Ted Thompson facts for kids
Thompson in 2010
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||
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| Born: | January 17, 1953 Atlanta, Texas, U.S. |
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| Died: | January 20, 2021 (aged 68) Atlanta, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||
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| High school: | Atlanta | ||||||||
| College: | Southern Methodist | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1975 | ||||||||
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Ted Thompson (January 17, 1953 – January 20, 2021) was an American professional football player and a top leader in the National Football League (NFL). He was the general manager for the Green Bay Packers from 2005 to 2017. Before that, Thompson played football for 10 years as a linebacker and special teams player for the Houston Oilers from 1975 to 1984.
Thompson first worked for the Packers from 1992 to 1999. He started as an assistant and later became the director of player personnel. He then worked for the Seattle Seahawks as their vice president of football operations from 2000 to 2004. In 2005, he returned to Green Bay as their general manager. During his career, Thompson helped teams win two Super Bowl titles: XXXI in 1997 and XLV in 2011. In 2019, Thompson shared that he had a health condition called an autonomic disorder.
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Playing Career: Ted Thompson on the Field
Thompson played college football at Southern Methodist University. He was a starting linebacker for three years and caught seven passes during his time there. In his final year, he was a team captain and also the team's placekicker.
In 1975, Thompson joined the Houston Oilers as an undrafted free agent. This means he wasn't chosen in the main draft but was signed later. The Oilers' general manager and coach, Bum Phillips, had coached Thompson briefly in college. Thompson earned a spot as a backup linebacker and special teams player. He kept this role for 10 years. He started nine games in his career and played in 146 out of 147 games, showing how tough he was. In a 1980 game, Thompson even kicked four extra points when the team needed an emergency kicker.
Leading from the Front Office
After his playing days, Ted Thompson moved into leadership roles in football. He became known for finding great players.
Green Bay Packers: A Scout's Eye
In 1992, Ron Wolf hired Thompson to be a scout for the Green Bay Packers. A scout's job is to find talented players for the team. Thompson worked for the Packers until 1999. Then, former Packers coach Mike Holmgren asked Thompson to join him at the Seattle Seahawks. While Thompson was a scout for the Packers, the team made it to the playoffs six times. They also played in two Super Bowls and won Super Bowl XXXI.
Seattle Seahawks: Building a Team
Thompson worked for the Seattle Seahawks as the Vice President of Football Operations. In this role, he led the team's scouting department. He also managed the draft boards, which are lists of players the team might pick in the NFL Draft. He worked closely with Mike Holmgren, who was the Seahawks' general manager at the time.
During Thompson's time in Seattle, the Seahawks reached the playoffs twice. In 2005, after Thompson had left for the Packers, the Seahawks had one of their best seasons ever, making it to the Super Bowl. Many of the players on that Super Bowl team were chosen or brought in by Thompson. Mike Holmgren later said that once Ted Thompson joined, they started making good decisions.
Green Bay Packers: General Manager Years
Ted Thompson became the general manager of the Green Bay Packers in 2005, taking over from Mike Sherman. As general manager, he was in charge of all football decisions, like signing players and drafting new ones.
Making Key Decisions
When Thompson became general manager, the Packers had money problems with their player salaries. He had to make some tough choices. He decided not to re-sign some important players and released others. His first draft pick in 2005 was quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers was expected to be picked earlier but fell to the Packers. Thompson also drafted defensive players like Nick Collins and Brady Poppinga. These players became important parts of the team.
Building a Winning Team
In 2006, Thompson fired head coach Mike Sherman and hired Mike McCarthy. This was a surprise to many. Thompson also started to focus on improving the defense. He signed important players like cornerback Charles Woodson and defensive tackle Ryan Pickett. In the 2006 NFL Draft, he picked A. J. Hawk, Greg Jennings, and Johnny Jolly. Many of these new players quickly became starters and helped the team improve.
The 2007 season was a big success for Thompson and the Packers. They had a great regular season with a 13–3 record. They made it to the NFC Championship game but lost in overtime. For his work in 2007, Thompson was named the NFL Executive of the Year.
The Brett Favre Trade
The 2008 offseason was a difficult time for Thompson. Star quarterback Brett Favre decided he wanted to unretire after the Packers had already drafted two new quarterbacks. Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy wanted to move forward with Aaron Rodgers as the new starting quarterback. This led to a big disagreement.
Eventually, Thompson traded Brett Favre to the New York Jets. This was a huge decision that changed the team's future. The Packers then had a tough season, but the trade showed Thompson's commitment to his plan for the team.
Super Bowl XLV Victory
Thompson continued to build the team through the draft. In 2009, he picked B. J. Raji and Clay Matthews III. Both became Pro Bowl players. In 2010, he drafted Bryan Bulaga and Morgan Burnett. He also signed undrafted players like Sam Shields and Tim Masthay.
All these players came together, and the Packers went on to win Super Bowl XLV in 2011, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers. They were the first team seeded #6 from their conference to win the Super Bowl. After this big win, Thompson signed a new contract to stay with the Packers.
Later Years and Retirement
In 2011, the Packers had an amazing 15–1 regular season. However, they lost their first playoff game. In 2012, Thompson focused on improving the defense, which had struggled the year before. He signed new players and made changes to the roster.
On January 1, 2018, it was announced that Thompson would no longer be the general manager. He stayed with the team in an advisory role, helping with football operations. On November 6, 2018, the Packers announced that Ted Thompson would be added to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. This is a special honor for people who have made a big impact on the team.
Health and Passing
On May 8, 2019, Ted Thompson shared that he had been diagnosed with an autonomic disorder. This is a health condition that affects how the body's automatic systems work. He mentioned this as a reason for stepping down from his general manager role. Ted Thompson passed away at his home in Atlanta, Texas, on January 20, 2021, shortly after his 68th birthday.
Images for kids
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Thompson in 2010
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Thompson in August 2011
