- He’s refusing to chalk up the failures to injuries.
The Packers lost tight end Tucker Kraft in early November and defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt on Thanksgiving, plus stalwart right tackle Zach Tom and defensive star Micah Parsons in mid-December.
No one’s denying those players couldn’t have made a difference down the stretch, but Gutekunst doesn’t feel their absence is why the Packers struggled.
“I felt through the end of the season and into the playoffs we had everything we needed to win those football games,” he said. “I never felt underhanded at any time going into those games.”
That mentality has been forged, in part, by being on the Packers’ scouting staff during the team’s last Super Bowl run in 2010, when the roster was decimated by injuries and the team still found a way to get hot at the right time.
“I got one ring since I’ve been doing this, and it was the year that we had more injuries than I think any other, right?” he said. “So, it’s nothing against any other teams here, but you never feel like, ‘Hey, we can’t go win this game,’ you know? I fully expected where we were in the middle of the playoff game, to win that game and be heading to Seattle and win that game.
“That’s the thing that makes this job, as tough as those moments are, it’s what draws us a lot to it, is the competitive nature of it.”
- He professed faith in special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia and praised his work behind the scenes.
As the Packers’ defensive coaching staff gets revamped amidst coordinator Jeff Hafley’s departure to Miami as head coach, Gutekunst’s comments on Bisaccia indicate no change is forthcoming with the third phase.
“What Rich brings to our culture, this football team, he’s a very impactful coach around here,” Gutekunst said.
Special teams miscues played a role in the season’s tough finish, and Gutekunst noted kicker Brandon McManus had made 32 straight kicks (13 FGs, 19 PATs) before his three misses in the playoff loss. The botched onside kick in the previous game at Chicago was not discussed, nor was the lack of a dynamic return game late in the season. But Gutekunst gave shout-outs to the team’s coverage units as well as punter Daniel Whelan and long snapper Matt Orzech as providing stability and a strong foundation.
“I’ve got a lot of faith in Rich and his staff, what they do around here, not only the X’s and O’s, what they bring to the field, but what they bring to this place culturally is really important,” he said.
- He’s grateful for the contract extension that gives him a chance, along with LaFleur, to finish what they’ve started.
New President and CEO Ed Policy recently extended the contracts of Gutekunst, LaFleur and executive VP/director of football operations Russ Ball, keeping the continuity that’s been in place as the Packers have qualified for the playoffs in six of the past seven seasons. That trio has been tasked, and trusted, with getting the team to take the next step.
Of the three, Gutekunst has been here the longest by far, working as a scouting intern back in 1997 and spending all but one year of his career since in Green Bay. He’ll be moving forward now without one of his top personnel lieutenants, Jon-Eric Sullivan, who’s the new GM in Miami, the type of departure Gutekunst had been prepared for, so he doesn’t see it materially disrupting the operation.
“I’ve been here a long time, worked here a long time, lot of contracts here, and I’m always just exceptionally appreciative of the opportunity to walk in these doors and continue to try to chase what we’re chasing,” Gutekunst said. “This is a very, very, very special place. It’s very, very important to me, and certainly sitting here after five losses, you feel very frustrated where we’re at, but very appreciative with the opportunity that Ed’s given us.”
Gutekunst threw his full support behind LaFleur, too, highlighting a close working relationship with him as well as Ball that has kept the football leadership in sync.
“He’s an excellent football coach,” Gutekunst said of LaFleur. “To get where we’re going, he’s the guy we need. I think he’s as eager as anybody to get back at it.
“Nobody’s really satisfied obviously with how the season ended. We’ve been through this before, where as soon as the season ends, you want to get started on the next one because you’re just not satisfied with where we want to be.”
