Former Packers general manager Ted Thompson died Wednesday night, coach Matt LaFleur confirmed. He was 68 years old.
Thompson spent 21 of his 26 years in the NFL office with the Packers, winning Super Bowl rings as professional personnel director in 1996 and as general manager in 2010. One of Thompson’s first decisions as general manager was to cast quarterback Aaron Rodgers with a choice in the first round, despite Brett Favre still playing at his peak in 2005.
The decision caused 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 verge of a Super Bowl appearance.
“His impact is still felt today when you look at our list, but I think it has had a tremendous impact among many people across the league when you look at the other GMs who have learned from him,” said LaFleur on Thursday.
“So we are certainly sitting here with a heavy heart today. I’ve only had a few opportunities to meet him in the past two years, but I know how important he was to many people in this building. “
The Packers accumulated a 125-82-1 record and accounted for nine playoff appearances in 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 problems, according to ESPN.