At this time last season, kicker was one of the most concerning roster spots for the Green Bay Packers.
In 2023, Anders Carlson ended his rookie season on a low note after a strong start. In response, the Packers signed veteran Greg Joseph to compete with Carlson. The hope was that Carlson would grow from the competition and live up to his draft status or leave the Packers with an experienced option in Joseph.
Neither kicker pulled ahead, leading to a stalemate of mediocrity. Before Week 1, Green Bay declared the winner of the kicking competition.
None of the above.
Instead, the Packers signed rookie kicker Brayden Narveson after the Tennessee Titans released him.
Brian Gutekunst stood by his young kicker, saying they wanted to exercise patience after perhaps moving on from specialists too quickly. However, Narveson was one of the league’s worst kickers through six weeks, necessitating a change.
Green Bay brought in former Super Bowl champion kicker Brandon McManus, and the story changed. McManus responded to the signing with back-to-back walk-off, game-winning field goals. The Packers found their kicker.
Fast forward to 2025. Following perhaps his best season as a pro, McManus signed a three-year, $15.3 million contract to stay in Green Bay. The Packers now have an experienced kicker with a history of success in big moments manning the position.
McManus rewarded the Packers with a flawless performance through training camp, making all 23 of his attempts, including two offense-winning field goals in Monday’s team drills. What a difference a year makes.
Kicker went from one of the roster’s biggest nightmares to a strength, and McManus has become Green Bay’s most reliable kicker since Mason Crosby‘s glory days. That strength makes the Packers a more formidable team, allowing Rich Bisaccia to focus on other areas of need.
It doesn’t feel all that long ago that kicker was a consistent strength for the Packers. Crosby is the storied franchise’s all-time leading scorer. Though he wasn’t without his down stretches, he kept Green Bay afloat when it mattered.
But Crosby’s last few seasons were another example of how Father Time is undefeated, and his leg strength clearly declined in 2021 and 2022. The team selected Carlson as their chosen replacement in the 2023 draft. With a new starting quarterback, it was also time for a new kicker.
Carlson didn’t work out as hoped. With a new starting quarterback and a young receiving corps, it was more imperative than ever to have a reliable kicker to help the offense get something out of drives that couldn’t go all the way.
Even now, the offense still needs that help. Green Bay’s offense often created unforced errors, something the team will hope to change in 2025.
The Packers are relying on internal growth from the quarterback, offensive line, and receiving weapons. Still, it remains to be seen if 2024’s mistakes were the exception or the norm. After adding two rookie wide receivers, having a reliable placekicker is crucial to keep the offense in scoring position. McManus proved himself in a short time in Green Bay, earning a contract extension.
Even with his veteran status, McManus is getting plenty of work in training camp. The Packers added Irish kicker Mark McNamee as part of the NFL’s International Player Program, but he’s yet to kick for the team due to visa issues. With no other kicker on the roster, McManus has taken every kick. He hasn’t missed a single one through the first week of camp, including a camp-long of 56 yards.
With McManus’ long history and a desire to keep him fresh, most of the kicks may go to McNamee when he arrives, or they could add another kicker in camp. We might not see McManus kick 20-plus times a week through the rest of the summer, but seeing him flawlessly dominate in camp is a breath of fresh air after the past two offseasons.
Even with a three-year contract, the Packers still might look to prepare for their “kicker of the future” by testing different options. McManus is 34, and you never know when Father Time will strike again. But, for now, it’s one less thing the team needs to worry about.
Bisaccia had a lot on his plate with kickers, but now he can focus on other spots to get Green Bay’s 22nd-ranked special teams to something more better. All three of his specialists return, so Bisaccia can look to improve kick and punter returns, coverage, and blocking.
The head coach is happy with his kicker, saying, “I don’t even think about it. It’s great.”
We’ve come a long way from concern every time a kicker was in the spotlight.
If McManus stays true, it’s one less thing for the team to worry about as it looks to take a step forward and contend for a Super Bowl. Most things look wonderful during training camp, but the difference in kicking narrative between the last two training camps couldn’t be more different, and it’s a nice plus for the Packers.
