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Packers stay in house, selecting Brian Gutekunst as next GM

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Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers didn’t take long to find their new General Manager.  Team President Mark Murphy has decided on long-time scout Brian Gutekunst to replace former G.M. Ted Thompson.  The Packers are expected to make the announcement official today.

Gutekunst was chosen over fellow in-house candidates Russ Ball and Eliot Wolf.

The 44-year-old Gutekunst gets a five-year contract with the Packers and presumably will suit head coach Mike McCarthy just fine.  Last week, McCarthy repeatedly sent the message that Thompson’s successor needed to be a good fit with the coach.  It is likely that McCarthy’s comments last week at least had some influence on hiring Gutekunst, not to mention contacting the Seattle Seahawks about the availability of their general manager John Schneider.

Gutekunst becomes the sixth scout hired by Ron wolf to go on to become a general manager in the NFL.

Now the pressure is on McCarthy, who still needs to hire coaching staff replacements in a number of areas, including coordinators on both sides of the ball.  McCarthy has two years left on his contract. [Read more…]

The search is on for a new GM in Green Bay

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Mark Murphy

The Green Bay Packers made it official today, announcing Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson will transition to a role as senior advisor to football operations.

Packers team President/CEO Mark Murphy addressed the media on Tuesday afternoon regarding the move.

“I want to thank Ted for his tireless efforts as the general manager of the Green Bay Packers for these past 13 seasons.  Under his guidance, the Packers enjoyed a remarkable run of success, one that included our 13th world championship, four NFC Championship appearances and eight consecutive postseason berths,” said Murphy. “The organization, our fans and our community were fortunate to have had one of the NFL’s all-time great general managers leading our football operations.”

During the press conference, Murphy revealed that he will use a consultant, Jed Hughes from Korn Ferry, to help him, but stressed that “I will make the decision” on the GM hire.

Murphy said he’ll begin the interview process for GM “very quickly” and that the hire would be made “as soon as possible”. [Read more…]

Thompson steps down from GM post

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Ted Thompson

It would appear that the Green Bay Packers are serious about shaking things up after a disappointing 7-9 season that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The NFL Network first reported that GM Ted Thompson would step down and a search for his replacement would begin immediately.  Thompson’s contract is set to expire after next season and he’s expected to move into an advisory position within the personnel department.

The search won’t be limited to just in-house candidates.  That list includes director of football operations Eliot Wolf, director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst, senior personnel advisor Alonzo Highsmith and vice president of football administration/player finance Russ Ball.

Among the top candidates outside of the organization are Minnesota assistant general manager George Paton, Eagles vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas and Baltimore Ravens assistant general manager Eric DeCosta.

Also to be considered is what to do with head coach Mike McCarthy, who is entering the final year of his contract.  Team president Mark Murphy must decide whether to extend McCarthy’s contract regardless of who the new GM is, or he can leave McCarthy’s fate in the hands of the new GM.

Thompson was hired by Ron Wolf in 1992 and stayed with the Packers until 2000, when he left to join former Packers coach Mike Holmgren with the Seattle Seahawks.  Thompson served as Seattle’s vice president of football operations until 2005 when he was hired to take over the general manager position in Green Bay.

Mark Murphy is expected to meet with reporters to discuss the latest move on Tuesday.

 

 

Former Packers president Parins dies

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Robert Parins – Photo Courtesy of the Green Bay Packers

The first full-time president of the Green Bay Packers, Judge Robert J. Parins, died on Friday at the age of 98.

Parins was elected team president in 1982, 16 years after he was voted to the Packers’ board of directors.  He was named a director emeritus in 1994 after serving on the board of directors for 28 years and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1998.

“Judge Parins was an excellent leader of the Packers, creating a foundation for the team’s successful organizational structure,” Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said in a statement.

“His contributions during his time as president, board member and director emeritus over the course of 50 years were transformative, and we are extremely grateful for his dedication.”

Parins retired as team president in 1989 and was elected honorary chairman of the board.  Bob Harlan was elected to succeed him.

Parins graduated from Green Bay East High School in 1936 and attended law school at Wisconsin.  He served as a Brown County circuit judge from 1968 to 1982.

 

Ticket prices on the rise in Green Bay

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Green Bay Packers season ticket holders will have to dig a little deeper again this season.  The Packers announced they are increasing ticket prices by $7 across the board.

This is the eighth straight season the prices have gone up at Lambeau Field.

Packers President and CEO mark Murphy said the team wants to keep prices in the middle of the NFL.

For Green Package holders with six regular-season games and one preseason, it means an increase of $49 per seat for the season.  For Gold Package buyers with two regular-season games and one preseason, the total will be $21 for the season.

Packers release details for 11th annual “Tailgate Tour”

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Packers Tailgate TourThe 11th annual Green Bay Packers Tailgate Tour gets underway June 17th and runs through the 21st.  The team announced the details of the tour on Tuesday.

The tour will make stops in Ripon (June 17), Fort Atkinson (June 18), Dodgeville (June 19), Black River Falls (June 20) and Shawano (June 21), with tailgate parties held in each city to support a local non-profit organization.

Joining Packers President/CEO mark Murphy on the trip are players Jared Abbrederis, Sam Barrington and Jayrone Elliott, along with Packers alumni Leroy Butler, Robert Brooks and Sean Jones.

Tickets for the tailgate parties go on sale on April 1.  More information can be found at Packers.com.

Former Packers Executive, John Underwood passes away at 81

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John Underwood - Photo: Courtesy of Packers.com

John Underwood – Photo: Courtesy of Packers.com

Former Green Bay Packers Executive Committee Treasurer and longtime member of the Board of Directors, John Underwood, passed away this week at the age of 81.

Underwood was first elected to the Packers Board of Directors in 1986.  He was soon-there-after elected to the Executive Committee as Treasurer in 1990 and served in that role until becoming Director of Emeritus in 2005.

“John was a great supporter of the Packers and an integral member of the Packers family for many years,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. “I don’t think anyone knew the finances of the Packers and the NFL better than John. He was instrumental in the redevelopment of Lambeau Field in 2003, and is a main reason that the Packers are in such sound financial shape now.

“Our condolences go out to his wife, Gail, and his family.”

 

Packers unveil new throwback jerseys

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Throwback Jersey

Throwback Jersey

The Green Bay Packers unveiled new throwback jerseys on Tuesday at the teams annual shareholders meeting.  Those jersey’s will be worn for the October 18 game against the San Diego Chargers.

Packers president Mark Murphy said the uniforms honor the teams from 1937 through 1949 that wore similar uniforms.  Those teams won two of the Packers 13 NFL Championships.

NFL rules allow teams to change their alternate third uniform every five years.  In each of the previous five years, the team wore their Acme Packers uniforms, which were throwbacks from the 1929-30 seasons.

Packers raise ticket prices for 6th straight year

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Lambeau Field

Lambeau Field

The Green Bay Packers have increased the cost of watching a game for the sixth straight year.  The Packers announced the increase of anywhere from $3 to $5, depending on seat location, on Friday.

Packers President Mark Murphy said the increases have kept the Packers in the middle of the pack in NFL average ticket price.

“We project this increase will place us 18th in average ticket price, which is just below the NFL average,” Murphy said in the brochure.  “We use that benchmark each year to help us determine pricing so we maintain great value for season ticket holders and provide a fair share to our [Read more…]

London is on hold for the Green Bay Packers

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Mark Murphy

Mark Murphy

There will be no trip to London in 2015 for the Green Bay Packers.

The NFL on Thursday announced the three games for next season’s International Series and the Packers weren’t among them.

Packers team president Mark Murphy said the Packers were interested in playing at Wembley Stadium as long as they didn’t have to give up a game at Lambeau Field.

The three games in 2015 across the pond are:  New York Jets vs. Miami Dolphins in week 4, Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in week 7, and the Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs in week 8.  The Dolphins, Jaguars and Chiefs are all giving up home games.

Jacksonville has agreed to play one game in London each year from 2013 through 2016.  The Packers are set to play a game at Jacksonville in 2016 and that could be a perfect opportunity for the NFL to get Green Bay to London.

The Packers would never agree to giving up a home game because according to a report, they bring an estimated $13.5-million in revenue into Green Bay.