The head coach of the Green Bay Packers, who remains undefeated against their arch-rivals, once again outwitted them, but this time not on the field. Just before joining the Packers as an offensive assistant last month, Sean Mannion came close to taking a similar role with the Bears’ coaching staff.
Mannion, a retired NFL quarterback, had a virtual meeting with LaFleur during the NFC Championship Game while the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions were playing.
It was during this call that LaFleur became impressed with the ideas Mannion had prepared to present to the Bears.
LaFleur was so impressed that he immediately requested Mannion to come back to Green Bay for an interview as soon as he finished interviewing with the Bears.
“On Thursday, LaFleur confessed, ‘I’m surprised they allowed him to leave their premises. They made an attempt to recruit him, but I suppose we had better offerings.'”
Mannion had connections to both sides. He had significant experience working with Shane Waldron, the newly appointed offensive coordinator for the Bears.
They had spent two seasons together with the Los Angeles Rams from 2017-2018, during which LaFleur served as the offensive coordinator. Afterward, Waldron went on to become the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks for three seasons, while Mannion moved between teams, including three stints on Seattle’s practice squad between 2021 and 2023.
During his career, Mannion also had a brief tenure with the Minnesota Vikings. In fact, he even started a game in place of Kirk Cousins against the Packers in their 2021 regular-season home finale, a match that ended in a decisive 37-10 victory for the Packers, securing them the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Mannion completed 22 of his 36 pass attempts for 189 yards and a touchdown during that game.
There’s little mystery surrounding Mannion’s decision to choose Green Bay over Chicago. With the Packers boasting a rising star at quarterback, compared to the Bears who are likely to transition away from Justin Fields in favor of USC’s Caleb Williams, who is expected to be the top pick in the upcoming draft, Mannion’s choice leans toward the established success.
Furthermore, the Packers’ dominance over the Bears, winning 25 of their last 28 matchups, with one of the losses attributed to Aaron Rodgers’ early departure due to injury, adds weight to Mannion’s decision.
Adding to Green Bay’s appeal, the return of Tom Clements as the team’s quarterback coach for the upcoming season provides an enticing prospect. This season might serve as a fitting conclusion for the soon-to-be-71-year-old coach, who played a pivotal role in shaping one of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks.
Clements played a crucial role in Aaron Rodgers’ development during his time on Mike McCarthy’s coaching staff. After a hiatus, LaFleur brought Clements back in 2022 with the intention of reuniting him with Rodgers for what would ultimately be Rodgers’ final season in Green Bay.
Following Rodgers’ trade to the New York Jets last offseason, the franchise’s reins were handed over to Jordan Love, a first-round pick in 2020, whose progress now hinges on Clements, mirroring his predecessor’s journey.
Love’s advancement, evident in various aspects from his footwork to his passing mechanics, has been notably evident over the past two years.
In his debut season as the Packers’ starting quarterback, he completed just over 64 percent of his passes—an even more significant feat considering the early-season scrutiny regarding his completion rate—throwing for 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, amassing 4,159 passing yards. Additionally, Love contributed four rushing touchdowns.
From a victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on November 19th, extending through a commanding win against the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round, Love showcased impressive performance metrics, completing nearly 71 percent of his passes for 21 touchdowns and just a solitary interception.
The Packers are renowned for their strategy of drafting and nurturing talent internally, and this approach extends to their coaching staff as well.
There’s optimism that once Clements decides to retire, Mannion could potentially step into the role of Packers’ quarterbacks coach and carry on his legacy.
“We’re fortunate to have him,” remarked LaFleur. “I truly believe this individual has a promising future with us and in the coaching profession.”
Zachary Jacobson serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Packer Report, bringing his expertise for the 10th consecutive season covering the Green Bay Packers. He is affiliated with the Pro Football Writers of America. Follow him on Twitter @itszacharyj or reach out via email at itszachariahj@gmail.com.