It’s the annual shuffling of the coaches, where newly hired head coaching regimes build their staff, and existing head coaches look to upgrade underperforming areas.
The Green Bay Packers have a few spots to fill — currently, quarterback and defensive line coaches. There could be more, with offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich potentially getting looks for play-calling offensive coordinator roles.
Despite a strong case in favor of it, the Packers should not replace their special teams coordinator. Rich Bisaccia’s group found some much-needed stability before throwing it all out of the window in the final two games of the season, underperforming again when it mattered.
Whether keeping the beloved but underperforming coordinator is the right move, Matt LaFleur clearly trusts Bisaccia enough to give him another year. If Green Bay doesn’t want to make the change at the top, one area needs a shake-up to create a more consistent unit.
Returner.
Despite two years of having an All-Pro returner, it’s clear that the current returners’ evolving roles and the new kickoff-return rules require a return to the drawing board.
It took half of the 2024 season, but the Packers finally got most of their specialist roles figured out. Daniel Whelan was an honest-to-Bob weapon at punter and was the MVP in multiple games. After struggling with rookie kickers, the Packers brought in Brandon McManus, whose veteran expertise provided stability — and a few game-winners. McManus is probably the most important impending free agent the Packers need to bring back. The team could probably upgrade from Matt Orzech at long snapper, but he’s beaten out all the competition.
With their own kicking operation figured out, the Packers must deal with incoming kicks.
It’s not a new story. The Amari Rodgers era wasn’t that long ago. However, Green Bay found almost two years of stability under Keisean Nixon, who won back-to-back All-Pro recognition at kick returner. Nixon’s straight-line speed, grit, and willingness to hunt for the big return made him a high-impact returner. Under Nixon, the Packers returned kickoffs more than any other team.
But two things changed for Nixon in 2024.
- The first: The NFL implemented a new set of kickoff rules, based on the UFL, which favor a different sort of skillset.
- The second: Nixon became a starting boundary corner.
Teams are still adjusting to the new kickoff rules, and it wouldn’t be shocking if the NFL tweaked them before the 2025 season. However, they fulfilled some of their objectives, making kick returns safer and encouraging more returns.
According to NFL Operations, there were 322 more kickoff returns in the 2024 regular season, increasing the rate to 32.8% (compared to 21.8% in 2023). That led to 59 big-play returns (40-plus yards), the most in the league since 2016.
In 2023, Nixon led the league in return attempts (30) and yards (782). But with more teams returning kicks, Nixon’s stats didn’t stand out as much. His 18 returns and 528 yards were good for sixth in the league.
The risk of running kicks back is high. Most teams will take the guaranteed field position when they can. Every return carries the risk of a fumble. We got too good a look at this with Nixon’s opening return in the Wild Card round, which set an ominous tone for Green Bay’s eventual loss. Philly recovered another return fumble against the Washington Commanders in the Conference Championship game.
That fumble wasn’t the only thing that dashed Green Bay’s Super Bowl run but was a major contributing factor. Though the call on the fumble was bad, it still wasn’t a good look.
The following Monday, Nixon told reporters he didn’t want to handle kick returns anymore.
“I want to be CB1,” he said. “CB1 is not doing kick returns. That’s just what it is.”
It’s not an unfair statement, though it caught LaFleur off-guard. Nixon’s recent deal with Green Bay was cornerback money, not special teams money. With Jaire Alexander missing most of the season, Nixon filled in as a boundary corner and did better there in the slot. With Alexander’s time in Green Bay potentially ending, they’ll need to rely on Nixon even more on defense.
That, combined with a different, twitchier type of skillset being in demand for kick returners, means letting Nixon focus fully on CB duties and finding another kick returner is a good idea.
Similarly, despite some inconsistency, Jayden Reed emerged as a dynamic wide receiver in Year 2 and arguably the best one on the Packers roster. He also had major issues with drops, which is not something you want to see in your punt returner. He should also focus on his primary role at this point in his career.
Special teams can win or lose games. In Green Bay’s case, it’s usually the latter. I weep.
Field position and not turning the ball over are the keys to success with returns, and the Packers aren’t winning the battles there. If Rich Bisaccia’s reign is to continue, the Packers need to enhance his subjects. A new returner might be the move.
