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Bob Harlan, who served as Green Bay Packers president and CEO for nearly two decades, has died. He was 89.
The Packers announced Harlan’s death earlier Thursday, saying his family informed them of his death after a brief illness. Team historian Cliff Christl noted that Harlan had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia.
Current Packers President and CEO Ed Policy released a statement.
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Bob Harlan, former CEO of the Green Bay Packers, speaks during a news conference about the retirement of quarterback Brett Favre at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., March 4, 2008. (Matt Ludtke/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“The Packers family was saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Harlan,” Policy said in a statement on social media.
“Bob was a visionary leader whose impact on the franchise was transformative. From his inspired hiring of Ron Wolf to turn the club’s fortunes around on the field to his tireless work to rebuild Lambeau Field, Bob restored the Packers to competitive excellence during his tenure and helped ensure that our unique and treasured flagship of the NFL generation was a successful sound franchise.
“We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Madeline, and the entire Harlan family.”
Harlan joined the Packers in 1971, but he wasn’t named president and CEO until 1989. But after he was chosen to lead the publicly owned franchise, he wouldn’t step down from the role until he retired in 2008.
Harlan was instrumental in getting the Packers back to being a consistent winner in the NFL, or, as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said, he brought the franchise back to its tradition.
“Bob restored the Packers’ tradition of excellence, won a Super Bowl and renovated Lambeau Field into the iconic venue it is today,” Goodell said in a statement. “He also contributed significantly to our league and helped ensure that all cities, large and small, could succeed.”
Green Bay Packers president Bob Harlan waves to the crowd at the renovated Lambeau Field on September 6, 2003 in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
The Packers had winning seasons from 1992-2004 under Harlan, including a Super Bowl win in 1997 as Brett Favre, whom Wolf acquired from the Atlanta Falcons, led the way through those years and more as the franchise quarterback.
As Policy mentioned, Harlan had a vision for the franchise that included a $295 million renovation of the iconic Lambeau Field.
“Bob Harlan’s leadership of the Green Bay Packers was outstanding,” Favre said in a statement released by the team. “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.
Green Bay Packers President Bob Harlan speaks about the renovation of Lambeau Field from a luxury box at the stadium on July 28, 2003 in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
“He supported me so much during the challenges I faced in my career. Challenges my family also faced. He was always there offering his support. He was a great and kind man.”
Harlan is also the father of longtime sportscaster Kevin Harlan.
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