How the NFL Works, S1 E3: Resurrecting a Franchise with Ron Wolf

Go Long Podcast

The task, to most, appeared insurmountable. This was a Green Bay Packers franchise that had completely forgotten how to win.

When Ron Wolf took over as general manager in November 1991, the football team in the NFL’s smallest market was short on both talent and belief. With free agency looming, it was fair to wonder if the Packers would become obsolete. It had been 24 years since Vince Lombardi won his last title and — over those 24 years — these Packers made the playoffs only twice. (Many readers here certainly remember those dark ages.)

Then, Wolf changed everything.

All the Packers have known since his arrival is winning.

He traded for Brett Favre, hired Mike Holmgren, signed Reggie White and restored the glory days. Through his decade as GM, the Packers never had a losing season, won three NFC Central titles and, of course, reached two Super Bowls. The Packers triumphed over New England in ‘96.

So… how?

How did Ron Wolf make the team in this frigid pocket of the country a winner built to last? The GMs that’ve followed — Ted Thompson and Brian Gutekunst — were both hired by Wolf as scouts in the 90s and both followed Wolf’s blueprint. The Packers became a team that expects to compete for a championship every year. All a credit to Wolf, first and foremost.

General managers across the NFL are trying to turn organizations around. We’ve spoken to many.

Here on the third episode of “How the NFL Works,” Wolf explains in full how he did it. After so many years working as a personnel man for Al Davis and the Raiders (1963- ‘74, 1979- ‘89), a brief run as Tampa Bay’s VP of football operations (‘76- ‘78) and the Jets’ personnel director (‘90- ‘91), the timing was right. Wolf was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. Today, his son Eliot is the GM of the New England Patriots.

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Topics discussed…

* What compelled Ron Wolf to trade a first-round pick for Brett Favre? The Bucs years taught him a valuable lesson. He knew he needed a quarterback.

* Was there a game, a practice, a moment Wolf knew Favre was exactly what the Packers needed? GMs across the NFL are waiting to be struck my cupid’s arrow at the position themselves.

* Favre should’ve been a New York Jet. Instead, he became a Packer and the trade launched the most unprecedented run of quarterback play the NFL’s seen.

* Green Bay had many disadvantages. To this day, it’s hard to convince players in their mid-20s to live in Wisconsin. But Wolf didn’t overthink the negative. He knew there were many built-in advantages to running a football team here… and he played off those advantages. He was determined to make Titletown a Destination Town. Right down to finding the best barbers he could, Wolf make this a player-friendly operation.

* Hiring Mike Holmgren. (The 49ers OC was the “girl with the curl,” Wolf says.)

* Signing for Reggie White. (Sometimes, it simply pays to pay the most money.)

* All these years later, he still thinks about the Packers’ Super Bowl XXXII loss to the Denver Broncos. Wolf reveals his great regret.

* Why he believes Sterling Sharpe should join him in Canton.

* Several personnel men under Wolf have spread his philosophy to other franchises. One, John Dorsey, helped build the best team in the NFL. Another, John Schneider, is still going strong in Seattle. Thompson, of course, won a Super Bowl in 2010.

* Drafting Donald Driver. (The Chicago Bears are to thank.)

* Trading for Ahman Green. (He knew the running back was in Seattle’s doghouse.)

* And the best feeling of them all? Winning the NFC Championship at Lambeau Field over the Carolina Panthers.

Thank you for listening, watching and sharing. You’ll enjoy this one.

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Miss an episode of “How the NFL Works?”

* How the NFL Works, S1 E1: Building the 2024 Quarterback with Quincy Avery

* How the NFL Works, S1 E2: Life After Football with Ryan Leaf

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