The Green Bay Packers represent one of the most recognizable teams in all of the NFL. With its rich history and championship pedigree, the franchise and its fans have had a lot to be excited about over the years.
While the team has been able to stay steady as they navigate year-to-year challenges on the field, the front office and ownership group have been crucial in keeping the Packers competitive and relevant since the team’s inception. However, the structure at the top of the franchise is unlike any other organization in the NFL.
Let’s take a closer look at who owns the Packers and who’s in charge day-to-day.
Who Owns the Green Bay Packers?
The Packers have been a publicly-owned, non-profit corporation since Aug. 18, 1923. The corporation currently has around 537,460 stockholders who collectively own an estimated 5.2 million shares of stock following the sixth stock sale in franchise history that took place in 2021.
There have been six stock sales in the Packers’ lifetime — the first being in 1923, followed by 1935, 1950, 1997, 2011, and the latest in 2021. Shares in 1923 sold for $5 apiece. In 1997, they were $200 each. In 2011, they were $250. And in 2021, they were $300.
This is a truly unique arrangement. In fact, it’s actually not allowed by the NFL governing bodies; the Packers are the only exception. The NFL does not allow corporate ownership of clubs, requiring every club to be owned by either a single owner or a small group of owners — at least one of whom must hold a 1/3 stake in the team.
The Packers are exempt from this rule since they have been a publicly-owned corporation since before the rule was in place; basically, they were grandfathered in.
While there are stocks and shares to be had, the Packers are run by a board of directors that serve as the “owner of record” for the franchise in the eyes of the NFL.
What Does Owning Shares Get You?
Owning stock in a company gives you a real sense of ownership in most cases, but with the Packers, the entity isn’t quite set up traditionally.
Shares don’t include any equity interest, don’t pay holders dividends for their stock, cannot be traded, and have no protection under securities laws.
Shares also don’t give any season-ticket purchasing privileges. The only rights shareholders receive are voting rights, an invitation to the corporation’s annual meeting, and an opportunity to purchase exclusive shareholder-only merchandise.
Who Runs the Packers’ Front Office?
On June 24, 2024, the Packers’ board of directors voted unanimously to appoint Ed Policy as the team’s new president and CEO. Policy will step into the role in 2025, taking over the day-to-day operations of the team.
Policy is an internal hire, as he’s been part of the Packers’ brain trust since 2012. He initially joined the franchise as its vice president and general counsel, and he was promoted to COO in 2018.
Before joining the Packers, Policy was the commissioner of the Arena Football League. Ed’s father, Carmen Policy, previously owned the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns.
Former NFL defensive back Mark Murphy has served as the Packers’ president and CEO since 2008, but there’s a mandatory retirement age of 70 years old, meaning he must transition out of this role next year.
“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 statement. “Ed has been a tremendous asset to the organization during his 12 years here and has been greatly instrumental in our success.
“In the coming year, he and I will continue to work closely together to ensure a smooth transition for our employees, players, and fans.”
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Policy earned this promotion after beating out more than 90 candidates and going through multiple rounds of interviews.
“I am incredibly honored, excited, and grateful to the search committee, the Board, the shareholders, and the entire organization for this treasured and one-of-a-kind opportunity,” Policy said in a statement. “I am particularly grateful to Mark for 12 years of mentorship. I am looking forward to building on his leadership and considerable success on and off the field.
“We will continue our relentless focus on building a winning culture that transcends the playing field. The Lombardi Trophy will always be our North Star, and ensuring a positive impact on our community will continue to be paramount in our decision-making. We have the greatest fans in sports and will never take their commitment to the Packers for granted.”