Packers in 1971 and became president and CEO in 1989, serving until his retirement in January 2008. During that time, he helped turn a struggling franchise into one of the NFL’s most stable and successful teams.
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One of his first major moves came in 1991, when he fired Tom Braatz during the season and hired Ron Wolf as general manager with full control of football operations. From 1993 to 2007, the Packers posted the league’s best record at 152–88 and won Super Bowl XXXI, bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay.
Harlan also left a major mark off the field. His tenure included the $295 million redevelopment of Lambeau Field, which reopened for the 2003 season. He personally campaigned for the Brown County sales tax referendum that helped fund the project.
Heartbreaking: The legendary Packers President Bob Harlan passed away this afternoon at 89 years old.
Harlan is the winningest president in NFL history.
Prayers to his family and friends 💔🕊️ pic.twitter.com/8xQHMSWzsH
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 5, 2026
Packers President and CEO Ed Policy confirmed the news of Bob’s passing,saying, “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.”
Hearing it, Rodgers, who spent 18 years with the Packers, didn’t sugarcoat his feelings for his late president.
Aaron Rodgers shares epic memories with Bob Harlan
Harlan’s front-office decisions set the table for one of the most decorated QB runs in NFL history, and Rodgers made sure that was on record.
“Bob Harlan is a big reason that I was selected by the Green Bay Packers,” Rodgers said after learning the heartbreaking news. “In 2005, he hired Ted Thompson as GM, and Ted drafted me in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft.”
Statements from quarterbacks Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers on the passing of Bob Harlan, per the Packers. pic.twitter.com/eUrGyMAnjm
— zach jacobson (@zacobson) March 5, 2026
From there, it turned personal. Recalling the 2007 Packers Tailgate Tour, he added, “Bob is one of the most naturally funny people that I met in the organization during my 18 years,” Rodgers said.
“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.”
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He closed his tribute, remarking, “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.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell added that Harlan restored the Packers’ tradition of excellence, winning a Super Bowl and renovating Lambeau Field into the iconic venue it is today. He was survived by his wife, Madeline, and their sons Kevin, Bryan, and Michael.