Packers extend director of football operations Russ Ball

On Monday, news broke in Green Bay from Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy. Murphy stated in a press conference that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, general manager Brian Gutekunst and director of football operations Russ Ball had all agreed to contract extensions with the franchise earlier this offseason. Ball, in particular, does not get enough credit for the job that he has done behind the scenes in Green Bay's front office.

Ball joined the Packers in 2008 as vice president of player administration and player finance. He would hold that role for a decade before moving into his current role with the team in 2018, which was the same season Gutekunst became the Packers general manager. Ball has been both a coach and executive in his football career. He became the strength and conditioning coach for the University of Missouri in 1982 before making the jump to the NFL in 1989 with the Chiefs in a similar role as assistant strength and conditioning coach. In 1997, Ball became an executive with the Kansas City. He would bounce around to Minnesota, Washington and New Orleans before coming to Green Bay.

One of Ball's hats that he wears as director of football operations is making sure Green Bay is under the salary cap. He is a wizard at dealing with contracts and helping the Packers make sure they can offer certain players X amount of dollars. He played a major role in helping Green Bay find a way to re-sign De'Vondre Campbell, extend Preston Smith, bring back Rasul Douglas and pay Jaire Alexander all this offseason. The Packers don't have this same elite roster without Ball playing a huge role in the front office. He will be a staple in Green Bay for the forseeable future.