Ted Thompson

Ted Thompson (January 17, 1953 – January 20, 2021) was an American professional football player and executive in the National Football League (NFL).

Thompson had a 10-year playing career in the NFL as a linebacker and special teams player with the Houston Oilers from 1975 to 1984.

As an undrafted free agent in 1975, Thompson was signed by the Houston Oilers.

The Oilers' general manager and coach was Bum Phillips, who had briefly coached Thompson at Southern Methodist.

Thompson won a spot as a backup linebacker and special teams player and held this position for 10 years.

He started nine games during his career, but he proved durable, playing in 146 of 147 games.

In a 1980 game against the New York Jets, Thompson successfully converted four extra-point attempts as the emergency kicker.

Still, the team struggled to overcome injuries at numerous offensive skill positions, most notably season-ending injuries to #1 running back Ahman Green, #2 RB Najeh Davenport and #1 wide receiver Javon Walker, and Green Bay finished the season with a 4–12 record, the worst record for the franchise since 1991.

Thompson first worked for the Packers organization from 1992 to 1999, first as assistant director of pro personnel, then their director of pro personnel from 1993 to 1997 and their director of player personnel from 1997 to 1999.

In 1992, Thompson was hired by Ron Wolf as a scout for the Green Bay Packers.

Over his career, Thompson won two Super Bowl titles, XXXI in 1997 and XLV in 2011.

Thompson worked for the Packers through the 1999 season when former Packers' head coach Mike Holmgren recruited Thompson to join the Seattle Seahawks.

During Thompson's time with the Packers as a scout, the Packers advanced to the playoffs six times, participating in two Super Bowls and winning Super Bowl XXXI.

Thompson worked for the Seattle Seahawks as vice president of football operations, also heading Seattle's scouting department and running the draft boards.

He worked alongside former Packers and Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, who was Seattle's GM at the time.

During Thompson's tenure in Seattle, the Seahawks advanced to the playoffs twice.

McCarthy also served as quarterback coach for the Packers in 1999, giving him hands-on experience with franchise quarterback Brett Favre and some familiarity with Thompson.

The hiring was considered a surprise to many in NFL circles, as McCarthy was not considered a prime head coaching candidate despite the number of head coaching vacancies.

The Packers entered the offseason with a league best $32 million available under the salary cap.

However, Thompson elected not to retain several veterans including kicker Ryan Longwell, center Mike Flanagan, or linebacker Na'il Diggs.

Thompson retained several other veterans, as the team re-signed Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Kampman, running back Ahman Green, guard Kevin Barry and fullback William Henderson to new contracts.

He then served with the Seattle Seahawks as their vice president of operations from 2000 to 2004.

He was the general manager of the Green Bay Packers from 2005 to 2017.

He returned to Green Bay as their general manager in 2005.

In 2005, following Thompson's departure to the Packers, the Seahawks had one of their best success in team history, reaching the Super Bowl.

Many of the players on Seattle's Super Bowl team were acquired under Thompson's direction, including HB Shaun Alexander, WR Darrell Jackson, OG Steve Hutchinson, CB Marcus Trufant, K Josh Brown and OT Sean Locklear.

Thompson replaced Mike Sherman as general manager of the Packers in 2005.

When Thompson was hired the Packers were over the salary cap for the upcoming 2005 season.

Some of Thompson's first decisions included declining to re-sign starting guard Marco Rivera and releasing starting guard Mike Wahle and starting safety Darren Sharper, three key components of the team's three-time NFC North division championship team.

Thompson's first draft netted a quarterback in first round pick Aaron Rodgers, as well as defensive starters in safety Nick Collins and linebacker Brady Poppinga.

The drafting of Rodgers was especially notable in that he had been expected to be selected much earlier in the draft but wound up falling to the late first round.

In free agency following the draft, Thompson signed low-priced players, picking up guards Matt O'Dwyer and Adrian Klemm to make up for the losses of Wahle and Rivera.

However, O'Dwyer was cut during training camp, and Klemm was benched towards the end of the season.

Thompson acquired several free agents during the season that proved more successful, including running back Samkon Gado, tight end Donald Lee and wide receiver Rod Gardner.

Thompson's first action during the 2006 offseason was the firing of head coach Mike Sherman, stating "This was more thinking in terms of where we are and where we need to get to."

Sherman was replaced on January 12, 2006, by Mike McCarthy, who came to the Packers after previously serving in the role of offensive coordinator for both the San Francisco 49ers' 32nd-ranked offense and New Orleans Saints.

In an interview with Mike Holmgren in 2009, Holmgren noted that "Once Ted Thompson came on board and we settled down a little bit, we started making good decisions."

In May 2019, Thompson revealed that he had been suffering from an autonomic disorder.

Thompson played college football at Southern Methodist University, starting three years at linebacker and intercepting seven passes during his career.

During his senior year, he served as a team captain and was also the team's placekicker.