Ted Thompson was an American professional football player and executive in the National Football League.
31 Facts About Ted Thompson
2.
Ted Thompson was the general manager of the Green Bay Packers from 2005 to 2017.
3.
Ted 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.
4.
Ted Thompson then served with the Seattle Seahawks as their vice president of operations from 2000 to 2004.
5.
Ted Thompson returned to Green Bay as their general manager in 2005.
6.
In May 2019, Ted Thompson revealed that he had been suffering from an autonomic disorder.
7.
Ted Thompson played college football at Southern Methodist University, starting three years at linebacker and intercepting seven passes during his career.
8.
Ted Thompson won a spot as a backup linebacker and special teams player and held this position for 10 years.
9.
Ted Thompson started nine games during his career, but he proved durable, playing in 146 of 147 games.
10.
In 1992, Ted Thompson was hired by Ron Wolf as a scout for the Green Bay Packers.
11.
Thompson worked for the Packers through the 1999 season when former Packers' head coach Mike Holmgren recruited Thompson to join the Seattle Seahawks.
12.
Ted Thompson worked for the Seattle Seahawks as Vice President of Football Operations, heading Seattle's scouting department and running the draft boards.
13.
Ted Thompson worked alongside former Packers and Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren, who was Seattle's GM at the time.
14.
Many of the players on Seattle's Super Bowl team were acquired under Ted Thompson's direction, including HB Shaun Alexander, WR Darrell Jackson, OG Steve Hutchinson, CB Marcus Trufant, K Josh Brown and OT Sean Locklear.
15.
Ted Thompson replaced Mike Sherman as general manager of the Packers in 2005.
16.
When Ted Thompson was hired the Packers were over the salary cap for the upcoming 2005 season.
17.
In free agency following the draft, Ted Thompson signed low-priced players, picking up guards Matt O'Dwyer and Adrian Klemm to make up for the losses of Wahle and Rivera.
18.
Ted 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.
19.
However, Thompson elected not to retain several veterans including kicker Ryan Longwell, center Mike Flanagan, or linebacker Na'il Diggs.
20.
Ted 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.
21.
Ted Thompson was more active in free agency than he was in 2005, focusing mostly on defense by signing cornerback Charles Woodson from the Oakland Raiders, safety Marquand Manuel from the Seattle Seahawks, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett from the St Louis Rams, and linebacker Ben Taylor from the Cleveland Browns.
22.
Ted Thompson later added another Big Ten linebacker, Abdul Hodge from Iowa.
23.
Ted Thompson nabbed eventual starter Johnny Jolly with a 6th round pick.
24.
Ted Thompson addressed offensive deficiencies during the draft by nabbing wide receiver Greg Jennings, guard Jason Spitz and guard Daryn Colledge.
25.
Favre, meanwhile, expressed frustration with Ted Thompson regarding hiring and personnel decisions stating that he was only "guilty of retiring early".
26.
Besides the obvious controversy concerning the Brett Favre unretirement and trade, Ted Thompson was considerably criticized by his decision in the 2008 offseason to waive punter Jon Ryan.
27.
On February 11,2011, Ted Thompson was re-signed to a multiyear contract extension.
28.
Ted Thompson decided to let Pro Bowl center Scott Wells depart and brought in former Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday.
29.
On November 6,2018, the Packers announced that Ted Thompson would be inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
30.
On May 8,2019, Ted Thompson announced that he was diagnosed with autonomic disorder.
31.
Ted Thompson died at his home in Atlanta, Texas on January 20,2021, three days after his 68th birthday.