Poll: After a disappointing 2017 season, should the Seahawks keep their roster intact?
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers announced Tuesday that Ted Thompson is relinquishing his role as general manager. He will remain with the NFL team as a senior advisor of football operations.
Thompson has been the Packers’ GM since 2005. His personnel analyst in Green Bay that year, and in 2006 and 2007? Current Seahawks general manager John Schneider.
Cue the talk of Schneider being a prime candidate to replace Thompson.
Schneider grew up 15 minutes south of Green Bay, in De Pere, Wisconsin. He was with the Packers’ front office from 2002 until January 2010. That’s when he left his job as the Packers’ director of football operations to become a first-time NFL GM with Seattle.
Schneider’s first Seahawks contract reportedly had an out for him to become the Packers’ GM. In July 2016, when he got an extension through 2021 with Seattle, he said his new contract did not include an out clause to take an executive job with Green Bay.
The Packers lost their season finale Sunday, 35-11 to the Detroit Lions, to finish with a losing record (7-9) for the first time since 2008.
Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers missed nine games with a collarbone injury and the offense struggled with backup Brett Hundley. The defense, meanwhile, failed to improve this season despite being stocked with high draft picks.
“This is a special place and we’ve had some success along the way, but it’s the relationships that I value most,” Thompson said in a statement. “This is the players’ game and I appreciate all the sacrifices they have made for the Packers. I look forward to supporting this team in my new role as we strive to win another championship.”
The highlight of Thompson’s tenure as GM was the Packer’s Super Bowl victory over Pittsburgh following the 2010 season.
Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson speaks during a press conference in March of 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
