Franchises chief executive for 17 years left his stamp on successful run

Cliff Christl

Mark Murphy

Inducted: 2025

President & CEO: 2008-25

Executive Committee & Board of Directors: 2008-25

Chairman Emeritus: 2025-Present

During Mark Murphy's more than 17 years as the franchise's chief executive officer, the Green Bay Packers won a Super Bowl, enlarged the capacity of Lambeau Field by more than 8,000 seats while also extending its footprint beyond what anyone might have imagined not that many years earlier, and capped it all off by hosting the 2025 NFL Draft, which drew record crowds to Green Bay, a city that was incorporated in 1854.

When Murphy was named to his position on Dec. 3, 2007, he became the 10th principal officer of the most storied franchise in the National Football League. His hiring also followed the most extensive search for a team president since the Packers became a community property in 1923.

The challenge facing Murphy was also one that can be as daunting as any in professional sports: Sustaining success beyond what was already a notable length of time. The remarkable reclamation of the Packers, following a 24-year famine, had started in 1992 and was still going strong when Murphy was hired as evidenced by their 13-3 record and narrow loss in the 2007 NFC Championship Game.

Under Murphy's tenure, the third longest among the team's presidents, the Packers not only won Super Bowl XLV for their record 13th NFL title, they also won eight NFC North championships and shared the second-best regular-season record among the league's 32 teams.

During those 17 seasons, only 11 other franchises won a Super Bowl. Division rivals Minnesota, Chicago and Detroit won a combined nine NFC North titles. And only New England compiled a better regular-season record, while Pittsburgh matched the Packers.

On the business side, Murphy oversaw two stock sales that raised more than $132 million and swelled ownership to more than 538,000 shareholders; and several projects that improved the Lambeau Field experience, including expanded seating at the south end, plus new quarters for the team's football operation, Packers Hall of Fame and Packers Pro Shop. The development of the Titletown District also occurred on his watch.

Maybe his crowning accomplishment was convincing the NFL office and other owners that Green Bay, despite being the smallest city in the league, was big enough to host the NFL Draft.

Prior to joining the Packers, Murphy played eight seasons in the NFL with Washington, held the position of assistant executive director with the NFL Players Association, and served as athletic director at Colgate University and Northwestern University. He earned a master's degree in business administration from American University and a law degree from Georgetown University.

"You have lived the ultimate football life," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in paying tribute to Murphy when he was honored by the Packers during halftime of a 2024 Monday night game. "A Super Bowl winning player, a college executive and now leading the iconic Green Bay Packers and bringing them a Super Bowl championship."

Born July 13, 1955, in Fulton, N.Y. Given name Mark Hodge Murphy.