Packers' power structure could change again following Mark Murphy's 2025 retirement

Mark Murphy altered the Packers' org chart in 2018, unwinding the model established by Bob Harlan in the early 1990s. Could Murphy's replacement reverse course?

As part of the Green Bay Packers' public ownership -- a novel concept for a sports franchise in the United States -- the team president serves as the de facto owner, albeit with significant differences and restrictions. Most notably, the Packers' bylaws include a mandatory retirement age of 70. As a result, soon-to-be 69-year-old president Mark Murphy must step away by July of 2025.

With Murphy's mandatory retirement fast approaching, the Packers named a successor this week, settling on the team's chief operating officer and general counsel Ed Policy after a search that began in early 2023.

"Congratulations to Ed on this well-deserved promotion to what I believe is the most unique and meaningful position in the world of professional sports," Murphy said in a press release. "Ed has been a tremendous asset to the organization during his 12 years here and has been greatly instrumental in our success. His work on Titletown has been particularly impactful. He is highly respected - both in the building and within the NFL. I've enjoyed working with him and am confident he will be an excellent steward for the organization.

"In the coming year, he and I will continue to work closely together to ensure a smooth transition for our employees, players, and fans."

Though Policy doesn't have much name recognition with the Packers' fan base relative to Murphy or some of the other names considered -- Washington Commanders president Jason Wright reportedly also reached the final stages of the interview process -- the move comes as little surprise. Policy has worked for the team for 12 years, first joining as general counsel in 2012 and adding chief operating officer to his title in '18. Multiple league sources told The Leap that Green Bay has gradually expanded his responsibilities beyond his official role, effectively grooming him for the role once Murphy reached the age of mandatory retirement.

In a certain sense, Policy's promotion signals a calm transition of power. He already has built-in familiarity with all the organization's major stakeholders. That includes the three key leadership figures on the football side who report directly to the president: head coach Matt LaFleur, general manager Brian Gutekunst, and director of football operation Russ Ball. When Murphy departs, Policy could slide in without having to build new relationships.

However, the structure of the organization Policy will inherit could create some complications.