Packers Notes: HC Candidates, Mike McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers

HC Candidates

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said in Monday’s press conference that he expects the job to be “attractive” to head-coaching candidates.

“This is going to be an attractive job,” Gutekunst said. “This is the Green Bay Packers, this is one of the cornerstones of the National Football League, with a Hall of Fame quarterback. I don’t think there is anything here that should hesitate any coach from considering this job.”

• A league source tells Rob Demovsky that he expects Gutekunst to prefer a “no-nonsense guy” as the team’s next head coach.
• Interestingly enough, Demovsky’s source mentioned that  Gutekunst has long been a fan of Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh.
• Demovsky also lists interim head coach Joe Philbin, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael as candidates who could make sense for Green Bay.
• Ian Rapoport reports that the Packers head-coaching is going to be “very desirable” mainly because of the presence of QB Aaron Rodgers.
• According to Rapoport, names to watch for the Packers’ job include: Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, Vikings OC John DeFilippo, Oklahoma HC Lincoln Riley.

Mike McCarthy

On Monday, Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy addressed the team’s decision to fire HC Mike McCarthy following the disappointing loss to the Cardinals.

“Evaluating the season, I really felt change was needed and kind of Mike’s tenure had run its course. I think we needed a new voice and it happens in our league,” Murphy said, via NFL.com.

“I think we all would have preferred to make the change following the season,” Murphy added. “We’ve been in these situations with Mike before. Obviously you think back to 2016, we were 4-6, all of our efforts were in turning the season around. I really think if we had gotten a key win here or there, things would have changed. The way the season unfolded, we were never able to get that win and quite honestly the performance on Sunday night to me made it very clear that a coaching change was needed.”

Aaron Rodgers

Regarding the reported dysfunction between McCarthy and QB Aaron Rodgers, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said he thinks it’s been “overblown.”

“I think there’s been a lot written and it’s probably been overblown about their relationship,” Gutekunst said. “A football team is made up of a lot of individuals and there’s tension between coaches and players all the time. I think that, like Mark said, they’ve had a lot of success here. They’re both very high level, quality individuals and I think there’s a lot more to it for where we sit right now than that.“