'A good, honorable guy': Packers fans remember former general manager Ted Thompson

GREEN BAY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The passing of former Packers general manager Ted Thompson came as a shock to Packers fans.

That was especially true in Green Bay where he was a big part of the community.

Fan Bob Gardner said he's watched the Packers play since he was a kid in the 1960s.

Not only does he love the team, he was also a fan of Thompson's.

“Just a good, honorable guy," said Gardner.

After Thompson took over as GM in 2005, Gardner said he was good at making the best, tough choices for the green and gold.

“I really was a fan of Ted's," said Gardner. "He drafted Aaron Rodgers. He made that hard decision of switching quarterbacks. He took a lot flack for that." 

And it was this steadfastness that made other fans appreciate Thompson, too.

“He was pretty tough but I think that he made the Packers strong because he was so tough," Packers fan Debbie Ryf said.

“He’s been with the Packers for so long and it’s just crazy," fan Kimberly Strebe said.

“It’s really sad that he unfortunately passed away," Lucas Pavlik said. "I know he struggled with health and all that, but it’s just said to hear.”

Fans said Thompson's legacy will be on display against the Buccaneers, as he drafted team standouts like DeVante Adams, Aaron Jones, and with his first-ever draft pick, quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“I think that pick of Aaron Rodgers is going to go down in history as the big one, but we’ll always remember Ted here, and he was a great guy, and really just wonderful for our community and the Packer nation," John Czukas said.

The Packers credit Thompson with leading the team through one of its most successful stretches in Packers history.

And as players gear up for the NFC Championship on Sunday, Jan. 24, fans hope Thompson’s memory will inspire the team to victory.

“I think they would do better. I think they’d probably want to win for him," fan Jerry Anderson said.

We tip our hat and say a little prayer for Ted Thompson today, and we’re going to go and hopefully the Packers can win one for Teddy," Kevin Leurquin said.

Thompson's old neighbors said he was a quiet man who generally kept to himself, and put a lot of hours in at the stadium.

To honor Thompson's contributions to the organization, and his legacy, the Packers will install his name on the Lambeau Field façade before next season.