Continuity should be an asset for Packers in 2025
Change is unavoidable and often necessary in the NFL year over year, but the Green Bay Packers should have the benefit of real continuity -- both in terms of players and coaches -- during the 2025 season.
On the coaching side, the Packers are returning their offensive playcaller (Matt LaFleur) and all three coordinators, including defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley -- who led the Packers to top 10 finishes in several important statistical categories during his first season in Green Bay in 2024.
On the player side, the Packers are dealing with a low amount of roster turnover. According to Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap, the Packers are returning 84.5 percent of last year's roster in 2025, ranking second in the NFL behind only the Denver Broncos (86.0%).
As long as the Packers retain Jaire Alexander for 2025, the key players from last season will be intact. Brian Gutekunst let center Josh Myers, defensive lineman TJ Slaton, cornerback Eric Stokes and linebacker Eric Wilson depart in free agency, but Myers (with Aaron Banks), Stokes (with Nate Hobbs) and Wilson (with Kristian Welch and Isaiah Simmons) were immediately replaced by veterans.
This isn't to say the Packers' roster will be a replica of 2024. Gutekunst added an eight-player draft class that featured first-round pick Matthew Golden and offensive lineman Anthony Belton. The fringes of the roster will be turned over with young, incoming players. The Packers also signed five veterans who played with other teams last season. And it's always possible a surprise or two will emerge during training camp, altering the look of the 53-man roster come September.
However, the important pieces of the foundation were carried over.
On offense, LaFleur will call plays for Jordan Love, who is entering his third year as a starter and sixth season in the same offense. The team's top four running backs, top seven receivers and top four tight ends are all back. Adam Stenavich interviewed for head-coaching jobs but now returns for his fourth season as the offensive coordinator, and the Packers even brought back long-time assistant Luke Getsy to work with quarterbacks and the offense. The big turnover on the offensive coaching side was quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, who is being replaced by Sean Mannion, a former NFL quarterback who spent last season learning under the veteran quarterback coach in Green Bay.
Defensively, the Packers fired defensive line coach Jason Rebrovich after a disappointing year in 2024, replacing him with former Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington -- creating a big change but also the potential for big improvement. Linebackers coach Anthony Campanile left for a defensive coordinator job in Jacksonville, but his replacement -- Sean Duggan -- spent last year as the assistant under Campanile and has a long history working with Hafley. Speaking of Hafley, his defense is entering Year 2 after a strong finish to the 2024 season. If the pass rush is better, and young players like Edgerrin Cooper, Lukas Van Ness, Evan Williams and Javon Bullard all take a step forward, this could be a very good defense in 2025.
On special teams, coordinator Rich Bisaccia is back to lead what is expected to be the same three specialists -- veteran kicker Brandon McManus, ascending punter Daniel Whelan and long snapper Matt Orzech. Continuity is often important in this special teams battery, and the Packers have it entering 2025.
The Packers are once again young after having the youngest team in football each of the last two seasons. But it's possible 2025 could be a sweet spot year in Green Bay, considering the continuity in the coaching staff and on the roster, and all the valuable experience gained over back-to-back playoff seasons in 2023 and 2024. This is a young but experienced team that isn't having to deal with a bunch of change entering 2025.
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