The Green Bay Packers' 2024 season is over ladies and gentlemen, and while I am immensely proud of what this team accomplished, like many of you, I'm somewhat left wondering what could've been. This team was choked with talent on both sides of the ball, and in many ways, I would consider it a "complete team". But what never materialized over the last 6 months was we never saw this team play a complete game. You heard it over, and over, and over again from Head Coach Matt LaFleur that he wanted to see them execute within all three phases of the game. While they managed to come close, the dream of an emphatic win was never realized.

When a team underperforms the head coach is typically the easy scapegoat. Is LaFleur totally to blame for the Packers' gameday woes? That's a loaded question with a multitude of answers depending on who you ask. But it's safe to say, that LaFleur is not completely blameless, as he's had his gameday faux pas, that continues to haunt him season after season. But what I will say, is that just like the 11 guys on the field, a star is only as good as his supporting cast. It's why the Oscars have a Best Supporting Actor/Actress Award; because one guy can't just whip up a masterpiece all by himself (yes, not even Aaron Rodgers *eyeroll*). 

With less than one week from the season-ending loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wildcard Round, the Packers' 2024 offseason has already got interesting. General Manager Brian Gutekunst has already made mention of his being aggressive in going after championships; shortly thereafter, LaFleur fired Defensive Line Coach Jason Rebrovich. Additionally, Tom Clements the Packers' longtime QB Coach retired, which may have been a surprise to more than just the fans. But wait, there's more....the Jets requested an interview with Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley, and then the Bears requested an interview with Offensive Coordinator Adam Stenavich.  While nothing has happened yet, it's safe to say the Packers' 2025 Coaching Staff could look A LOT different than 2024.

Matt LaFleur got a home run with Hafley, maybe even a grand slam. To have your first DC gig in the NFL, change the defensive scheme from a 3-4 to a 4-3, AND lead the league in takeaways is nothing to sneeze at. Retaining him should be LaFleur and the Packers' highest priority, as three DCs in three years is certainly not ideal, especially if the Packers, who are once again the youngest team in the NFL, want to see that talent properly blossom.

As for Stenavich....well, I kinda look at him as the Joe Barry of the offense, but better. If I want an outstanding Offensive Line Coach, he's probably on my shortlist. But I don't think he's the guy to elevate an offense from good to great. Now that the Packers have a $200 million quarterback in Jordan Love, I'm not so sure if I can stand to see the offense sputtering like it did all year. I know injuries are part of the game (Jordan Love, Jaire Alexander, Christian Watson, Luke Musgrave, Marshawn Lloyd, Jordan Morgan, A.J. Dillon), but the best coaches in the game should be able to extract the maximum performance from even their role players on offense (I'm talking to YOU Jason Vrable!). While I believe the main reason for elevating Stenavich to OC was to retain him, if his "promotion" comes at the expense of Jordan Love's development and the offense's ultimate success, he should wish him the best of luck in Chicago.

So here we are...two coaching jobs that potentially turn into four. What's a guy to do? Two words: GET AGGRESSIVE!!!! I'm not going to pretend to know who LaFleur has his eye on, save for potentially two. But as usual with the Packers I expect him to go way out into left field and sign some coaches who make perfect sense. And with the signing of Hafley, we can rest confident that it doesn't have to be someone he knows/coached with.

So here we are, the "potential" candidates:

Offense

1. Nathaniel Hackett, OC/QB Coach - Jets

I get it, Hackett horrifically flamed out with the Broncos and is now presumably back in the soup line after the Jets make their next head coaching hire. But Hackett and LaFleur work. They "fixed" Aaron Rodgers and there's familiarity with the scheme and Love as well. LaFleur may have to play hardball on this one, bringing Hackett in and moving Stenavich back down to OL Coach. It's no secret that Stenavich is probably the 3rd or 4th preferred candidate for the Bears, so unless he just wants to spend a year out of football, or has an insider track to somewhere else, he's going to have to take his lumps and just coach the offensive line.

2. Byron Leftwich, Former OC/QB Coach - Buccaneers

I still don't understand why Leftwich continues to get a raw deal despite getting rave reviews from his bosses and players around the league. He's available and I know he's hungry. Spending two years with Tom Brady certainly has its value as well. His former OC/playcalling chops also give him the potential for grooming by LaFleur if Stenavich does make his eventual exit to Chicago or elsewhere in the future.

3. Doug Pederson, Former Head Coach - Jaguars

Pederson may have had the worst run of a Super Bowl-winning Coach in the modern era as I've ever seen. But Pederson is a Packer for life and has plenty of experience, both as a player and as a coach. Him "taking a few years off" to grow Jordan Love and grow himself as a coach can do wonders for both the Packers and Pederson in the long run. 

4. Jimbo Fisher, Former Head Coach - Texas A&M

This is ambitious I know, but hear me out. Jimbo Fisher got paid by Texas A&M to not coach for a whopping $77 million. Although he probably never has to work another day in his life he does want to coach again. Would he consider the NFL?  No clue, all we know is he's looking for the "right opportunity". It's safe to say that he'll be sitting out of coaching college football yet again in 2025. To be honest, I'm not sure if 2026 looks good for Jimbo either. Could the Packers pique his interest? He took Jameis Winston to a Heisman, Davey O'Brien, and the National Championship after only 2 years on campus, I'm sure there's something he could offer Jordan Love and the Packers, even if it's only for a year or two.

5. Bobby Petrino, OC/QB Coach - Arkansas

Bobby Petrino knows offense, and he knows quarterbacks. He took Lamar Jackson and turned him into a Heisman winner and laid the groundwork for the weapon he is in the NFL today. Jake Plummer and Ryan Mallet also owe their own passing prowess to Petrino who is respected for his brilliant mind on the greaseboards and coaching up quarterbacks. I would be curious to see if the lessons imposed on Jackson that would turn him into an eventual NFL MVP could be replicated when mentoring Jordan Love.

6. Will Stein, OC/QB Coach - Oregon

Stein is an ascendant talent in the coaching arena, and maybe part of the reason for his offensive acumen is the aforementioned Petrino, as he served as a graduate assistant at Louisville after his playing career for the Cardinals. He took off from there, with gigs for the Longhorns, Texas High School Powerhouse Lake Travis, and UTSA before arriving in Eugene. Make no mistake, Will Stein will probably be a Power 4 Head Coach or NFL Offensive Coordinator by the time he's 40 (he's only 35) with his renowned QB-developing ability. If LaFleur can catch him before the wave starts to rise, he and the offense will be in for a real treat.

7. A.J. Milwee, OC/QB Coach - Texas

There's something to be said when you're plucked from one FBS powerhouse to another. Longhorns' Head Coach Steve Sarkisian made sure that Milwee was on his staff when he left Alabama to become the head man in Austin. Milwee is still a relative unknown to many, but I trust the coaching management skills of Nick Saban and Sarkisian to make great coaching hires. Given the wellspring that would be his former bosses and the opportunities he's had to coach Tua Tagovailoa, Bryce Young, Mac Jones, Quinn Ewers, and Arch Manning, I believe Milwee may have something to offer the NFL coaching ranks and the Packers especially.

Defense

1. Robert Saleh, "Assistant" - Packers

Whatever you want to call him, Robert Saleh is in Green Bay helping his best friend LaFleur. He's already been offered his old job back in San Francisco, and I believe the only reason he hasn't accepted it is one, the 49ers are probably going to end up in cap hell and their window is closing if not already closed; and two, if Hafley does leave for the Jets he'd rather work for his best friend until the right head coaching job becomes available. 

2. Aaron Whitecotton, DL Coach - Jets

The Packers have already requested an interview with Whitecotton which I'm assuming stems from a glowing endorsement from Saleh. Or maybe the Jets' penchant for a nearly impenetrable defensive line for over a decade. Whether the interview is already been conducted or not, I fully expect him to take the job, as there's no guarantee that the Jets' new hire will retain him (Jets' Interim Head Coach Jeff Ulbrich was hired as the Falcons DC as I was writing this article). Also, during the 2024 Combine Whitecotton was seen with Packers' scout Matt Malaspina and they were quite chummy. So maybe there's more familiarity than we know.

3. K.J. Wright, Defensive Quality Control - 49ers

Keeping with the familiarity theme here, Wright is probably familiar to Packers fans during the Seahawks' "Legion of Boom" era. While Wright never coached under Saleh, I'm going to hastily make a 3-way "connection" between Green Bay, Seattle, and San Francisco, as they have their pleasantries off the field. Wright could see Green Bay as a promotion from being a mere assistant to being an actual position coach. Whether LaFleur wants to tap his connections with Saleh, Shanahan, or Schneider to get the rundown on Wright, he has his options.

4. Warren Sapp, Defensive Quality Control - Colorado

I love former players as coaches, and you know what I love even more? Hall of Famers as coaches. Deion Sanders gave Sapp an opportunity, and while this is most likely a long shot, I'd love to see him get an opportunity in the pros. The current crop of Packers defensive linemen most likely idolized Sapp growing up, so the respect and the hunger to learn from him should be there. I'd love to see what he could do for that position room in just one season.

5. Bo Davis, DL Coach - LSU

"Bo knows!" And this Bo certainly knows the defensive line position. Considered one of the best position coaches in the country, Bo has bounced around the college ranks and the pros with success at every stop, he's got three national titles to prove it. His resume includes multiple stops at LSU and Alabama (once again Nick Saban knows talent), plus two stints at Texas. His professional resume has gigs with the Dolphins, Jaguars, and Lions. His coaching journey has had him cross paths with Marcus Spears, Kyle Williams, Terrence Cody, Malcolm Brown, Jonathan Allen, A'Shawn Robinson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Da'Shawn Hand, Jarran Reed, Byron Murphy II, T'Vondre Sweat, Keondre Coburn, and Moro Ojomo. His impact on the NFL's defensive lines of the past, present, and future cannot be understated. 

6. Terrence Knighton, DL Coach - Florida State

Most of you should remember "Pot Roast" and his exploits around the league. After a brief hiatus at the conclusion of his playing career, Knighton quickly caught on in the college ranks before the Panthers pounced on him to name him their Assistant DL Coach. He got his first full job with Nebraska and is now set to do the same job with Florida State for the 2025 season. Could he be willing to jettison Tallahassee even though he's just got there?

7. Aaron Donald, "Assistant" - Rams

Although Aaron Donald is retired, Rams' Head Coach Sean McVay has granted him unlimited access to the Rams facilities; and he's been known to come in and "help out" from time to time. Whether he is genuinely just there to give advice to the guys or whether he's just getting some mental reps at practice in case the Rams stumble into the Super Bowl is anyone's guess. That aside, Donald has expressed an interest in coaching if given the right opportunity. Could the Packers' DL room offer that opportunity, possibly generating DC interest from teams in the years to come? This is another long shot, but one can dream, right?

The Packers have some holes to fill in the coaching ranks. I know many of you are probably more concerned with the personnel who'll take the field, but in 2024 we saw a very talented Packers team that just couldn't seem to get out of its own way, for a variety of reasons. While Matt LaFleur may have some progression of his own to go through, I do think some potential upgrades could be made in the coaching staff, and perhaps not even just the positions that are currently/could be open. Whether additional coaching changes come or not, I believe this 2025 coaching staff has more to gain/lose than next year's playing roster. We'll see what happens over the next couple of weeks.

#GPG