Thompson reassignment caps wild Black Monday for Packers

Jan 2, 2018 - 2:04 AM GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Black Monday has been a quiet time in Green Bay for years now.

Not in 2018.

On one of the wildest days the organization has seen in recent memory, the biggest bombshell was the news that Ted Thompson is out as Green Bay's general manager. Thompson, who turns 65 later this month, is expected to transition to a new role with the organization.

NFL Network first broke the news.

Earlier in the day, Green Bay also fired defensive coordinator Dom Capers, defensive line coach Mike Trgovac and inside linebackers coach Scott McCurley.

Thompson's demotion is the biggest move inside the Packers' management in years, though.

Thompson was hired as Green Bay's general manager in January, 2005 -- nearly 13 years ago -- and has led one of the NFL's most steady organizations ever since.

In that time, the Packers reached the playoffs nine times in 13 seasons and won Super Bowl XLV. Green Bay reached the postseason every year between 2009-2016 -- one season shy of the NFL record -- before having that string snapped after this year's 7-9 campaign.

Thompson often drew the wrath of Packer Nation for largely ignoring free agency and rarely making trades. Instead, he built Green Bay's roster with a draft-and-develop philosophy that mostly paid dividends.

Thompson's first-ever draft pick was quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2005. He also hit home runs with players like wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings, offensive linemen David Bakhtiari, T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton, linebacker Clay Matthews, defensive lineman Mike Daniels and safety Nick Collins.

Thompson's refusal to go "all-in" during most seasons often left the Packers with one of the youngest, least experienced rosters in football, though. And that played a part in several painful playoff losses in recent years.

In 2011, Green Bay went an NFL-best 15-1 in the regular season, but lost its first playoff game. In 2014, the Packers led Seattle, 19-7, with three minutes left in the NFC Championship Game, but eventually lost on overtime.

Green Bay also lost overtime playoff games in 2007, 2009 and 2015.

The Packers finished 125-82-1 under Thompson (.603) in regular-season games and were 10-8 in the postseason. Green Bay also went to four NFC Championship games under Thompson and went 1-3 in those contests.

The Packers have a handful of in-house candidates that could be ready to take over for Thompson. That list includes Russ Ball, the Packers' vice president of player finance; Eliot Wolf, the director of football operations; and Brian Gutekunst, the director of player personnel.

Whoever takes over as general manager will have to make a decision on what to do with head coach Mike McCarthy, who is entering the final year of his contract. McCarthy, who just finished his 12th season in Green Bay, has only worked for Thompson in that time and a new general manager might want to bring in his own man for the job.