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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…]

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.

 

 

Hall of Fame means Favre’s journey is complete

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Brett Favre is a 1st ballot Hall of Famer

Brett Favre is a 1st ballot Hall of Famer

Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre became the 24th member of the organization to be voted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and just the fifth to do it in his first year of eligibility.

Favre became the 74th individual to be voted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility overall.  He’s joined by former Packers assistant coach Kevin Greene who ranks third all-time in sacks while playing for the Rams, Steelers, Panthers and 49ers.

This class also includes receiver Marvin Harrison, quarterback Ken Stabler, tackle Orlando Pace, guard Dick Stanfel, coach Tony Dungy and owner Edward DeBartolo, Jr.

Unlike the other members of this class, Brett Favre is directly responsible for reviving an organization that had gone through a couple of decades of losing. [Read more…]

Wolf joins Hall of Fame greats today (AUDIO)

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Ron Wolf

Ron Wolf

Former Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf becomes the 23rd member of the Packers organization today to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Wolf’s son Eliot, who is the Packers director of player personnel, said he cried when his mother called him in January with the news that his dad had been elected.  Eliot Wolf said he used to joke with his dad that when he got into the Hall of Fame, he would present him.

So that is how it is going down today.  Eliot Wolf will present his father as he enters football’s biggest shrine.

Wolf joined the Packers in 1991 and led the franchise’s turn-around.  He started by hiring Mike Holmgren as his coach and trade a first round pick to Atlanta for quarterback Brett Favre.  Once the ball started rolling, then it was time to make a big free agent splash.  That’s when Wolf enticed Reggie White to sign with the Packers.  [Read more…]

Pro Football Hall of Fame opens more seating for large demand

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Ron Wolf

Ron Wolf

With a high demand for tickets, the Pro Football Hall of Fame placed more than 2,000 additional Enshrinement Ceremony tickets on sale yesterday.

The eight-man Class of 2015 includes former Green Bay Packers General Manager Ron Wolf.  He’ll be joined by Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Charles Haley, Bill Polian, Junior Seau, Will Shields and Mick Tingelhoff.  They’ll be former enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 8 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

The original allotment of tickets placed on sale for the Enshrinement Ceremony sold out.  Additional sections in the main stands have been opened and tickets made available for $35.00 each.

Tickets can be purchased online at ProFootballHOF.com/tickets or by calling 1-844-4HOFTIX.

 

Packers will honor Favre and Wolf this season

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Brett Favre

Brett Favre

The Green Bay Packers today announced the organization will honor both Brett Favre and Ron Wolf in halftime ceremonies during the upcoming 2015 season.

Favre’s name and retired No. 4 will be unveiled on Lambeau Field’s north facade Nov. 26 and Wolf’s name will be unveiled next to fellow Pro Football Hall of Famers on the stadium’s east side on Nov. 15.

Favre’s No. 4, which will be retired July 18 at the Packers Hall of Fame Banquet, will join the

Ron Wolf

Ron Wolf

names and numbers of five other Packers legends:  Don Hutson, 14; Tony Canadeo, 3; Bart Starr, 15; Ray Nitschke, 66; and Reggie White, 92.

Favre’s ceremony will take place during halftime of the Packers/Bears game on Thanksgiving night at Lambeau Field.

Ron Wolf will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Aug. 8 in Canton.  He’ll be at Lambeau Field for the Packers/Lions game on Nov. 15th and will be honored during halftime.

 

Former Packers GM headed to Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Ron Wolf

Ron Wolf

The man who brought the Green Bay Packers back from the dead, received the ultimate reward when he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

It was Wolf that took over in 1991 in Green Bay, hired Mike Holmgren, then traded a first round draft pick to Atlanta for Brett Favre and eventually, helped lure Reggie White to Green Bay in free agency.  The cornerstone pieces were in place and the Packers eventually won the Super Bowl in 1996 and finished runner-up the following season.

“I’m complete overwhelmed,” Wolf told a group of reporters after the NFL Honors program on Saturday night.  “My induction is the result of a lot of people making it happen.  It’s more of a team thing.  There were a lot of great players and coaches that helped you get where you are.” [Read more…]

NFL Honors coming tonight! (VIDEO)

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The NFL Honors program is set for this evening at Symphony Hall at the Phoenix Convention Center.

The Leagues MVP Award will be handed out tonight and the 2015 Hall of Fame Class will be unveiled.  Following is my preview of tonight’s event on the eve of Super Bowl 49.

Greene, Wolf among 18 Hall of Fame finalists

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Former Packers GM Ron Wolf

Former Packers GM Ron Wolf

Former Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf and assistant coach Kevin Greene are among 18 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The list of nominees was reduced today (Thursday) to 15 from the modern era, one senior and two contributors.  A finalist must receive at least 80% of the votes from the 46-person selection committee to be elected.

Greene is in his 11th year of eligibility.  He played for four teams and made the Pro Bowl five times.

Besides Greene, the list of modern-day finalists are kicker Morten Andersen, running back Jerome Bettis, wide receiver Tim Brown, coach Don Coryell, running back Terrell Davis, coach Tony Dungy, linebacker/defensive Charles Haley, wide receiver Marvin Harrison, coach Jimmy Johnson, safety John Lynch, guard Will Shields and first-year candidates Junior Seau, Kurt Warner and Orlando Pace.

The senior nominee is former Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff.  Special contributors are Bill Polian and Ron Wolf, the architects of Super Bowl teams executives.

Wolf a finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Ron Wolf

Ron Wolf

Former Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf, is one of two “contributor” finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Wolf helped resurrect the Packers from years of dismal play to get them to the Super Bowl during the early 1990’s, winning one of the two.

The Hall’s contributor committee on Wednesday selected Wolf and former Indianapolis Colts GM Bill Polian as finalists for the 2015 class.

Wolf and Polian will join senior nominee Mick Tingelhoff and the 15 finalists for the modern era Class of ’15, which will be selected at a later date.  The Hall’s selection committee will meet the day before the Super Bowl to determine who gets in the Hall of Fame.

The Packers never had a losing season during Wolf’s 10 years in Green Bay.  The Packers won three straight NFC North titles and qualified for the Playoffs seven times.  The Packers went 126-66 during that time period.

Wolf also spent 25 years working under Al Davis in Oakland.  He also became the General Manager of the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976.  Before he came to Green Bay, Wolf ran the personnel department under New York Jets GM Dick Steinberg.