Mike Pettine will not return for a fourth season as Packers defensive coordinator, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). The veteran coach’s contract expired at season’s end.
The former Browns HC turned down an extension last year and is a free agent. Pettine worked under both Mike McCarthy and Matt LaFleur in Green Bay but failed to elevate the Packers into a consistent defensive unit during his stay.
The Packers are coming off an NFC championship game loss that featured a game-swinging Buccaneers end-of-half touchdown. Tampa Bay booked a ticket to Super Bowl LV on the strength of the 18-point lead it built in Green Bay, and Scotty Miller‘s 39-yard score with 1 second remaining in the first half led to the Bucs amassing that wide margin early in the third quarter. LaFleur criticized Pettine’s end-of-half play call after the loss. Overall, the Packers ranked 13th in scoring defense this past season. DVOA was less kind to Pettine’s troops, slotting them 17th overall.
Green Bay used first-round picks on three defenders from 2018-19 — Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, Darnell Savage — and gave lucrative deals to pass rushers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith in free agency. However, the 49ers bulldozed Pettine’s unit in the 2019 NFC championship game and the Bucs ran up a big lead in this year’s NFC title tilt. While Alexander broke out under Pettine’s watch and intercepted two passes in Sunday’s loss, the Packers will have a new defensive play-caller next season.
This move comes shortly after the Packers fired special teams coordinator Shawn Mennenga. LaFleur’s staff will soon have two new coordinators, despite the Packers having gone 26-6 over the past two seasons.
Hopefully this one will not be a promote from within situation. Time to bring in a new system that will feature Jaire’s lockdown ability and put some real pressure on opposing QBs.
I was just reading an article last night about the *potential* promotion candidates, and I think there are a couple who could improve what we have. Plus they know the strengths and weaknesses of the players already.
But im very intrigued by the mention of Jim Leonard..I don’t really want him to leave the Badgers, but I’d live with it if he graduated to GB.
Maybe go back to a 4-3 scheme and sign or trade for Watt?
With Watt cap room?
Preston Smith is rumored to be released and Watt might play for less to play for his dream team
Smith is rumored to be let go to try and a) get under the cap (which last I saw they are now $30 million over) and b) potentially help keep some of the pending fa’s (Linsley, Jones, Williams for example).
Watt first has to be released, as I don’t see Gute going put of his way to facilitate a trade AND restructure Watt’s contract.
I’m also not sure going back to a 4-3 will work with Z then being an undersized DE, or an OLB asked to play a ton of coverage when his strength is obviously getting after the QB. Gary might be able to transition to a DE, but would have to get bigger i think to be effective as a 3 down player.
If somehow Watt did end up in GB..and healthy..just put him on either side of Clark and it’d be a huge improvement. Then focus on King’s replacement (there might be a mutiny if Gute brings him back..) and figure out what to do at slot cb.
The cap will hold flat at the very least. The NFL is vying for a new TV contract and aren’t going to get the most out of it by reducing cap.
it was the stupid hc that needs to be replaced. the gm and thehc were out to get rodgers from the getgo.
oh boy you are stupid
It wasn’t LaFleur who called a single high safety in a scenario which should have been a prevent defense with seconds to go in the half.
axisofhonor25 Yeah that’s what really killed them. No excuse for allowing a TD there. It’s just as bad as Gregg Williams Week 13 play call in the final secs vs the Raiders. Guess Pettine forgot how it cost Williams his job.
Was it Pettine who flinched with 2 minutes left, inside the 10, with the best QB in football and the season on the line?
No, but apparently he called for man coverage with no deep safety help for king right before halftime that allowed a td that never should have happened.
He was better than Capers but that’s saying very very very very little. Don’t mind the move as long as the next guy is a home run hire.
Speaking of Capers, he’s off to Detroit.
They aren’t winning anything with the Cry Baby of all Cry Babies under center.
Brady plays for Tampa Bay.
And playing in the Super Bowl.
Rodgers was drafted while Favre was still there. The irony is hilarious.
After four seasons you have had plenty of time to evaluate your defensive coordinator. The defensive rankings of Pettine’s teams are routinely in the middle of the league, thus there are probably guys out there that can squeeze a little more out of Green Bay’s talent.