Jim from Hudsonville, MI

I thought the most interesting "thing" of Jonathan Gannon’s “5 things” was the fact he was in personnel for three years. It seems to me that it would be a highly beneficial path for any coach to take at some point early in their career. The ability to identify certain talents and traits could go a long way in developing players. Adds another tool in the coach's toolbox, at least.

The guy paid his dues both as a quality control coach and scout, and I feel like that combination helped propel Gannon up the coaching ranks once he caught his break with Indianapolis in 2018. Like Hafley, Gannon brings a creative scheme and past head-coaching experience to Green Bay. The other advantage is that Gannon inherits a unit with wind in its sails. All sorts of playmakers are lurking on this defense beyond just Micah Parsons and Xavier McKinney.

Jeff from New Richmond, WI

Mock drafts seem pointless now and are no fun without GB having a first-round pick. I would have loved to see Jim Leonhard be our DC but hard to complain about the Gannon hire. It's pretty impressive what he did after replacing Jim Schwartz in Philly with Schwartz being considered one of the top five DC in the league.

Gannon had massive shoes to fill in Philly and quickly made that defense his own, experience that's undoubtedly prepared him for the situation here in Green Bay.

Nathan from Laramie, WY

Greetings! Thank you for the "5 things" on our new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. I am curious what the players he has coached, and the people he has worked with, say about him. While I will miss greatly Jeff Hafley's unique enthusiasm in the press conferences, I simply request Mr. Gannon be his own, authentic self. Thank you!

They're distinctly different people, but I've heard nothing but good things about Gannon from people whose opinion I trust in the NFL. He strikes me as a down-to-earth guy who's a football coach first and foremost. It also speaks volumes how Kyler Murray and others spoke about Gannon after his departure from Arizona. There also were some rumblings out of Philly this week that the Eagles were reportedly interested in a reunion if Vic Fangio retired.

Tom from Cambrdige, MA

I hadn't realized there were so many former HCs working as coordinators and former coordinators working as positions coaches, etc. I know even the Boston radio guys have figured out that, for example, Josh McDaniels is a great OC who will never have another HC offer. What do you attribute this "downward" mobility to? Has the demanding, results-oriented nature of the NFL shown us the answer to the Peter Principle? (If I was younger, this would be my B-School PhD thesis.)

I think a big part of it is the meteoric rise of young coaches up the ladder. While every team is searching for the next Sean McVay, the reality is there are still 272 games each regular season. Half will be won and half will be lost. It doesn't always work out with the immense pressure on coaches hired today to win yesterday. I believe that's led to more former NFL head coaches filling coordinator seats (e.g. McDaniels, Raheem Morris, Vance Joseph, Mike McDaniel, Dennis Allen, etc.).

Markus from Aurora, CO

I always wonder how to kill time between the exit from the playoffs until NFL football starts again in earnest, besides just living life and working. Any advice?

Enjoy each phase of the offseason calendar as it comes. The NFL has done a masterful job of making this a 12-month league, building intrigue and interest until the next ball is meaningfully snapped in September.

Ron from Eleva, WI

Hypothetical question. If Green Bay had a first-round bye and homefield advantage throughout playoffs, would they have played in minus-45 degree temperatures? Thank you for all your great work.

I've asked myself that same question two weeks ago when it was as cold as I can remember in a Green Bay January. The game probably would have been played regardless, but it would've been in the same area code as the Ice Bowl.

Paul from Ledgeview, WI

Wes, what constitutes a "rebuild" in the NFL? We will have the same QB1 and HC, but the defensive staff will be different, the free agent/salary cap picture is complex, and the Packers have less draft capital than I would like. Does this qualify as a reset, restart, reshuffle? How do you see the transition impacting the 2026 team?

Not at all. I think the Packers are doing the opposite, revving up with a young roster growing into veteran status. To me, rebuilds happen when an organization tears a team down to the floorboards and reconstructs it brick by brick.

Andrew from Cedarburg, WI

I see a lot of questions about injuries and luck. Curt Cignetti said one of his main things is he wants his players fresh. They only practice 1-1½ hours. I notice the Packers not only had injury problems but also came out flat almost every game. Do you think it has something to do with the practice schedule or in-season strength and conditioning? Yes, injuries are part of the game, but it feels like the Packers could do more to prevent them when compared to other teams.

LaFleur was actually in front of this trend when he was hired in 2019. He drastically cut down on practice time compared to the Mike McCarthy era, with training camp practices hovering in that 90-minute range in the early years. LaFleur said after the season he plans to dive into the sports science and I'm sure those findings will be a major topic at the NFL Annual Meetings at the end of March.

Jeff from Littlefork, MN

Oh man! Why did Arizona have to be on our schedule last year? When is the next time we are scheduled to play the Cardinals? Fans want a LaFleur Bowl, give the people what they need! (Congrats Mike a.k.a. The OTHER Coach LaFleur!)

Knowing the LaFleur Bros.' relationship, I'm sure Matt is ecstatic. The LaFleurs are just the fourth pair of brothers who've become NFL head coaches, joining Jim and John Harbaugh, Jon and Jay Gruden and Al and Ted Nesser. As Mike said Monday morning, the Packers and Cards will play again in 2027.

Mike from Canada

The Dallas Cowboys submitted a video log of "no-hold" calls by refs against opponents clearly holding Micah Parsons. This season certainly yielded an abundance of such no-hold calls against Parsons on his new team. Do you see any benefit in the Packers producing and submitting to the NFL head office a similar videographic complaint? Or would this just be quixotic? GPG!

Excellent use of quixotic. I'd say it's worth it. If for no other reason than getting a better explanation of what officials are seeing on those plays and what needs to happen for the laundry to be thrown.

Michael from Jacksonville, FL

Hi Insiders! I want to see more of the halfback pass. Why aren't they used on outside handoffs that don't get back to the line? The defense would be caught off guard. Could they just throw it away and get back to the line of scrimmage? Imagine the possibilities!

Most receivers are too busy blocking to be looking for the football, though. To the idea of plays coming back around, though, it'd be cool to see the Dontayvion Wicks pass back in the game plan next season. It was fun, creative and the Packers were excellent at running it.

Bill from Louisburg, KS

Calling it now...I note the Saints play in Paris next year. Guess who the Packers are playing on the road in 2026?

My batting average for predicting international games is extremely low, so I'm going to sit out of prophesying this year. However, Green Bay is indeed one of the Saints' nine home opponents in 2026.

Doug from Salem, OR

I would like to weigh in on the 18-game schedule. Eliminating preseason games does not seem like it will help with the health of players. First team (and others) play a series or two (if at all). How can eliminating a game you don't play in help you avoid wear and tear on your body when you add an additional game? I have to be missing something.

Trading out a preseason game for an 18th regular-season game won't get the ball across the goal line. It's gonna take more than just that. But let's say it does happen, that's just one more hurdle for the league's best players and teams to cross during a grueling NFL season. That likely means more Jarrett Stidhams starting consequential title games.

Jeffrey from Eveleth, MN

I used to think that a rising salary cap favors nobody. It just makes all the players more expensive for all the teams. But maybe it does help teams to be able to pay these backloaded contracts instead of having "cap casualties," no?

I don't have much to say on this other than Russ Ball has been Nostradamus when it comes to gauging where the cap is headed and planning the Packers' books accordingly.

Jeff from Athens, WI

In regards to roster and salary cap management – when can teams make transactions using the post-June 1 designation? Based on information from another site, it looks like the Packers could free up some significant cap space by either releasing or restructuring a few players, opening the door to possible free agent or trade options to improve the roster for next season.

Teams may cut up to two veterans with a post-June 1 designation as soon as the new league year begins in March. It is a rob Peter to pay Paul proposition, though. You're just kicking the can down the road, which is why the Packers took on Jaire Alexander's full cap hit in 2025.

Barry from De Pere, WI

Packers Everywhere. Besides fans, it seems now to cover former GB coaches on so many other teams. Surprised to read Joe Barry was in Miami, as well, and re-signed as Dolphins LB coach.

I believe it was a brilliant move on Hafley's part, especially with a first-time defensive coordinator in Sean Duggan who's only 32 years old. For everything that went haywire for the Dolphins, Barry's linebackers held up their end of the bargain last season. Under Barry's watch, Jordyn Brooks went from a solid linebacker in Seattle to a first-team All-Pro in Miami.

Jim from Westland, MI

The Pats' defense looked great against the Saints, Titans, Browns, Falcons, Jets twice, Bengals, Ravens and Dolphins...Giants. Battle-tested? I know it's not their fault they played a last-place schedule, however, call me skeptical and predict a 'Hawks rout. I say that because their offense squared off against the Saints, Titans...

I'm favoring Seattle. The Pats are a great story, but the Seahawks probably faced stiffer competition within their own division than New England did all season. Credit to the Patriots. They've beaten all but one team put in front of them over the past four months, but Seattle is the Pats' biggest test by far.

Mike from Baraboo, WI

What will Seattle need to do to win and what will the Patriots need to do to win?

Ball security. New England has to get Sam Darnold to turn over the ball a couple, three times and Drake Maye must keep the chains moving to prevail. The Seahawks are the NFL's most efficient squad and they will papercut you to death if you let them.

Ray from Phoenix, AZ

Do the Packers still have the ability to trade any of their upcoming FA players before those players are free to talk to other teams about signing a contract?

No. They'd have to franchise tag them to retain their rights in order to trade them (e.g. Davante Adams in March 2022).

Bob from Rome, NY

Wes: I am somewhere between Mike and you on MLB. I didn't watch from after the 1994 strike (eighth strike in 20 years) for about 20 years. I waited until almost all the players involved in the strike were done. It also coincided with a high school classmate of mine becoming commissioner. What are your thoughts on the impacts of a possible 2027 strike on the fan base? Do you think another World Series cancellation is a possibility? Awaiting your expertise opinion. Thank you!

A strike would be devastating for Major League Baseball, but it also may be necessary for the league to grow. I respect Mike's approach to his Brewers fandom. It's commendable and principled. As a casual fan, I need an even playing field to be fully invested. Call me a killjoy, but I can't overlook the Dodgers having a salary three times that of the Brewers.

Justin from De Pere, WI

What's your favorite part of the offseason?

This is honestly one of them. I'd love to be covering a Super Bowl right now, but it's nice to relax and catch your breath again after a six-month gauntlet.

Justin from Thousand Oaks, CA

In coach interviews, I've always wondered: Do candidates bring visual aids? Seems like if you're explaining an offensive or defensive approach, it might help to have a presentation or cutups or some other way to break it down, but maybe in the culture it would be frowned upon and they'd rather just talk.

Some bring binders. Some bring PowerPoints. Everyone brings a plan.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Sooooo, Matt LaFleur's brother Mike LaFleur is getting the HC job in Arizona, formerly held by Jonathan Gannon, who is now Matt's DC in Green Bay because his former DC Jeff Hafley is now the HC of the Dolphins where he's retaining Joe Barry, who used to be Matt's DC in Green Bay. Lots of fun sentences like that to be had across the league this year. It's like everyone is using the same ingredients but mixing them up in different combinations trying to see who can make the prize-winning soup.

And the wheel in the NFL sky keeps on turning.

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