Robert Ernest Harlan (born September 9, 1936) is an American former football executive who served as the president of the Green Bay Packers for 19 years.

After his tenure at Marquette, Harlan worked for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team for five years in community and public relations.

Harlan led a stock sale and advocated for a county sales tax to raise funds for renovations to Lambeau Field, oversaw the construction of the Don Hutson Center, a new training area next to Lambeau Field, and moved all Packers home games back to Green Bay (from 1933 to 1994, the Packers split their home games between Green Bay and Milwaukee, Wisconsin).

Wolf led a renaissance of the Packers' on-field performance with an instrumental trade for quarterback Brett Favre and the signing of free agent Reggie White.

During his tenure, the football and track and field were removed from the university's sports program, and the basketball team was not very successful.

[8] In those roles, he gave many speeches and during the offseason took part in "The Cardinal Caravan", a tour across six states focused on increasing support for the club.

[6] The Cardinals won the 1967 World Series against the Boston Red Sox in Harlan's second full season in his role.

[15][16][17][18][19][20] He also at various times coordinated team travel, negotiated media contracts, ran ticket operations, managed front office personnel and scheduled preseason games.

[23][24] The team received numerous applications and many names were identified as contenders, including Tom Olejniczak (the son of former Packers president Dominic Olejniczak), Jerry Vainisi (brother of former Packers scout Jack Vainisi), Ernie Accorsi, Jim Schaaf and Eddie Jones.

[17][18] Immediately, Harlan noted his preference to be hands-on in his approach to the job, so much so that instead of backfilling his old position, he had all department heads just report directly to him.

This included hiring head coach Mike Holmgren, trading a first round draft pick to the Atlanta Falcons for quarterback Brett Favre, and making one of the first major free agency signings in 1996 by bringing in defensive end Reggie White (who would also go on to be inducted into the Hall of Fame).

[13][29] In reflecting on his move to Green Bay, Wolf noted that he would not have taken the job without Harlan giving him full control.

[21][22] 1994 also saw the completion of the Don Hutson Center, a state-of-the-art indoor practice facility adjacent to Lambeau Field.

The goal of the renovation was to improve gameday experience, bring additional revenue in for the Packers and make Lambeau Field a year-around destination.

[42] Additionally, Harlan strongly advocated for the authorization of a new half-cent sales tax for Brown County to help raise the remaining funds.

[36][37][46] A year later, Ron Wolf retired and Harlan named Sherman to a dual role as the general manager and head coach.

[54][55][56] On December 3, 2007, the Green Bay Packers announced Mark Murphy, the Northwestern University Athletics Director and a former football player for the Washington Redskins, as its new president and CEO effective January 28, 2008.

Harlan and his wife, who worked as a registered nurse, served on various boards and commissions for Green Bay-area hospitals, supported the Green Bay Libertas Treatment Center (a children's drug and alcohol abuse center) and remained active in the Boys & Girls Club of Door County, Wisconsin.

[30] Harlan is credited with hiring key personnel, such as Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson, and giving them the authority and freedom necessary to do their jobs successfully.

[40][49][50][63] Harlan's advocacy for the redevelopment and expansion of Lambeau Field and campaigning for the necessary funding through 2000 Brown County referendum and 1997–98 stock sale were identified as essential steps in improving the Packers ability to be a financially competitive and a successful organization in the modern NFL.

[49][50] During Harlan's tenure, the Packers won their first Super Bowl in 30 years, were perennial playoff contenders and became a model organization.