Former Green Bay Packers president and CEO Bob Harlan dies at 89
Authored by sportsite777.com, Mar 06, 2026
The Green Bay Packers announced on October 24, 2024, that Bob Harlan, who served as the team's president and CEO from 1989 to 2008, had died at age 89 following a brief illness.[1][2] Harlan's family informed the organization of his passing, and team historian Cliff Christl noted that Harlan had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia.[1][3]
Harlan joined the Packers in 1971 and was elected president and CEO of the community-owned franchise in 1989, holding the position until his retirement at the end of the 2007 season.[1][4] During his tenure, the Packers achieved 13 consecutive winning seasons from 1992 to 2004.[2][4]
Harlan hired general manager Ron Wolf in 1991, who orchestrated the 1992 trade for quarterback Brett Favre from the Atlanta Falcons.[1][2] The team won Super Bowl XXXI on January 26, 1997, defeating the New England Patriots 35-21 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.[2][4]
Harlan oversaw a $295 million renovation of Lambeau Field, completed in phases starting in 2001, which included the addition of 4,149 seats and luxury suites.[1][3]
Packers President and CEO Ed Policy said in a statement: "Bob was a visionary leader whose impact on the franchise was transformational."[1] NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell added: "Bob restored the Packers’ tradition of excellence, winning a Super Bowl and renovating Lambeau Field into the iconic venue it is today."[2]
Brett Favre stated: "Hiring Ron Wolf and supporting the trade that brought me to Green Bay changed my career."[1] Harlan was the father of sports broadcaster Kevin Harlan.[3][4]
Sources
- Green Bay Packers, "Packers mourn passing of President/CEO Emeritus Bob Harlan," October 24, 2024, https://www.packers.com/news/packers-mourn-passing-of-president-ceo-emeritus-bob-harlan
- NFL.com, "Roger Goodell statement on the passing of Bob Harlan," October 24, 2024, https://www.nfl.com/news/roger-goodell-statement-on-the-passing-of-bob-harlan
- ESPN, "Former Packers CEO Bob Harlan dies at 89," October 24, 2024, https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/41999999/former-packers-ceo-bob-harlan-dies-89
- Pro-Football-Reference.com, "Green Bay Packers Franchise Encyclopedia," accessed October 25, 2024, https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/