Inbox: Micah Parsons makes any defense he plays on better

Al from Green Bay, WI

Wes, it sounds like you'll be doing all the heavy lifting for the next few days. My advice: Stay hydrated. Pace yourself. Keep some in the tank for the fourth quarter. You've got this!

It's a great day to be adequate.

Kevin from New Milford, CT

As happy as I am to see Chicago out of the playoffs, I thought there were definitely some head-scratchers from a coaching perspective. First, opening drive, no score, and ball just outside the 20. The Bears go for it on fourth down and fail. Second, fourth-and-goal in the fourth quarter in a tie game. They go for it on fourth down and fail again. If they take both of those field goals, even the late Rams TD only leaves them down one and they don't necessarily need the Hail Mary to get to OT. Overthinking or am I missing something?

You're not overthinking. I'm guessing coaches and analytic departments leaguewide are taking a hard look at the numbers, especially after watching Seattle this season. The NFC's top seed went for it on fourth down a league-low 12 times while Jason Myers made 41 field goals. Only three other kickers even attempted 41 field goals. The Seahawks finished eighth in total offense but third in scoring. It's good to be aggressive, but you can't be blind to the game situation, either. I wonder if we see more teams kicking intermediate field goals next season, particularly in the first half.

Al from Tulsa, OK

Some of the teams still in the running for the Super Bowl were only a play or three from being eliminated. The Packers were only a play or three from still being in the mix. So, it shouldn't require any wholesale improvements next year for the Packers to make it to the party, should it?

No, but next year's team also must start from scratch. Matt LaFleur talks about it all the time and Ben Johnson also said it after Chicago's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. There's no building off last season because the next one is already here. That's the right perspective to have. The Packers are close and it's up to the 2026 squad to close the gap.

Patrick from Oronoco, MN

Good morning! I had hoped Jeff Hafley would pull a Ben Johnson and stay one more year as a coordinator to try and help the team get to a Super Bowl. Was that just a pipe dream or did you feel somewhat similar?

There was no doubt in my mind Hafley was going to get a head-coaching opportunity once the interview requests started piling in. I've listened to hours of his news conferences and seen how he interacts with people around the building. The guy emits the aura of an NFL head coach. Once Jon-Eric Sullivan landed in Miami, I figured Hafley would soon follow.

Jennifer from Middleton, WI

Hi Wes, Hafley's introductory press conference as HC of the Dolphins was exactly what I expected – genuine, passionate, and inspirational. I am very glad he went to an AFC team, so we are free to root for him and Sully. That franchise is overdue for a renaissance, and I have a feeling they are on their way.

That presser was vintage Hafley. I loved what he said during his opening statement about how "I'm not one to write things down. I'm not one to sit up here with a detailed plan on what I'm gonna say. I think for those that are gonna listen to me and ask questions – what you see with me is what you get. It's gonna come from the heart." That's who Hafley is and those traits travel. Hafley also had kind words for LaFleur and the Packers organization, calling the past two years "two of the best in my life." Hafley reset the standard here for defensive football and left Green Bay in a better place than he found it.

Chris from West Allis, WI

A lot has been mentioned about how changes in college football have affected the players entering the NFL (e.g. more polished receivers). Is there something to be said about college coaches, too? I remember Chip Kelly being a big surprise to many, but now it seems college coaches coming to the NFL is fairly typical.

Hafley was part of that wave. The NIL system has shifted the landscape, especially for a school like Boston College that has already struggled to compete in the ACC. The job was difficult enough when you had to recruit players and develop them. Now, you have to recruit them again once they do develop. If the NFL door is open, more guys are taking it.

Michael from Saint Louis, MO

I get what you mean about the pressure to win driving reactionary decisions, and I agree that being principled and consistent matters. But stability only works as a foundation if it's supporting measurable progress, but the Packers process has gotten them the seventh seed three years in a row (and four years ago they didn't make the playoffs). Aside from Jordan Love's first year starting, it is hard to see the other years as progress. It has been frustrating. How do you distinguish stability from stagnation?

By the fact Micah Parsons, Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs all wanted to come here. Because in Green Bay, players can be rewarded for their play while also chasing championship glory. I don't like using the word, "Spoiled," but man…We spent the last few questions talking about the Fins hiring Sullivan and Hafley. Do you know the last time Miami won a playoff game? 2000. That's 25 years and counting. That's stagnation, Michael.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Good morning, Wes. After watching their introductory press conference in Miami, it sure feels like the Packers have lost two passionate, articulate, intelligent and valuable employees. Aren't Sully and Haf going to be profoundly difficult for the front office to replace? Thanks.

They won't be easy to replace, but the beautiful thing is their departures will create opportunities for other hungry scouts and coaches. Looking specifically at the Packers' front office, Brian Gutekunst, Eliot Wolf and Sullivan all got their big breaks after Reggie McKenzie, John Dorsey and John Schneider graduated into NFL GM jobs.

Jessi from Sterling, KS

I want Al Harris. He was one of my favorite defensive guys back in the day, and he was the first player that ever got my dad to get into Packers football with me. I've never liked that he was in Chicago. Time to get that guy back home! Yes, I am aware I have no say and no one cares. But isn't that what the offseason is for?

The former Packers cornerback is a strong candidate who's built an impressive resume since joining Andy Reid's first Kansas City coaching staff in 2013. While climbing the coaching ranks over the past decade, Harris has overseen talented secondaries in both Dallas and Chicago that were prodigious at taking the ball away. The NFL has noticed and this could be the year Harris takes that step to becoming a defensive coordinator whether it's here or elsewhere.

Kevin from Lititz, PA

After Devonte Wyatt got hurt, the interior run defense weakened, and the edge rushers appeared to crash inside more to compensate. That put added strain on the linebackers, forced them to chase laterally, and opened up the middle of the field in the passing game. Micah Parsons could still adjust with his speed, but once he went down the pass rush stalled. As the season progressed and teams caught on to these tendencies, do you think this became more of a scheme issue, or players not executing?

I think it had more to do with the Packers losing two of their best players, one of whom is a finalist for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. To its credit, Green Bay's defense kept fighting but you can only scheme so much. At a certain point, the ship just takes on too much water, and I feel like that's what happened in the fourth quarter in Chicago.

Pete from Hillsborough, NC

Which Bears' players will be UFAs this offseason? What is Chicago's predicted/estimated cap status?

According to Spotrac, the Bears currently have $3.6 million in cap space while starting safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker are set to be free agents. D.J. Moore has the highest individual cap hit at $28.5 million but that number swells to $35.4 if released.

Dennis from Parrish, FL

Just a semi-educated guess. No matter scheme the new defensive coordinator prefers to run, somehow, they will figure out a way where Micah Parsons might be effective?

Parsons came in and elevated the defense in a matter of days. He produced immediately without an offseason program, without a training camp and without any prior knowledge of Hafley's defense. Regardless of who gets the DC job, I think 2025 proved Micah Parsons makes any defense he plays on better regardless of the circumstances.

John from Jupiter, FL

Morning Wes. Gotta pull for the Rams. Not just for Davante Adams' sake but Matt Stafford seems like a real class act. Thanks.

This next week will define Stafford's legacy. He not only has a chance to lead the Rams back to the Super Bowl but also win NFL MVP. I think both are necessary for Stafford to state his case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Gabriel from Redlands, CA

Hi Wes. I'm curious about what's going on with Jakobie Keeney-James. Looking at the roster, he's showing as being on the roster. Does that mean the Packers want to keep him since he doesn't show as a practice-squad player?

The roster expands back to 90 players once the season is over. That's why you see all the players lumped together on our site.

Kerry from Canyon Lake, TX

I'm sure you saw Robert Kraft's comments about how enthused owners are about going to 18 games with more overseas play. I have to say, I love the Packers and hate the NFL. Is that hypocritical? How common do you think that sentiment is?

Hate is a strong word, but I hear your frustration.

Wes from Marengo, IL

Awesome job all year-round Mike and Wes. Do you know if Ed Policy, Matt LeFleur, Brian Gutekunst and Russ Ball read II regularly to get a pulse on the Packers' avid fans' disposition or do they rise above the froth and leave the prevailing sentiments for both of you to deal with?

I'd favor the latter. While we welcome their interest and readership, I'm sure all four have much better things to do than reading my musings.

Jason from Austin, TX

To those who question LaFleur's half-time adjustments, wasn't it not too long ago (according to my memory WCBW, and can't even remember the year) when the Packers had the worst first-half scoring offense in the league but the best second-half scoring offense? Every year is going to be different, and winning heals everything so I doubt this will be remembered once next season has started and we've stacked a few wins.

Win it all or people question everything. Such is the life of an NFL coach.

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