If you think it’s highly unusual for an organization coming off a very disappointing season to make no changes to the coaching staff or the front office, you’d be correct. In the past decade, there have been 30 instances of a team winning at least five fewer games than the season before, and nearly 3/4 of those teams fired either the general manager, the coach, the offensive coordinator, the defensive coordinator, the special teams coordinator, or in some cases, all of them.
Yet the Packers, who fell from 13-4 and the No. 1 seed in the NFC to 8-9 and out of the playoffs, haven’t made a single change in the two-plus weeks since the end of the season. That’s in sharp contrast to the other most disappointing teams from 2022. The Rams (12-5 to 5-12) fired their special teams coordinator and multiple position coaches. The Titans (12-5 to 7-10) fired their GM and offensive coordinator. The Bucs (13-4 to 8-9) fired their offensive coordinator and multiple position coaches. The Colts (9-8 to 4-12-1) fired their coach. And the Cards (11-6 to 4-13) fired their GM and coach).
The following is a list of teams since 2013 that won at least five fewer games than the season before, along with the changes that were made (a handful of teams fired one or more position coaches, but those moves are not reflected here):
| YEAR | TEAM | CHANGES |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Buccaneers | OC |
| 2022 | Cardinals | GM, HC |
| 2022 | Colts | HC |
| 2022 | Packers | NONE |
| 2022 | Rams | OC, STC |
| 2022 | Titans | GM, OC |
| 2021 | Seahawks | DC |
| 2020 | Eagles | HC |
| 2020 | 49ers | DC |
| 2020 | Jets | HC |
| 2020 | Patriots | NONE |
| 2020 | Texans | GM, HC |
| 2019 | Chargers | NONE |
| 2018 | Cardinals | HC |
| 2018 | Jaguars | OC |
| 2018 | Vikings | STC |
| 2017 | Giants | GM, HC |
| 2017 | Raiders | HC |
| 2016 | Bengals | NONE |
| 2016 | Cards | NONE |
| 2016 | Jets | OC |
| 2016 | Panthers | GM, DC, STC |
| 2015 | Chargers | OC |
| 2015 | Cowboys | NONE |
| 2015 | Ravens | NONE |
| 2014 | Panthers | STC |
| 2013 | Falcons | NONE |
| 2013 | Redskins | HC |
| 2013 | Texans | HC |
| 2013 | Vikings | HC |
It should be noted that of the seven franchises besides the Packers that maintained the status quo, four made big changes within the next 12 months. The 2016 Bengals fired their offensive coordinator early in the following season. The 2015 Ravens did the same thing. The 2019 Chargers fired their coach after the next season, and so did the 2013 Falcons.
While it’s true that many of these teams were perennial losers, that’s certainly not the case with this season’s biggest disappointments, especially the Buccaneers, Rams, and Titans. That trio includes the last two Super Bowl champions and the AFC’s No. 1 seed in 2021. Yet all three coaches (Todd Bowles, Sean McVay, and Mike Vrabel) felt it necessary to make significant changes to their staffs. It wasn’t as if the shitcanned coordinators (Byron Leftwich, Joe DeCamillis, and Todd Downing) forgot how to do their jobs; the men in charge simply refused to stay the course after such awful seasons.
So why is LaFleur apparently not doing what Bowles, McVay, and Vrabel have already done? A supporter might say he refuses to blame others for his failings or that he’s simply being loyal to men he felt good enough to hire not too long ago. A cynic would say he doesn’t want to fire a fourth coordinator in two years and/or that he’s simply being foolishly stubborn.
Under rookie coordinator Adam Stenavich, the offense dropped from 10th in both points and yards to 14th in points and 17th in yards. Even worse, the Packers were ranked last in goal-to-go situations. While it’s fair to point out that Stenavich didn’t have the services of All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, it’s also fair to point out that he was an assistant offensive line coach in 2018. The defense also regressed under second-year coordinator Joe Barry, despite adding two No. 1 draft picks (Quay Walker and Devonte Wyatt) and getting back the services of All-Pro corner Jaire Alexander.
LaFleur is obviously counting on Stenavich and Barry to be a lot better next season, and perhaps that’ll be the case. Another year on the job and the addition of a few more quality players could make a difference. However, a wise man by the name of Albert Einstein supposedly said, “the very definition of insanity is doing the same thing but expecting something different to happen.” So I guess we’ll find out who the real genius is 10 or 11 months from now. Place your bets.
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I like Lafleur and wish him nothing but the absolute best. Unfortunately, he’s in over his head and I believe he’ll be fired sooner rather than later. We’re just wasting time. Murphy doesn’t have any stones to make a very difficult decision and move on from Gutey, Lafleur and Rodgers. He’s an assclown. When he’s forced at when he turns 70, hopefully the next President of the organization will have a set of stones to actually fire people and hire people who will have the strength to move things from passive to kicking arse. Until we change our philosophy We’re not going to win another super bowl. It’s time for change.
The scariest part about keeping Barry is I remember some of the players criticizing the scheme mid-season. Yikes.
2nd & 10 at GB 13
(2:00 – 2nd) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass short middle to J.Williams to GB 17 for 4 yards (N.Suh).
3rd & 6 at GB 17
(1:14 – 2nd) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass short middle to A.Lazard to GB 40 for 23 yards (L.David).
1st & 10 at GB 40
(0:38 – 2nd) (No Huddle, Shotgun) A.Rodgers sacked at GB 33 for -7 yards (J.Pierre-Paul).
(0:38 – 2nd) Timeout #1 by TB at 00:34.
2nd & 17 at GB 33
(0:34 – 2nd) (Shotgun) A.Rodgers pass deep middle intended for A.Lazard INTERCEPTED by S.Murphy-Bunting at TB 49. S.Murphy-Bunting to TB 49 for no gain (A.Lazard)
How does a HC not call 1 of your 2 timeouts left after hitting a big play ( 23 yards) and your team was desperately trying to get everyone lined up to run another play at your 40 yard line. You went from 1:14 start of the play to :38 to snap your next play which resulted in a sack. If you called timeout immediately you probably have a minute to get the team settled and plays thought out , surely 1 timeout and freshly lined up with Rodgers was a was way more manageable. The pick followed the sack and the rest is history
Nobody talks about this sequence but I remember it as the non call that changed the game going into half. This was when I started to focus more on Lafleur and his ability to coach, so nothing surprises me with his inability to make good decisions regarding how the team moves forward with coaches .
That was the Tampa playoff game that led to a 2qtr touchdown with no time remaining in case someone doesn’t remember.
I agree. Murphy is a weak leader and he does appear to be waiting on an approaching retirement. When the defense goes backwards, particularly the entire secondary and DL, someone needs to be held accountable. Gutey has made some poor decisions for sure! Lots of issues with poor performance on the part of players. Is this coaching? Schemes? Some accountability is needed!