Green Bay Packers

Would Tom Clements Have Come Back If He Wasn’t Certain Rodgers Would As Well?

Photo Credit: Mark Hoffman (USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Green Bay Packers’ decision to hire Tom Clements as quarterbacks coach seemed to be an obvious indicator that Aaron Rodgers is returning. However, it’s been one week since Clements verbally committed to return, and there’s still no decision from the four-time Most Valuable Player. Would Clements really come back if he wasn’t sure Rodgers would be under center?

Clements accomplished a lot in his coaching career before retiring following a stint with the Arizona Cardinals in 2021. He was with the Packers from 2006 through 2016. Clements came in as the quarterbacks’ coach, got bumped up to the offensive coordinator, and later to assistant head coach. He was there for Rodgers’ prime years and was a big part of Green Bay winning the Super Bowl in 2010.

Clements was one of Rodgers’ favorites. When it was announced that he was coming out of retirement, most people assumed that meant Rodgers was coming back. Why else would Clements return?

Sure, the itch may have come back after a year off from coaching, but Clements doesn’t need this gig. He’s 68 and has spent roughly 40 years in football as a coach or player. His retirement is well deserved. It’s hard to envision him coming off the couch and diving back into coaching without the assurance that Rodgers would be back in green and gold. From Green Bay’s perspective, the hire made all the sense in the world.

Suppose the front office is making an all-out push to get Rodgers back. Hiring Clements was not moving a pawn a space forward on the chessboard. It slid the knight two slots up and one to the left and blindsided the queen, knocking it off the board. It was the ultimate power move from the front office to show Rodgers they are still genuinely invested in him. That’s how important Clements was to Rodgers during his early years in Green Bay.

Rodgers has spoken glowingly about Clements in the past. He did so again this past Tuesday when he appeared on The Pat McAfee Show.

“Tom and I go way back,” Rodgers said Tuesday. “I love Tom. I owe him so much credit for my development. I’m happy to see him back in the game. The game is better when Tom Clements is coaching because he’s one of those special, special coaches.”

However, even though the Packers clearly made this move to entice Rodgers to return, Brian Gutekunst is pretty smitten with Clements as well.

“I’ve had the opportunity to be around (Clements) in the past, and he’s an excellent football coach, whether Aaron is here or not,” said Gutekunst. “What he’s accomplished in this league and the way he’s developed quarterbacks is impressive.”

Still, Rodgers’ presence was the overriding factor in pulling the trigger on the hire.

“Aaron’s impact on that decision was, that’s part of the conversations he’s part of,” Gutekunst said during his pre-combine press conference on Wednesday. “We’re excited to have him back and see how he affects that group.”

All of it circles back to one big question: Did Clements accept the job while under the impression Rodgers would be back? Or was he genuinely scratching to get back into the game?

It’s a question that may not have an answer until a decision comes from No. 12. But it’s still hard to envision Clements rolling the dice without some knowledge of what was to come.

Maybe the idea of coaching up another young, first-round pick by the Packers intrigued Clements. Maybe 68 is the new 50. The gas tank could still be half full. Who knows?

That sounds a little foolish, no? That’s precisely why it makes more sense that Clements coming back is a sign of a Rodgers return to Green Bay as well.

If Clements indeed came out of retirement with no insight into what Rodgers would do, more power to him. The passion to coach may have outweighed the freedom of retirement, and that’s that. It could be as simple as that. But aren’t we pulling down the blinders a tad to believe it’s really as cut-and-dry as that? There has to be more meat on the bone with this decision.

Time will tell. Surely the truth will be revealed at some point soon. However, it would be a bit shocking if Clements came out of retirement and back to the Packers only for Rodgers to walk out.

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