The Green Bay Packers hired Ted Thompson away from the Seattle Seahawks to take over as general manager in Green Bay. Mike Sherman had been serving as both coach and GM since 2002 but will now be focusing exclusively on coaching.

Thompson will have full autonomy over football decisions including player moves and the hiring and firing of the head coach. Sherman's contract expires after 2005 although he is expected to return as coach of the Packers next season. It is not certain whether or not a contract extension will be given to Sherman to prevent him from becoming a 'lame duck' in 2005.

Packers president Bob Harlan was pleased with the new hire, indicating that being both coach and general manager was too much for one man to handle. 'In today's salary cap world of professional football where rosters are overhauled every off-season, both the job of a general manager and the job of a head coach are extremely demanding and require an inordinate amount of time and effort,' Harlan added. 'I am quite pleased to know the Packers will be moving into the future with these two highly regarded men at the top of our football operation.'

The 52-year-old Thompson has served as the Seahawks vice president of football operations. He had a previous stint in Green Bay under Ron Wolf, serving as pro personnel director and director of player personnel from 1992-99.

Sherman has a 53-27 record as coach of the Packers and has led the team to three consecutive NFC North titles and four straight playoff appearances. His playoff record is a less than stellar 2-4, however and many of his personnel decisions have not worked out as well as hoped. Free agent signings such as Hardy Nickerson and Joe Johnson have not worked out as planned. The talent selected in the past few drafts has been questionable as well.

The Packers will introduce Thompson at a press conference at Lambeau Field on Saturday. Mike Sherman will hold his season ending press conference today at 3:30 PM.