Green and Golden Moments: Bob Harlan and the Green Bay Packers

by Bob Harlan

If ever a sports franchise could afford to run on cruise control, the Green Bay Packers could, with their guaranteed sellouts and 65,000-person season ticket waiting list. But Bob Harlan never let that happen. Harlan joined the team in 1971, was elected as its president in 1989 and became the single biggest force in re-establishing the Packers as an elite NFL organization both competitively and financially. In the 18 years that Harlan was in charge, the Packers went to the playoffs ten times, played in two Super Bowls, won one of them and lived through only three losing seasons?an incredible feat in the era of salary caps and free agency. This is the story of how a kid from Iowa who wanted to be a sports writer built a career, in his own low key, unassuming way, as one one of the most effective executives in any game in America.

258 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 2007

Reviews

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice memoir of a guy who rose through the ranks to become the President & CEO of the Green Bay Packers. I enjoyed insights into the personalities and events shaping the franchise from the Dan Devine era until around 2010 or so.

It skipped around a bit. Seems like it would have benefited from a tighter edit. At times it felt like he was writing a long letter to the fan base. Which, I guess in a sense, he did.

[Chantel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting insights into the Packers organization and Bob Harlan's life. Very well written, almost as if he is really talking directly to you in person. Makes you appreciate all that goes into running a professional football team.

[Chi Dubinski · Rating 2 out of 5]

Retired general manager of the Packers Bob Harlan shares his memories of the team. For someone who started out in journalism, and for all the interesting folks he worked with, he writes a fairly humdrum memoir.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Green and Golden Moments was a very pleasant surprise, full of satisfying insights for Packer fans in particular and NFL fans in general. I highly recommend it to fans of the Green and Gold.

[Randy Wojtasiak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the behind the scenes view from a wonderful man.