The man responsible for putting the Green Bay Packers on the path of sustainable success and prospierity has died.

 

Former Packers President Bob Harlan died Thursday at the age of 89. Harlan joined the organization in 1971 and worked for the Packers until his retirement in 2008.

 

On the football field, the Packers turned from a virtual siberia to a place players where players wanted to play and win under Harlan's watch. According to Packers.com, the team boasted the league's best overall record of 152-88 from 1993-2007. The biggest highlight came when the Packers brought the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay with a victory in Super Bowl XXXI.

 

Off the field, his tireless campaign proved to be a tipping for redevelopment of Lambeau Field, turning the iconic, but aging stadium into a year-round destination that put the organization on better footing with the rest of the league.

 

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said, "Bob Harlan set the standard for what the Green Bay Packers organization should be. His leadership reignited our franchise, not just in terms of success on the field, but in the culture and values that define who we are. He believed deeply in doing things the right way — treating people with respect, building trust, and always putting the Packers and the community first. Beyond his remarkable accomplishments, Bob was simply a great man — kind, humble, and genuine. He will be missed."

 

In addition to his wife Madeline, Harlan is survived by his son, Kevin (Ann) Harlan of Mission Hills, Kan., and their children: Abigail (Bobby) Sight and their daughter, Scarlett; Haley (Jerry) Mancuso and their children, JJ, Mary Madeline, and Matilda; Olivia (Sam Dekker) Harlan Dekker and their children, Harlan Wolf and Christian; and Robert (Gabriella) Harlan and their son, Francis; and by his son, Bryan (Barbara) Harlan of Chicago and their daughter, Katie; and his son, Michael (Cortney) Harlan of Verona, Wis. His full obituary can be found here.