The Green Bay Packers have had a shortage of names in prominent positions over my lifetime. Since 1987, they've had only five-week 1 starting quarterbacks, eight head coaches, five general managers, and three team presidents. The first three positions on that list might be the most impressive, but the value of the last one is a testament to the success of those who have held the position. You don't remain the President & CEO of the Green Bay Packers for over 18 years and get to ride off into the sunset at your retirement age if you're a failure. 

Early Saturday morning, Mark Murphy's final edition of his "Murphy Takes 5" was posted on Packers.com. If you're unfamiliar with the column, the President & CEO would often take the time to answer many fan questions sent in to him, and these questions and answers would be posted on the team website. I have to give him a lot of credit for his willingness to take the metaphorical bullets shot at him over the years. There were a few doozies that were shared in the column, and his sense of humor and his ability to answer even the nasty ones with dignity and grace were very respectable. 

Murphy talked about the highlights of his career in the position as well as some regrets. The regrets included his inability to win a Super Bowl with Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur, considering how close they were in a few seasons. He also shared a more personal story, opening up about how when he first took his position, he had the chance to bring his father to two playoff home games at Lambeau Field, but he decided it might be best to wait for better weather in September with the start of the new season. Unfortunately, his father passed away from brain cancer several months before the start of the season and never had the chance to make it to a game at Lambeau. But of course, there were the highlights as well.

You can imagine the top moment of Mark Murphy's career was winning Super Bowl XLV in 2011, but many of his best moments or achievements came away from the football field. Murphy oversaw the South End Zone and concourse renovations, the new football and administrative offices, and a new locker room coming soon. When it came to off-field accomplishments, there are two that stick out in my head as being almost "legendary." These two would be hosting the NFL Draft and the development of the Titletown District.

The NFL Draft in Green Bay

I grew up watching the NFL Draft take place in Radio City Music Hall in New York year after year. That was just "Draft Theater" to me, and when the NFL decided to take the Draft on the road to different cities, it was cool in my eyes, but I never dreamed it would ever be in Green Bay. I watched the Draft go to the much larger NFL cities and figured that if I wanted to go to the Draft, I'd have to go down to Chicago or something, and that honestly didn't appeal to me at all. Not just because it's Bears country, but I just didn't want to deal with the trip to get there. 

When Mark Murphy began his efforts to lure the Draft to Green Bay, it was considered a joke. All around the league and media, there were comments that there was no chance Green Bay could hold the Draft. It was too small, they said, it didn't have the hotels and restaurants needed for all the people it would attract, they said. Mark Murphy considered this all to be misguided and that Green Bay could easily host the Draft. And they did. And it was considered one of the most successful drafts in recent memory. 

This was Mark Murphy's swan song. He could've just packed it up and called it a career in his final few years, but instead, he decided to push for hosting one of the biggest events in sports. And he nailed it. 

Titletown

For many years, "Titletown" was just a nickname for Green Bay given the team's 13 World Championships. It still is a nickname. But now, Titletown also refers to the business district built just across the street from Lambeau Field. In 2003, with the construction of the Lambeau Field atrium, Mark Murphy's predecessor, Bob Harlan, helped make Lambeau Field a year-round destination to help with team finances. In 2017, Mark Murphy approved the purchase of 45 acres of land west of Lambeau Field. State-of-the-art buildings were constructed, as well as a 10-acre park and plaza. 

Businesses occupying the buildings in these spaces now pay the Packers to be there. As you can imagine, rent next to the legendary stadium isn't cheap. It's as if under Murphy's direction, the Packers went from just a legendary football team to a legendary football team, and a real estate firm.

This, in my opinion, may be Murphy's greatest accomplishment as President & CEO of the Packers, as he has magnified the team's financial stability and metaphorically driven the Packers' roots in Green Bay, miles deeper into the ground. 

Mark Murphy catches a lot of grief from those who may not understand his position and his accomplishments. But he deserves every bit of the accolades he is given, and will soon be deserving of his position in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.