John Jones (football executive)
Encyclopedia
John Jones was born on February 6, 1952 in New Orleans, Louisiana
. He held the position of President
and Chief Operating Officer
of the Green Bay Packers
, an NFL
franchise. He was to assume the titles of President and Chief Executive Officer
in May 2007, replacing a retiring Bob Harlan
.
On May 26, 2007 the Packers announced that John Jones would be taking an indefinite "leave of absence" only days before Jones was scheduled to succeed Harlan as new CEO of the organization. Health concerns were the major reason sited for Jones' departure. In late July 2007, the Packers and Jones officially cut ties and on December 3, 2007, the Green Bay Packers announced Mark H. Murphy as its new President and CEO.
In January 2009, Jones openly discussed his medical situation. In June 2006, Jones underwent a heart surgery operation to correct a dissected aorta, a procedure he was told later that only 10 percent of patients survive. He suffered a stroke during the surgery that continues to affect his short-term memory and his physical stamina, which ultimately caused him to leave the team.
Following his personal medical triumph, Jones' recent mission has been raising awareness about men's healthcare. His presentation "Bulletproof: The Men's Healthcare Myth" encourages men to see their physcians regularly. "Ladies get their checkups, but men are the exact opposite. They take better care of their car than their bodies.”
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. He held the position of President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, an NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
franchise. He was to assume the titles of President and Chief Executive Officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
in May 2007, replacing a retiring Bob Harlan
Bob Harlan
Robert E. "Bob" Harlan is the former Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Green Bay Packers, an American professional football team. He is a graduate of Marquette University, where he was the Sports Information Director for many years...
.
On May 26, 2007 the Packers announced that John Jones would be taking an indefinite "leave of absence" only days before Jones was scheduled to succeed Harlan as new CEO of the organization. Health concerns were the major reason sited for Jones' departure. In late July 2007, the Packers and Jones officially cut ties and on December 3, 2007, the Green Bay Packers announced Mark H. Murphy as its new President and CEO.
In January 2009, Jones openly discussed his medical situation. In June 2006, Jones underwent a heart surgery operation to correct a dissected aorta, a procedure he was told later that only 10 percent of patients survive. He suffered a stroke during the surgery that continues to affect his short-term memory and his physical stamina, which ultimately caused him to leave the team.
Following his personal medical triumph, Jones' recent mission has been raising awareness about men's healthcare. His presentation "Bulletproof: The Men's Healthcare Myth" encourages men to see their physcians regularly. "Ladies get their checkups, but men are the exact opposite. They take better care of their car than their bodies.”
Career highlights
- Elected team's 10th president May 31, 2006, by team's Board of Directors. Responsible for Salary Cap supervision and management of the organization's administrative staff and business operations, including the Lambeau Field Atrium, finance, stadium operations, ticketing, public relations, marketing, community relations and retail.
- Originally joined the organization February 10, 1999, as senior vice president of administration.
- Named executive vice president and chief operating officer on October 16, 2001.
- Continued to lead the organization's solid financial performance in 2006 as the team moved up to seventh place in NFL revenue ranking, its highest ever.
- Assisted in creating a new local broadcast partnership joining WFRV-TV in Green Bay and WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee with CBS SportsCBS SportsCBS Sports is a division of CBS Broadcasting which airs sporting events on the American television network. Its headquarters are in the CBS Building on West 52nd Street in midtown Manhattan, New York City, with programs produced out of Studio 43 at the CBS Broadcast Center on West 57th Street.CBS...
and ViacomViacomViacom Inc. , short for "Video & Audio Communications", is an American media conglomerate with interests primarily in, but not limited to, cinema and cable television...
to produce Packers' preseason games, create year-round TV programming and promote economic development/tourism at Lambeau Field. - Serves as a member on the NFL's Stadium Committee and on the board of directors of NFL Business Ventures.
- During a 10-year tenure with the NFL Management CouncilNational Football League Management CouncilThe National Football League Management Council is a non-profit association of clubs in the National Football League that represents its members in negotiations related to the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association. It is based in New York City and its chairman is the...
(NFLMC), was a member of the league's negotiating team that forged the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement and created the salary cap system in 1993. - Spearheaded the NFLMC's development of an intranet site on the World Wide Web in 1999 and with it a new electronic contract reporting system used by every club to report player signings by e-mail.
- Attended graduate journalism school at the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–MadisonThe University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, developing early ties to the Packers, leaving school in 1974 to become editor of Ray NitschkeRay NitschkeRaymond Ernest "Ray" Nitschke was a professional football player who played his entire career as a middle linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the NFL. Wearing #66, he played fifteen seasons, from 1958-72....
's Packer Report, a position he held through 1975.