The Green Bay Packers formally announced they’re doing the Brett Favre thing on Thanksgiving, on Monday. Well, we already knew about that, so who cares? What we didn’t know is the Packers will also be honoring former general manager Ron Wolf.
Wolf is part of the 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. He was voted in as a member of the first ever contributors class.
The Packers will honor Wolf and present him with his Hall of Fame ring on Nov. 15, which is when the Lions are in town.
And anything the Packers do for Ron Wolf, we are firmly behind.
No one was more responsible for resurrecting a franchise that was nothing short of dog shit for two full decades than Ron Wolf. Wolf was the guy who brought the winning culture back to Green Bay and effectively put the franchise back on the NFL map. Prior to his arrival, the Green Bay Packers were a goddam joke and not even a funny one.
You surely know the resume highlights. Hired Holmgren, traded for Favre, signed White.
All of that winning you take for granted today — because of Ron Wolf.
I really cannot overstate the importance of this guy in Packers history. I might even go so far as to make the argument that next to Lambeau and Lombardi, comes Wolf.
Those in the organization understand this.
They made the unconventional move to add Wolf’s name to the inner facade of Lambeau Field back in 2006. Previously, this honor was reserved only for members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it was assumed that Wolf would never join that fraternity. Personnel guys didn’t really have an opportunity to make the Hall prior to this year.
Now, Wolf will be where he belongs, both in Packers’ and NFL history.
He definitely belongs up there, dunno if I’d put him ahead of Jack Vainisi though.
That also brings up the question of how important Bob Harlan was to the organization. Ultimately, all the changes from the horseshit of Tom Braatz to the glory of TT starts with Harlan.
Bob Harlan made the 1st step by hiring Ron Wolf. But it was Ron Wolf who did all the heavy lifting.
This article is spot on. Trading for Favre and acquiring White were piece’s of the puzzle. But Wolf’s biggest obstacle and achievement was changing the culture of an entire NFL franchise from (winning would be nice, but as long as the stadiums full, it’s not a high priority) to changing the paradigm of how the Green Bay Packers would operate going forward. Wolf implemented the mindset of winning from top to bottom in Green Bay (Not a small task).
I can’t say enough about the impact that Ron Wolf has had changing the culture of NFL football in Green Bay or the positive effect it has had on hundreds of thousands of Green Bay fans. The work Wolf did back in the 90’s instilling a winning atmosphere in Green Bay is enjoyed to this day by Packer fans everywhere.
Monty wrote: ” I might even go so far as to make the argument that next to Lambeau and Lombardi, comes Wolf.”
I agree, which is why i believe that the Packers should erect a statue of Ron Wolf next to Lambeau and Lombardi.
Wolf is very deserving. we are still reaping the benefits of having him as a GM, as his operating procedures are still employed within the scouting & personnel section. And he trained Ted.
Pretty amazing what happens when you hire a really good executive who hires a really good football guy to run a football team. As opposed to the mismanagement by a committee of local shitheads playing at football that the Packers endured for the two decades preceding Harlan and Wolf.
Thank you Mr. Wolf
I met R. Wolf in an empty atrium late at night upon my 1st visit to GB. Chatted with me and took some pics with my and my son. Class act!
it is time to honor a true and loyal packer: jerry kramer, and maybe fred thurston as well, both of whom made the most famous designed play in FB history work: the power sweep. it should be done on the same day they retire BF’s number 4, but no later than next season, as there are fears they will not both live forever. this will highlight for all time, that the fabled franchise honors trump the hypocrisy of the nfl HOF committee–
http://www.notinhalloffame.com/football/item/1151-1-jerry-kramer
here is some more “theory” on the ongoing Kramer saga [they really need to do what MLB did and form a HOF “veterans” committee to address the lack of comparable stats from an era when pro football was more of a team sport, less a sport for overpaid prima donnas…
http://www.sbnation.com/2014/8/2/5957943/jerry-kramer-packers-hall-of-fame-canton
Here is evidence that luck can have as much to play as true greatness, for getting into Canton:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=bayless/060807