The Green Bay Packers and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia have reached a significant agreement to extend his contract for another two years, keeping him in Green Bay through 2025. According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, this decision comes as Bisaccia, who had a year left on his deal, was reportedly considering retirement. At 64 years old, rumors began circulating that the respected coach might step away from the game, but Packers head coach Matt LaFleur wasn’t ready to let go of his trusted special teams coordinator just yet. To secure Bisaccia's future with the team, LaFleur offered a contract extension, adding an additional year to his current deal.
It was LaFleur who originally brought Bisaccia into the Packers fold in 2022. His first year in Green Bay saw him take on the significant challenge of turning around a special teams unit that had struggled for years. The franchise’s special teams had been a major weak spot for quite some time, but Bisaccia’s experience and leadership helped make a noticeable difference. When he was first hired, it was clear that his top priority was to overhaul Green Bay's special teams, which had been ranked dead last in 2021. In his first season with the Packers, they climbed to 22nd in Rick Gosselin's annual special teams rankings—a solid improvement considering the team’s previous struggles.
However, 2023 presented a setback, as the Packers fell to 29th in Gosselin's rankings, reigniting concerns about the team’s special teams play. It's worth noting that the upcoming 2024 rankings, which will likely be a reflection of the 2023 season’s performance, have yet to be released, but expectations for Green Bay remain modest at best. The Packers’ special teams’ inconsistency continues to be a topic of discussion among fans and analysts alike, with a rocky 2024 season ahead.
A primary issue during the 2024 season was the inconsistency in the kicking game. Rookie kicker Brayden Narveson, who was brought in to replace Anders Carlson, struggled out of the gate. Carlson, a former sixth-round draft pick, was let go before the season after failing to show significant improvement during the preseason and training camp. Narveson, unfortunately, couldn’t find his rhythm either, missing five field goal attempts in the first six games of the season—the most in the NFL at the time. The situation grew even more complicated, but stability came when the Packers signed veteran kicker Brandon McManus, who provided much-needed reliability in the kicking game.
But it wasn’t just the kicking unit that struggled. The Packers’ special teams were prone to making critical mistakes throughout the 2024 season, which only heightened the pressure on Bisaccia to deliver better results. In the regular-season finale, for example, the punt team was completely fooled by a trick return play, leading to a devastating 94-yard touchdown scored by the Chicago Bears. The blunder helped seal a loss to a division rival and further illustrated the need for improvement in special teams' coverage and awareness.
Then came another costly special teams error in the playoffs. In Green Bay's wild-card round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Keisean Nixon, who had been a bright spot on special teams throughout the year, fumbled the opening kickoff, giving Philadelphia an easy opportunity to take control early in the game. These mistakes underscored the importance of Bisaccia’s role in revamping the team’s special teams, but also showed that there is still much work to be done.
Despite these challenges, Bisaccia’s future with the team remains secure. Not only will he continue to focus on the special teams unit, but he will also assist Matt LaFleur with in-game management. It’s still unclear whether this added role is a new responsibility or something that had already been a part of his duties, but it’s clear that LaFleur values Bisaccia’s leadership and input beyond just the special teams unit.
In another notable development, Luke Getsy, the Packers’ former quarterbacks coach and current offensive coordinator, has been given the title of senior offensive assistant. Getsy’s new role further solidifies his place in Green Bay's coaching staff after his time as the Packers' quarterbacks coach from 2019 to 2021. Following that tenure, Getsy took on offensive coordinator roles elsewhere, but now returns to Green Bay to contribute in an expanded role. It’s also worth noting that if current offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich were to leave the team, Getsy could potentially step into the position.
As the Packers look toward the future, these moves reflect the team's desire to strengthen its coaching staff, despite facing adversity. Bisaccia’s extension and Getsy’s new title are just the latest in a series of changes designed to position the Packers for long-term success. While the 2024 season presents many questions—particularly around special teams—the leadership and experience that both Bisaccia and Getsy bring to the table are key factors in Green Bay’s efforts to return to championship contention.
The Packers' special teams' issues may have seemed insurmountable at times, but the extension of Bisaccia’s contract signals the team's commitment to continuing the work that was started in 2022. The hiring of Bisaccia, along with the move to bring McManus in to stabilize the kicking game, shows that the Packers are serious about getting their special teams unit in top shape. Even though the road ahead may include more bumps along the way, the hope is that these growing pains will eventually lead to a more polished and reliable special teams unit.
What remains clear is that the Packers are fully invested in Bisaccia and his ability to turn the unit around. His impact on the team’s performance goes beyond just the statistics; it’s about creating a culture of reliability and resilience on all aspects of the game, and it’s going to take time to fully execute his vision. There’s plenty of optimism, but the stakes remain high as the Packers look to bounce back from the ups and downs of the 2024 season and build momentum for the future.
In the end, the success of the Packers’ special teams will be a crucial factor in their overall performance, and all eyes will be on Bisaccia as he works to bring stability and efficiency to one of the most volatile areas of the team. For now, the Packers and their fans can rest assured knowing that they have a coach in Bisaccia who has proven time and time again that he can get the job done. The real question is: How quickly will he be able to turn the ship around? Only time will tell, but with his contract extension in place, Bisaccia will have plenty of opportunity to prove that the Packers made the right call in keeping him around.
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