Of all the stellar performances turned in by different Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, there was one that stood out above the rest. While most of the media has been focused on Jordan Love’s “breakout” performance and what it means for he and the Packers future, it was a defensive member of the team that shook the Lions to their core
Rashan Gary obliterated Jared Goff and company on Thursday to the tune of 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 7 tackles.
After the game, many made note of Gary’s long recovery journey and his emotional moment with Matt Lafleur in the locker room.
Good Morning Football’s Peter Schrager took it a step further and shared an amazing untold story about head coach Matt LaFleur and Gary’s bond.
“There’s a story between Rashan Gary and Matt LaFleur which is so so deep.” Schrager said. “LaFleur was recruiting in college at Notre Dame and was going to watch other players and saw Rashan Gary as a high school player absolutely dominate. Had it in the back of his head. When Matt LaFleur finally has a first round pick, Rashan Gary is not expected to go in the top 10, he’s not expected to go high. [LaFleur] was part of the guys that was like we got to go get this guy! So when you think about their careers together and Gary gets paid and everything[that leads up to the locker room moment].It’s a cool moment.”
It’s details like these that truly make football the best game on earth.
Schrager also put Gary with some pretty high company.
“Rashan Gary quietly inserted himself into that Defensive Player of the Year conversation [Thursday]!” Schrager exclaimed on NFL Network. “[Thursday] he was the best player on the field. Rashan Gary was all over the field and he’s their emotional leader too. No kidding, yesterday around the 4th quarter, Hendon Hooker’s name was trending on Twitter. [Lions Fans saying] ‘Hey the backup quarterback may be a better option when he gets back’ and that’s because Gary was dominating.”
Huge praise from Schrager, and although it may seem like a longshot given the year Myles Garrett, TJ Watt,, and Danielle Hunter are having, it’s not unthinkable. There’s a lot of ground to be made up, but with the Packers climbing back into the playoff picture, and Gary rounding into form, a couple huge performances like Thursday and he would be right in the thick of the national conversation.
For Gary, who was a high draft pick and has faced his fair amount of scrutiny, the recent success is certainly validating. Criticisms of his output poured in during his first couple years after the Packers made him the 12th pick in the 2019 draft. But those in the know have seen what Gary is capable of and have predicted this path. Earlier this season, Chris Long did an incredible breakdown of Gary’s abilities, calling him one of his favorite pass rushers in the game. Click play below to get Long’s entire breakdown. It’s incredible.
