Matt LaFleur hasn’t hired Aaron Rodgers’ favorite elementary school gym teacher as a strength coach yet, but he just might if it would help to entice the four-time MVP to come back to the team next season. That’s the only thing one could surmise after hearing the surprising news on Thursday that Tom Clements will be returning as quarterbacks coach.
Clements was originally with the Packers from 2006 to 2016, but he’s spent more time not coaching than coaching in the past five years. The former Notre Dame and Canadian Football League legend sat out in 2017 and 2018 before resurfacing as part of Kliff Kingsbury’s staff in Arizona in 2019 and 2020. Clements announced his “retirement” last January.
The 68-year-old developed Rodgers from a shaky second-year player to a Super Bowl MVP before leaving after the 2016 season. Clements was promoted to offensive coordinator after Joe Philbin left in 2012 but was stripped of play-calling responsibilities by then-coach Mike McCarthy midway through the 2015 campaign. After that, it was only a matter of time before he parted ways with the team. But Rodgers never forgot Clements and often invoked his name at press conferences.
Bringing back Clements also helps explain the recent hiring of 29-year-old Connor Lewis as assistant quarterbacks coach despite his lack of experience assisting with quarterbacks. LaFleur obviously needed someone young to bend down and pick up the balls before and after practice (just kidding). But seriously, Lewis also has a good relationship with Rodgers. It’s clear LaFleur is determined to surround the future Hall of Famer with as many friendly faces as possible.
While the hiring of Clements doesn’t guarantee Rodgers is returning – that won’t be known until he announces his intentions sometime in the next couple of weeks – it’s difficult to imagine LaFleur making this move if he weren’t convinced that No. 12 would be back. No disrespect to Clements, but he’s not exactly the type of assistant who typically appeals to the fourth-year head coach. On a staff filled with men who probably listen to Classic Rock and/or Hip Hop, he’s more of an easy-listening kind of guy. In fact, Clements’ arrival boosts the average age of the offensive staff from 38 to 47.
At this point, Clements would serve more as a confidant than a coach to the 38-year-old Rodgers, but he’ll certainly have a chance to impart his three decades worth of wisdom on a young QB – be that Jordan Love or somebody else. Speaking of which, it wouldn’t be a shock to see GM Brian Gutekunst look to trade his 2020 first-round pick should Rodgers commit for another two or three years. In fact, it would behoove the Packers to deal Love now so that his new team would have a season to assess before having to decide whether to pick up his fifth-year option in May 2023. They won’t get much – maybe a conditional fourth of fifth-round pick – but that’s probably more than they’d receive next offseason.
Aside from still having to replace outside linebackers coach Mike Smith, who left to pursue other opportunities, and hiring another quality control coach or two, Green Bay’s staff for 2022 is now pretty much set. The new additions are Clements, special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, and special teams assistant Byron Storer. Several assistants were recently promoted, including Marshfield native Adam Stenavich to offensive coordinator, and John Dunn to tight ends coach.
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I joked with a friend a few weeks ago that the Packers should hire Clements as a way to get Rodgers to return. Who knew?