Packers Stick With Rich Bisaccia Despite Special Teams Struggles

The Green Bay Packers are keeping faith in special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, even after another uneven season that saw the unit rank near the bottom of the league. General manager Brian Gutekunst made it clear that Bisaccia’s role is secure, signaling a vote of confidence in the veteran coach despite vocal criticism from fans.

The 2025 campaign ended with a 9-7-1 record and a narrow 31-27 Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears. While the offense and defense had their highlights, the Packers’ special teams continued to lag behind expectations, leaving supporters frustrated with missed opportunities and inconsistent kicking and returns.

Green Bay finished 20th in overall special teams performance—a modest improvement over 22nd and 27th place finishes in 2023 and 2024—but still far from the elite level expected when Bisaccia was hired in 2022. For a fan base accustomed to decades of struggles in the third phase, patience has worn thin.

Despite the criticism, both Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur have stood by Bisaccia, emphasizing the intangible value he brings to the team’s culture and preparation. The Packers are betting that continuity and experience will eventually translate to improvement.

1. Performance Challenges

While punter Daniel Whelan provided a rare bright spot, finishing fourth in the NFL with a franchise-record net average of 43.9 yards, much of the rest of the unit struggled to keep pace. Punt returns remained a significant issue, with the team finishing dead last in average yards per return. Kicker Brandon McManus also had an inconsistent season. Converting 80 percent of his field goal attempts, he was just 6-of-12 from 40-plus yards, leaving fans to lament missed scoring opportunities in key games. These inconsistencies highlighted the uneven execution that has defined Green Bay’s special teams over recent seasons. Despite incremental improvements in league rankings, the unit’s struggles were magnified in critical moments, including the Wild Card loss, fueling fan frustration and calls for a shake-up. Social media reactions reflected a lack of patience, with many supporters comparing the results to decades of missed kicks and costly mistakes. The 2025 season underscored that while some aspects of special teams have improved, the unit still has significant work to do in both reliability and consistency, particularly in kicking and return coverage.

2. Leadership and Continuity

Gutekunst emphasized that Bisaccia’s value extends beyond on-field statistics. “What Rich brings to our culture, this football team, he’s a very impactful coach around here,” the GM said during a recent press conference. Head coach Matt LaFleur has similarly backed the coordinator, valuing his experience and leadership in the locker room. The Packers’ front office appears to believe that maintaining continuity could eventually produce the results fans crave. Bisaccia’s tenure brings stability to a unit that has seen frequent turnover at both coaching and player positions, allowing for consistent instruction and development. Leadership from experienced players, combined with Bisaccia’s guidance, is expected to help younger members of the special teams unit mature and improve, a strategy the organization believes will pay dividends over time. Gutekunst’s approach underscores a broader philosophy: incremental improvement and long-term planning, rather than immediate, reactionary changes, are the keys to elevating the unit’s performance.

3. Looking Ahead to 2026

As the 2026 offseason unfolds, the Packers face a pivotal period for their special teams. Retaining Bisaccia signals that the organization intends to stick with its current philosophy, focusing on gradual progress rather than dramatic personnel changes. Key players such as Whelan and McManus will be critical to the unit’s success, but improvement will require contributions from the entire group, including coverage units and return specialists. Green Bay’s coaching staff will need to address the weaknesses exposed in 2025 while building on the bright spots. Fan expectations will remain high, especially given the team’s aspirations to contend in the NFC. Balancing patience with accountability will be crucial for both the coaching staff and management as they navigate the offseason. Ultimately, the Packers are betting that experience, culture, and stability under Bisaccia can transform a historically inconsistent unit into a reliable contributor for 2026, even if fans remain skeptical.