Former Packers general manager Ted Thompson died Wednesday night, coach Matt LaFleur confirmed. He was 68.
Thompson spent 21 of his 26 years in an NFL front office with the Packers, winning Super Bowl rings as director of pro personnel in 1996 and as general manager in 2010. One of Thompson’s first decisions as general manager was to draft quarterback Aaron Rodgers with a first-round pick despite Brett Favre still playing in his prime in 2005.
The decision set up the Packers to transition from one Hall of Fame quarterback to another. After sitting on the bench for his first three seasons, Rodgers, 37, is set to play in his fifth NFC Championship Game on Sunday and has the Packers on the brink of a Super Bowl appearance.
“His impact is still felt to this day when you look at our roster, but I think he’s had a tremendous impact amongst many people across the league when you look at the other GMs that have learned under him,” LaFleur said Thursday.
“So certainly we’re sitting here with heavy hearts today. I’ve only had a few opportunities to meet him over the last couple of years, but I just know how important he was to many people in this building.”
The Packers compiled a 125-82-1 record and tallied nine playoff appearances over Thompson’s 13 seasons as general manager.
Thompson was inducted into the Packers’ hall of fame in 2019. He revealed that he was suffering from an autonomic disorder, a condition that causes weakness and cognitive issues, according to ESPN.