Thompson left his mark
Longtime Oilers linebacker who rebuilt Packers into champion dies at 68
In a 1975 NFL draft that lasted 17 rounds, the Oilers used the sixth overall pick on Jackson State’s Robert “Dr. Doom” Brazile, the prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker for firstyear head coach Bum Phillips.
Phillips, who was also the general manager, made Brazile one of the cornerstones of the Luv Ya Blue Oilers’ defense. Brazile made such an impact on the game that he’s enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
When that draft was over and teams started scrambling for undrafted players, the Oilers signed an undersized linebacker from SMU. Ted Thompson wasn’t the multitalented, prototype defensive coaches covet for a 3-4 scheme like Brazile, but he also made an impact on the game.
Thompson spent 21 years in Green Bay’s personnel department, including 13 as general manager. Thompson, who died at 68 this week after battling an autonomic disorder that affects the nervous system, was recognized as one of the greatest personnel experts in NFL history.
As Green Bay’s GM (2005-17), Thompson hired coach Mike McCarthy, drafted quarterback Aaron Rodgers, traded quarterback Brett Favre, developed a personnel department that churned out a number of general managers with other teams, won a Super Bowl ring, and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame.
“I can’t believe Teddy’s gone — I’m still in shock,” Brazile said Thursday.
Brazile and Thompson played 10 years together, both retiring after the 1984 season. They weren’t just teammates through the years — they also became good friends who respected and admired each other.
“Teddy and I came to Houston the same year (1975),” Brazile said. “He had some gray hair then, and I thought, ‘Man, that guy doesn’t look like a rookie.’ We became good friends and shared so many wonderful memories together with guys like Bum and Earl (Campbell) and (Dan) Pastorini.”
Pastorini, the Oilers’ quarterback and team leader, learned of Thompson’s death Thursday morning.
“I was so upset to hear about Ted,” he said. “He was a good friend. He was a teammate, but he was more than a teammate. He was just a good human being.”
Thompson spent his career as a backup and special teams captain. Because he wasn’t as physically gifted as many of his teammates, he had to work harder and be physically and mentally tougher to contribute in a fashion Phillips and defensive coordinator Ed Biles demanded.
“He was such a versatile player,” Brazile said. “He was our special teams captain and one of our leaders. And was tough as nails. He could play any linebacker spot, too. He’d do anything the coaches asked him to do.
“Teddy was a great guy. He was fun and fair, and you never heard anybody say anything bad about him. Everybody loved him and respected him.”
When they retired, Brazile returned to Alabama, his home state. Thompson stayed in Houston as a businessman and played in a lot of charity golf events.
In 1992, Thompson’s closest friend, former Oilers safety Mike Reinfeldt, was working for the Packers and suggested to general manager Ron Wolf that Thompson would be ideal for an entry-level scouting job that paid only $30,000.
Thompson impressed Wolf so much he advanced quickly in the personnel department, eventually becoming director of player personnel. When coach Mike Holmgren left Green Bay for Seattle, he hired Thompson as his vice president of football operations. He stayed for five seasons (2000-04) before returning to the Packers as general manager.
After his first season, Thompson fired coach Mike Sherman and hired McCarthy, San Francisco’s offensive coordinator. Thompson first draft choice was Rodgers, the 24th pick in the first round. The Packers didn’t need a quarterback because they had Favre, but Thompson thought Rodgers was too good to pass up. And he was right.
Three years later, Thompson traded Favre to the Jets, and McCarthy promoted Rodgers into the starting role.
“Ted made one of the boldest moves in football history by getting rid of Favre and segueing to Rodgers,” Pastorini said. “He turned the Packers into a yearly Super Bowl contender, and that was quite a feat.”
Knowing Thompson as long as they did, Pastorini and Brazile weren’t surprised he became a decorated general manager.
“Ted was the kind of player that always had his head in the game,” Pastorini said. “I think he used playing as a steppingstone to becoming a general manager.
“He was always very analytical about the draft and what team drafted what player. He always had a knack for talent.” Brazile agreed. “Teddy knew talent, and he was so smart,” Brazile said. “Nobody was surprised he went on to become a great general manager.”
Because of his health issues, Thompson left his GM position and moved into an advisory role in 2018. He returned to his East Texas hometown of Atlanta. In 2019, when he was enshrined in the Packers Hall of Fame, Thompson disclosed that he was suffering from the autonomic disorder.