The first Saturday of every month, Packers President and CEO Ed Policy will write about a topic of interest to Packers fans and the organization and then answer fan questions. Fans are encouraged to email Ed with their name and hometown at: PolicysPerspective@packers.com.
Just over 300 miles away from Lambeau Field sits Notre Dame Stadium, home of the Fighting Irish. This weekend Lambeau will be a home away from home for the Fighting Irish as they host the Wisconsin Badgers. This is our first time hosting college football at Lambeau Field in a decade and I couldn't be more excited. It's fitting that Lambeau's foray back into college football is hosting two teams with such deep ties to the Packers.
Around 108 years ago, Curly Lambeau was moving into his dorm, Sorin Hall, and taking the field for Knute Rockne and the Fighting Irish. Fortunately for us, Curly didn't return for his second semester and ended up back in Green Bay after just one semester at Notre Dame. While his stint in South Bend was short-lived, upon moving back to Green Bay he teamed up with George Calhoun to form the Green Bay Packers in the summer of 1919. You could say the rest was history, but our connections to the Fighting Irish didn't stop there. Paul Hornung won a Heisman Trophy with the Fighting Irish before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers. Packers scout and business manager Jack Vanisi was a "golden domer" before joining the Packers' staff in 1950. Coach LaFleur had a stint there as quarterbacks coach, and yours truly occupied Sorin Hall about 70 years after Curly roamed those very halls.
To have them take on our home-state Wisconsin Badgers makes this weekend even more special. Whether it was former Badgers Cub Buck and Buckets Goldenberg in the early years, or Ken Bowman anchoring our offensive line through the Ice Bowl and Mark Tauscher leading our offensive line for over a decade – we are proud of the Badgers that have traded in their cardinal and white for Green & Gold. These Packers Hall of Famers are an integral part of our history.
So needless to say, I am ready for the college football season to kick off this weekend. This game has been in the works for over a decade, and it is finally coming to fruition. I'm confident both teams will feel right at home in Green Bay. I've heard from many fans who are excited to take in the atmosphere. We only have one Packers home game in September so make sure you enjoy September football at Lambeau. It's fitting this month your questions ranged from collegiate to professional football, so let's get to it...
Eric from Chilton, WI
Hi Ed, I know we don't kick off the Packers season for a week, so I have to ask about college football. I'm a Marquette grad so I have no horse in this race – but who you taking this weekend in Badgers vs. Notre Dame?
Eric, you know gambling is illegal at Bushwood, sir! I hope it's a great game and will keep my personal allegiances to myself (and a few college buddies).
Gordon from Newport Beach, CA
Dear Mr. Policy, as the NFL continues its aggressive international expansion, the Packers hold a unique position as a community-owned franchise that relies heavily on localized local revenue to compete with private-equity and billionaire-backed organizations.
With the league openly discussing a shift toward an 18-game regular season — which would introduce a rotating ninth home game — how do you view the financial viability of the Packers eventually playing two international games per season (one designated "home" and one designated "away")?
Specifically, do you see an opportunity to leverage this model to aggressively scale our global markets program footprint in Germany, the U.K., and Ireland through exclusive regional title sponsorships, high-margin international retail, and custom premium fan travel packages, while concurrently guaranteeing that Lambeau Field never loses its core nine-game domestic inventory for the local Green Bay economy?
Thank you for your time, leadership, and vision for the future of the franchise.
Thanks for the very insightful question, Gordon. An 18-game schedule is certainly a possibility, but it would have to be negotiated with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) in the next collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA goes through the 2030 season, so that may take a while… Playing a home game overseas does have a financial impact on local revenue generation during that season, but the global markets program is a long-term investment. Every team will be giving up future home games in the interest of growing football internationally, which should pay off in the future with some of the new revenue streams you mentioned and particularly from international media distribution. So, it's a long-term play that should pay off in the long run. I don't see international expansion as a threat to local revenue, but as an opportunity to grow the game and tap into previously untapped markets.
Question from Eddie
In the last few months, there have been increased conversations around NIL and potential federal legislation. I imagine NIL in college sports doesn't really impact the Green Bay Packers, but as you get ready to host two college teams at Lambeau I'm curious, do you guys have a take on NIL?
Thanks for the question, Eddie. I know this is an incredibly complicated topic with both the state and federal government. For the Packers and professional sports, I think it is a unique situation. You have what is essentially a pro model for college athletes with freedom to move from team to team and player compensation, but none of the structure or guardrails the NFL or other professional leagues have. I do believe that college sports will have to develop some structure related to player movement and player compensation, if it is to achieve any level of competitive parity. Otherwise, it won't be a competition, it will just be an arms race with the best-funded programs consistently dominating. I don't see how that serves the student athletes, universities, or the fans in the long run.
Mike H. from Lena, WI
Dear Mr Policy, I noticed the hands on the Lombardi clock at Lambeau Field have been missing. Will they be replaced so the Packer fans can be on time? 15 minutes early! The lasting legacy of Vince Lombardi on Lambeau Field.
Thanks for the question, Mike. The hands of the clock and gear box inside were damaged by heavy snowfall this spring. The clock mechanism is one-of-a-kind and requires custom manufacturing. We are continuing to work to get the right parts manufactured and in place so we can all be running on Lombardi time in the not-so-distant future. While certainly outside of my scope of authority, feel free to use the lack of hands on the clock as an excuse to be late to whatever you need in the meantime.
Question from Markus
Dear Green Bay Packers, it has taken me a while to be able to write this letter, but I feel like it is necessary. I wanted to reach out to you and the team and let them know that I am so extremely grateful for who they are and what they do.
I lost my father last month to a mixture of TBD and dementia. During the progression of the illness, as things started to fail, a few things did not. My father first and foremost loved animals more than anything, especially his pup Bulldozer, but besides that you would find the Packers directly under. I took care of my father for almost two years before his care required more than I could provide. During the time I took care of him, we never missed a Packers game. As it was getting harder and harder for my father to enjoy anything, he still loved watching those games.
When my father required more advanced care inside a care facility, I still would pick him up every Sunday to watch the game. I cannot tell you, looking back, how much those games meant to him and I. We could be just a father and son enjoying a game and the rest of the mess surrounding us would subside for a bit. Towards the end my father didn't recognize me as much and forgot my name, but as soon as he saw me with my Packers hat on, he would light up and sometimes remember. He never forgot who the Packers were.
I am not sure if it is said enough what being a Packers fan means to someone, but it meant a whole lot to my father, and a whole lot to me. I didn't grow up in Wisconsin like my father, but my blood is green and gold hereditarily. This will be my first season I'll ever watch the Packers without my father, and that hurts more than I can describe. I know he will be watching from up above, so I really hope y'all can make this a great season.
I apologize if I might have made your day a bit darker for writing this, but I wanted to thank you and the team from the bottom of my heart. Watching Micah Parsons lately has been amazing. We have high hopes for Matthew Golden. Favre was my dad's favorite quarterback, and he loved watching Jordan Love. I think it's important to point out my father was cremated wearing a Rodgers jersey, with that Packers hat on that I referenced earlier. Cheeseheads till the end!
I would appreciate it if you could let the players that I listed know how much their hard work and dedication meant to my father to the very end.
Dear Markus, thank you so much for the heartfelt note. I understand why it took you a while to be able to write it, but I am glad you did. Reading your words did not darken my day, but rather brighten my outlook by reminding me of the power and importance of loving and enduring relationships for all of us. It warms my heart that the Green Bay Packers played a small but meaningful role in your relationship with your father. I'm very sorry for your loss, but I am grateful that your father's legacy continues on through your memories and the obvious respect you have for who he was. I'm sure your father is proud of the thoughtful and caring man that you are, and I hope that we can make him proud this season with another successful year. Have no doubt, I'll make sure coach knows the impact the team has on you and your family.
Hunter from Little Rock, AR
Lots of speculation about what these Rivalries jerseys were going to look like online. I'm an old traditionalist so I was skeptical – but I have to say I think you guys did a solid job of bridging history and this modern twist. But what I think doesn't really matter. Ed, you tell us. What is your take on the jerseys and the Rivalries initiative in general?
Thank you for your question and I'm glad we overcame your skepticism with these jerseys! I love our traditional Green & Gold uniforms. They are a timeless classic. But I thought our team did a great job of embracing this new idea and weaving in incredible attention to detail as they put together our jerseys. From the font of the numbers to the stock certificate lines – the jerseys pay homage to our shareholders. I think the Rivalries jerseys in general are an interesting league initiative that gives teams opportunities to flex their creativity while leaning into their history.
