Legendary former Packers President and CEO Bob Harlan dead at 89

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Bob Harlan, who served as Green Bay Packers president and CEO for almost two decades, has died. He was 89. 

The Packers announced Harlan’s death earlier Thursday, saying his family informed them of his death after a brief illness. Team historian Cliff Christl noted Harlan had recently been hospitalized with pneumonia. 

Current Packers President and CEO Ed Policy released a statement. 

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Bob Harlan, former CEO of the Green Bay Packers, speaks during a news conference regarding the retirement of quarterback Brett Favre at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., March 4, 2008.  (Matt Ludtke/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"The Packers family was saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Harlan," Policy’s statement on social media said.

"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. 

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

Harlan joined the Packers in 1971, but he wasn’t elected president and CEO until 1989. But after he was elected to lead the publicly owned franchise, he wouldn’t move from the role until retiring in 2008. 

Harlan was pivotal in getting the Packers back to being a consistent winner in the NFL, or, as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, he