While the Green Bay Packers can blame a lot of things for the reason they lost to the San Francisco 49ers at home in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs, their special teams unit is the aspect that sticks out the most.
Arguably the worst special teams unit in the NFL last season, the Packers were doomed by their mistakes, including the final play of the game in which they only sent 10 players on the field to block the game-winning field goal.
So it wasn’t too much of a surprise to find out that special teams coach Maurice Drayton would not return next season. The Packers now found themselves looking for their third special teams’ coach in three seasons and everyone pointed at the most obvious solution to their problems. Rich Bisaccia.
The former Las Vegas Raiders interim coach who didn’t get invited back for the full-time gig was a longtime special teams coach before that, winning a Super Bowl in that role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002. He’s widely regarded as one of the best special teams’ coaches in the league and is beloved by players.
Turns out, Matt LaFleur agreed and the Packers are expected to hire him as their new special teams’ coach.
Given what Bisaccia brings to the table and the need that the Packers have, it’s no wonder that he’s also going to get paid pretty well for the opportunity.
The reaction to this hiring was pretty universally positive, for both the Packers and Bisaccia, whom many felt should have gotten the Raiders’ head coaching job permanently.
If the Packers can figure out how to keep Aaron Rodgers and fix issues like their special teams, they could be setting themselves up for a very solid season next year.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.