[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 117 (Tuesday, July 8, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4255-S4256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO MARK MURPHY

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today I rise to honor Mark Murphy, chief 
executive officer of the Green Bay Packers, as he prepares to retire on 
July 13. For 15 seasons, Mr. Murphy has led one of the most revered 
franchises in professional sports, ushering the team into an era of 
incredible success.
  Founded in 1919, the Green Bay Packers are one of the oldest teams in 
the National Football League--NFL--and the league's last remaining 
``small-town team.'' But make no mistake, a small town does not mean a 
small fanbase. Packers fans are as loyal and enthusiastic as they come. 
Every Packers game since 1960 has been sold out, and the waitlist for 
season tickets is nearly 150,000 names long. Over the team's long and 
storied history, the Packers have enjoyed many successful seasons. 
Decorated with 13 league championships, the team has nine pre-Super 
Bowl NFL titles and four Super Bowl victories. With more than 360,000 
stockholders, the Packers are proudly the only community-owned team in 
all of American professional sports.
  Because of the team's public ownership, being CEO of the Packers is a 
unique and demanding job, but Mr. Murphy's background could not suit 
him better for the position. Born in Fulton, NY, Mr. Murphy graduated 
from Clarence High School, where he was a successful athlete and 
accomplished student. Mark went on to attend Colgate University, 
continuing his athletic career playing football and baseball. He then 
went on to receive a master of business administration from American 
University and a juris doctor from Georgetown University.
  After his success at Colgate, Mr. Murphy was drafted into the NFL. He 
played in Washington, DC, for eight seasons during which time the team 
twice reached the Super Bowl, winning Superbowl XVII in 1982. In 1983, 
Mr. Murphy led the league in interceptions and was named All-Pro. To 
this day, he is believed to be the only person to earn a Super Bowl 
ring as both a player as well as a team executive.
  Following his time as a player, Mr. Murphy worked for the National 
Football League Players Association, eventually becoming vice 
president. While at the players association, Mr. Murphy served on the 
union's bargaining team during the 1987 player's strike. He moved on to 
collegiate athletics, spending a combined 16 years as director of 
athletics at Colgate University and Northwestern University. In 1989, 
Mr. Murphy served as a trial attorney with the U.S. Department of 
Justice. He spent 4 years as a public servant, primarily representing 
government Agencies in trials. In 2007, Mr. Murphy became the tenth CEO 
of the Green Bay Packers, embarking on what would be a remarkably 
successful tenure with the franchise.
  During his time with the Packers, Mr. Murphy made innumerable 
contributions to the Packers organization, including renovations to 
Lambeau Field, which is the oldest continuously occupied stadium in the 
NFL. He has overseen major renovations to the facility that have 
maintained the stadium's historic charm while making it a venue 
suitable for year-round events.
  Mr. Murphy was also instrumental in development of the Titletown 
District. Situated directly next to Lambeau Field, Titletown is a 
mixed-use development that includes a residential property, numerous 
dining options, a sports medicine facility, a full-sized athletic 
field, game courts, and a playground. Titletown is also home to 
TitletownTech, a venture capital firm that Murphy has actively engaged 
with that invests in startups to solve global challenges. Since opening 
in 2017, Titletown has become a destination for locals and visitors 
alike.
  Perhaps Mr. Murphy's most impressive accomplishment was his ability 
to build and maintain a successful football team. During Mr. Murphy's 
tenure, the Packers qualified for the postseason 13 times, reached the 
NFC championship game five times, and won Superbowl XLV in 2011. Mr. 
Murphy's leadership has allowed this team to remain one of the most 
successful in the league.
  To cap off his time as CEO of the Packers, Mr. Murphy helped bring 
the NFL draft to Green Bay in April of 2025. The 3-day event brought 
more than 600,000 fans to Green Bay, the second-highest attendance in 
NFL draft history.
  Mr. Murphy's contributions reach far beyond Lambeau Field and across 
Wisconsin. He and his wife Laurie have supported Wisconsin 
organizations dedicated to education, internet access, healthcare 
equity, and racial justice. Mr. Murphy is an advisory board member of 
the Positive Coaching Alliance, an organization that promotes a 
positive environment in youth athletics. He also served on the 
executive committee and board of USA Football and has contributed to 
efforts to make football safer for athletes of all ages. In 2021, Mr. 
Murphy received the Free Enterprise Award from the Rotary Club of Green 
Bay for his efforts to drive business growth and community impact 
through the Packers organization.
  For 15 years, Mr. Murphy combined his passion for football with his 
strong business acumen to shape a bold era of

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leadership. Mr. Murphy's legacy is defined by honest, thoughtful 
leadership--qualities for which he will be remembered in Wisconsin and 
across the National Football League. As he prepares to retire from the 
Packers Organization, I am proud to honor Mark Murphy's many 
contributions to the Green Bay Packers and the State of Wisconsin and 
wish him and his family all the best. ``Go Pack Go!''

                          ____________________