On Thursday, the NFL community received the unfortunate news of former Green Bay Packers president Bob Harlan’s passing at the age of 89 after a brief illness. The loss quickly echoed across the football world. Soon after the announcement, several legends, including Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre, who were connected to the franchise, shared their grief.

First, Aaron Rodgers reflected on how much Harlan influenced his own journey to Titletown. The former Packers quarterback explained that Harlan’s leadership directly set the stage for his arrival in Green Bay.

“Bob Harlan is a big reason that I was selected by the Green Bay Packers,” Aaron Rodgers shared, per the Packers.

“In 2005, he hired Ted Thompson as GM, and Ted drafted me in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. I really got to know Bob on the 2007 Packers Tailgate Tour. I think I speak for everyone who went on that trip when I say that we had an absolute blast during those four days, and Bob was a big part of it for me!”

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“Bob is one of the most naturally funny people that I met in the organization during my 18 years. Whether we were laughing on the bus for four days on the Tailgate Tour, embracing in the locker room after a game, or catching up at the holiday party every year, I lit up every day I got to see Mr. Harlan and give him a big hug,” he added

Rodgers continued, “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 also shared a heartfelt message while remembering the longtime leader of the Packers and the beloved figure among Cheeseheads.

“Bob Harlan’s leadership of the Green Bay Packers was outstanding,” Favre said, as per Packers. “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. He was so supportive of me during the challenges I faced in my career. Challenges my family faced, too. He was always there offering his support. He was a great and kind man.”

In addition, Favre remembered how Harlan built a strong connection with the fanbase and took pride in the team’s biggest achievements.

“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,” part of his statement read.

The admiration expressed by Rodgers and Favre resonates deeply with all Packers fans. Because, for decades, the Packers have remained one of the NFL’s most stable and respected franchises despite playing in the smallest city in major American professional sports. Much of that success traces back to Harlan’s leadership. During his tenure from 1989 to 2008, he helped guide a major revival of the franchise and left behind a foundation that still defines the organization today.

Because of that, the organization itself addressed the loss.

“The Packers family was saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Harlan,” said Packers President and CEO Ed Policy. “Bob was a visionary leader whose impact on the franchise was transformational. From his inspired hiring of Ron Wolf to turn around the club’s on-field fortunes to his tireless work to redevelop Lambeau Field, Bob restored the Packers to competitive excellence during his tenure and helped ensure our unique and treasured flagship NFL franchise was on sound footing for sustained generational success.”

Additionally, the franchise shared condolences with Harlan’s loved ones while reflecting on his life away from Lambeau Field.

“We send our deepest sympathies to his wife, Madeline, and the entire Harlan family.”

Over the years, Harlan and his wife, Madeline, remained active throughout the Green Bay community, serving on numerous boards and supporting charitable causes. Their efforts earned several honors at both local and state levels. Harlan even received recognition from his alma mater, Marquette University, on three occasions in 1997, a testament to his lasting impact. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Madeline, and their son Kevin (Ann) Harlan, who reside in Mission Hills, Kansas, along with their children.

Meanwhile, the league office also responded to the news, highlighting the influence Harlan had beyond just one franchise.

“The entire NFL family mourns the loss of longtime Green Bay Packers CEO Bob Harlan,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. “Bob restored the Packers’ tradition of excellence, winning a Super Bowl and renovating Lambeau Field into the iconic venue it is today. He also contributed substantially to our league, helping ensure that all cities, large or small, could be successful. Bob came to Green Bay in 1971 and never left, spending more than half a century in his beloved community. Our thoughts are with his family and Packer fans everywhere.”

Altogether, these tributes from Rodgers, Favre, the Packers organization, and the NFL itself show just how meaningful Harlan’s presence was across the football world and for the Packers.

Bob Harlan shaped the Packers’ modern era

For many in Titletown, Bob Harlan was more than an executive. He was the steady voice behind many of the Green Bay Packers’ biggest turning points. Harlan first joined the organization on June 1, 1971, working as a player contract negotiator after spending six years with the World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. Interestingly, that path left him with a rare distinction. Harlan might be the only individual to own both a World Series ring and a Super Bowl ring.

The Packers named him president and CEO on June 5, 1989, which placed him in charge during a critical moment for the team. Soon after, he made one of the most important decisions in franchise history. In 1991, Harlan dismissed Tom Braatz during the season and brought in Ron Wolf to run football operations. From there, Wolf hired Mike Holmgren as head coach, traded for Brett Favre, and signed free agent Reggie White, decisions that quickly reshaped the direction of the Packers.

As a result, those moves sparked one of the most successful stretches in Packers history. The organization reached two Super Bowls, winning one in 1997 before falling short in 1998. Even more, that structure became the blueprint for football operations for nearly three decades. From 1992 through 2017, the Packers posted a 261-154-1 record, which equals a 63 percent winning rate and places them among the league’s most consistent teams.

Because of that impact, many inside the franchise hold Harlan in the highest regard. Tom Murphy, vice president and former archivist for the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, made that clear when discussing Harlan’s influence.

“Bob Harlan and Ron Wolf have to be right up there with Lambeau and Lombardi,” he said. “I don’t know why he’s not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

Still, the Packers already honored his legacy in a major way. Harlan entered the Packers Hall of Fame in 2004, and the plaza outside Lambeau Field’s atrium now carries his name. It’s a tribute that feels fitting for a leader who helped restore the franchise’s proud tradition. RIP legend.