Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre react to the passing of a true Packers legend whose impact helped shape the franchise for decades

Bob Harlan passed away at 89.

Wendell Ferreira — NFL News Writer
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Aug 7, 2016; Canton, OH, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) greets Hall of Fame member Brett Favre before the game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Green Bay Packers at the 2016 Hall of Fame Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The game was cancelled due to safety concerns with the condition of the playing surface.
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The Green Bay Packers lost a true legend on Thursday. Former team president and CEO Bob Harlan passed away, following a brief illness. Harlan was 89. Harlan originally joined the franchise in 1971 and was elected president and CEO in 1989.

He served as principal executive until his retirement in January 2008, and during this time he hired two Super Bowl-winning general managers, Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson, shaping the organization for decades. Harlan was the Packers leader when the team won the Super Bowl after the 1996 season and was one of the men responsible for turning the franchise around after decades of tough results on the field.

Legends react to passing

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who played for the Packers from 2005 to 2022, mentioned that he wouldn’t have been drafted by the team if not for Harlan’s impact.

“Bob Harlan is a big reason that I was selected by the Green Bay Packers. In 2005 he hired Ted Thompson as GM, and Ted drafted me in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft,” Rodgers said via statement. “To me, Bob embodied the spirit of the Green Bay Packers and he truly loved leading the greatest franchise in the NFL. His kind heart, quick wit and steady hand will be remembered by Packers people forever. I’ll always be thankful for my time with the legend, Mr. Bob Harlan.”

Meanwhile, Brett Favre showed gratitude for how Harlan’s and Wolf’s leadership defined his football career.

“Bob Harlan’s leadership of the Green Bay Packers was outstanding. 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,” Favre recalled. “I appreciated the way he represented the Packers and connected so well with Packers fans. (. . .) I know winning the Super Bowl and bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay was a proud moment for him, what the team accomplished. It was incredible to be a part of the resurgence of this great franchise and Bob set the tone with his leadership.”

It’s a sad day for the most iconic organization in football.

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