Murphy ’77: From Colgate to Green Bay

Mark Murphy ’77 was an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, a career he enjoyed and was expecting to continue for years to come, when a new opportunity emerged.

Colgate, his alma mater, was searching for a director of athletics. 

Murphy had a degree in economics from Colgate and played four seasons of football with the Raiders. He played eight seasons as a safety with the then-Washington Redskins, winning a Super Bowl and earning one trip to the Pro Bowl. 

After retiring from pro football, he landed a job with the NFL Players Association, then later spent three years as a federal prosecutor with the DOJ. 

By this point, roughly 15 years after leaving Colgate, he had plenty of experience in various roles, but little when it came to running a collegiate athletic department.

Nevertheless, he applied.

He interviewed for the job. One of the people who had a major say in the hiring process was then-Colgate President Neil R. Grabois, who was impressed with Murphy’s vision for Colgate Athletics. 

Murphy was hired — and just like that, his career veered in a whole new direction. 

“As I look back, I’m really appreciative that Colgate, and the president at the time, Neil Gabrois, hired me as the athletic director,” Murphy said. “That completely changed my career trajectory. I was an attorney at the Justice Department, looking at a career as an attorney. I enjoyed my work at the Department of Justice, but I missed my involvement in athletics.

“Colgate really took a chance on me,” he said. “I was relatively young and inexperienced in terms of intercollegiate athletics, but that really changed my whole career path.”

Murphy was Colgate’s athletics director from 1992 to 2003. Afterward, he took a similar role at Northwestern University, where he spent four years before he returned to the NFL, this time as the president and CEO of the Green Bay Packers. 

He would go on to achieve a remarkable career, managing the franchise for 17 years. In that time, the Packers had a record of 172-101-2, becoming the winningest team in the NFC North. He signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a long-term deal after one season as a starter, a move that helped cement Green Bay as a division powerhouse. 

The Packers made eight consecutive playoff appearances with Rodgers, winning the Super Bowl in 2011. Rodgers’ career with the Packers later earned him a spot in the Hall of Fame.

In addition, Murphy helped lead a project to expand Lambeau Field, adding 6,700 seats. Under his watch, the Packers built the Titletown District, a development that brought residential housing along with commercial and public spaces near the stadium.

The Titletown District played a big role in bringing the 2025 NFL Draft to Green Bay, which was a proud moment for Murphy, who got to introduce the Packers’ first-round pick.

Murphy, 70, retired on Friday, leaving Lambeau Field as a beloved executive who helped take the Packers to new heights.

Retirement has been on Murphy’s mind for several years. Now, as he prepares for the next chapter in his life, he said the thought that he’s no longer running the Packers has already sunk in.

“I feel good,” Murphy said about retiring. “I know I can’t completely retire. I’m looking for things that will keep me engaged.”

Murphy said he plans to stay in Green Bay. He and his wife, Laurie Murphy ’78, bought a golf course about an hour away from Lambeau Field a few years ago. By retiring, he now has much more time to run it. 

In addition, Murphy said he looks forward to being more involved with the Council of Trustees (similar to a Board of Trustees) at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, where he serves as an executive in residence. 

“With all the changes that are taking place to athletics, I look forward to being helpful there,” Murphy said.

COMING TO COLGATE

Murphy was born in Fulton, N.Y., but grew up in Clarence, a town outside Buffalo, where he attended high school. When the search for a college began, he wanted to join an institution where he could get a top education while playing multiple sports. Colgate offered him that opportunity.

“I had a great visit and fell in love with the school and the campus,” Murphy said.

As a student-athlete, Murphy played four seasons of football, plus three seasons of baseball and one season of basketball, all while finding time for his education. 

Murphy said he has fond memories of his days at Colgate. But the experience that he’ll never forget came on a spring day as a junior when he met the woman who he would later marry at the Colgate Chapel. 

“I was a junior and she was a senior,” Murphy said. “A friend and I were going to Florida for spring break. We had a car all set and then the car broke down. Colgate used to have a ride-share program at the Coop. We wanted to go to Florida. Laurie and I ended up in the same car for our spring break trip.”

Other special moments came when Murphy was the athletic director. They include watching the football program’s turnaround under head coach Dick Biddle, and the men’s basketball team winning its first conference championship in program history with head coach Jack Bruen. 

Murphy said he’s also proud of the success of the women’s soccer team, which for years dominated the Patriot League under head coach Kathy Brawn.

After graduating from Colgate, Murphy was undrafted but later signed with Washington, where he played from 1977 to 1984. In the process, he received a master’s degree in administrative business from American University, and later a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown.

After retiring as a player, he joined the NFL Players Association and later the Department of Justice.

Murphy said his Colgate education prepared him for the different stops along his professional career.

“My Colgate education was instrumental,” he said. “I really believe in a liberal arts education. I wasn’t a great student at Colgate, but I got a great education. The overall experience, playing multiple sports, the lessons I learned from coaches like Fred Dunlap and some of the other coaches were invaluable. Fred has really been a great mentor to me over the years.”

For students who want to pursue a career in the NFL front office, Murphy said they should make the best of the opportunities at Colgate.

“Take advantage of the great education you can get at Colgate,” Murphy said. “One of the best things you can do if you want a career in athletics is while you’re a student, get experience in the athletic department.”