GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – On Friday, Mark Murphy soaked up his final moments as president and CEO of the Green Bay Packers.
His day began at training camp, where he signed dozens of autographs and took pictures with fans. The annual shareholders meeting later in the afternoon doubled as a celebration of Murphy’s time as president and CEO of the Packers.
It included a video tribute for Murphy and messages from other executives around the league, including Roger Goodell.
In his remarks at the shareholders meeting, Murphy said it’s one of his favorite events of the year. He described it as the most unique business meeting in the entire world.
Murphy received a hero’s welcome when he strode out of the tunnel into the stadium bowl at Lambeau Field for the meeting. Shareholders gave him a standing ovation and waved cutouts with his face on them that also doubled as fans on the hot July afternoon. He even received some MVP chants.
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“I’m just so thankful for the tremendous run that I’ve had and to be able to interact with the fans in the way I have,” Murphy said.
Ed Policy will take over for Murphy as the new president and CEO of the Green Bay Packers. He’s been with the team since 2012, when he joined as vice president and general counsel. Policy also spoke at the shareholders meeting.
“It’s never easy to follow someone like Mark Murphy, but much easier when he’s taken the time to prepare you to do so,” he said.
Murphy said his biggest advice he’s given Policy is to just be himself. Murphy said the Packers new president and CEO has shown great leadership over the years and is ready to assume this role.
Murphy had been the Packers president and CEO since 2008. During his time in this role, the Green and Gold were a perennial playoff team and won the Super Bowl in 2011. Murphy was one of the visionaries behind Titletown and also helped bring the NFL draft to Green Bay last spring.
Fans who spoke to Local 5 News said they made it a point to come to the shareholders meeting so that they could say goodbye and thank you to Murphy.
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“Thank you for everything you did for the Packers and the community, the Packers fans and the team,” said Packers shareholder Joanne Smits.
“To Mark, I just want to say thank you for your contributions, your time, your effort, your love for Green Bay,” said Connor Cappaert, another Packers shareholder at the meeting on Friday afternoon. “Green Bay is better now than when you came aboard.”
Green Bay mayor Eric Genrich issued a proclamation on Friday morning, making July 25 ‘Mark Murphy Day’ in Green Bay.
On Friday night, officials lit up several downtown Green Bay bridges with green and gold lights to celebrate Murphy’s legacy.
“Hopefully they (the fans) feel like I’ve left the organization better than I found it,” Murphy said.
