Packers DC Mike Pettine no longer returning for 2021 season

Mike Pettine’s time with the Inexperienced Bay Packers has advance to an quit.

NFL Community’s Tom Pelissero reported Friday, by assignment of an informed supply, that the defensive coordinator’s contract is expiring and the team does no longer intend to preserve him for the 2021 season.

Pettine, 54, is the most contemporary Packers coach procuring for a contemporary gig after the team parted ways with special teams coordinator Shawn Mennenga on Wednesday. Inexperienced Bay formally announced Friday that Pettine and Mennenga would no longer return.

“We desire to thank Mike for his dedication to the Packers for the last three seasons. He became predominant portion of our success,” coach Matt LaFleur stated in a assertion. “As a first-time head coach, he became moreover a precious resource for us within the course of our time together. We want Mike, Megan, and the relaxation of their household potentially the easiest transferring ahead.”

Inexperienced Bay’s magical season ended by the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers within the NFC Championship Sport. The inconsistent effort displayed by Pettine’s unit at some stage within the course of that game served as a microcosm for the issues which obtain plagued the Packers D over the past couple seasons.

The Packers surrendered four TDs in opposition to the Bucs, in conjunction with a predominant 39-yard Scott Miller ranking factual sooner than halftime that extended Tampa’s lead from four to 11. Pettine’s bunch did limit the bustle game (76 yards) and epic three interceptions, nonetheless became unable to generate worthy stress in opposition to Tom Brady (one sack, four QB hits).

Errors equivalent to allowing the snappily Miller to torch Kevin King, who struggled everywhere in the contest, in man protection with one 2nd left on the clock may’ve equipped the catalyst for Pettine’s ouster. King moreover logged the pivotal tear interference call — any other time in man protection, best seemingly this time in opposition to rookie Tyler Johnson — that kept the Bucs’ last power alive and helped them at last stable the desire.

Since the conclusion of last season’s NFC title game, which Inexperienced Bay lost, 37-20, in opposition to the 49ers, questions started to mount relating to Pettine’s time with the franchise. He got here below fire for failing to adjust his game belief so as to occupy Raheem Mostert (220 speeding yards) and San Francisco’s devastating bustle game. LaFleur stated about a days later that the team became “serene working through every thing” because it associated to Pettine and the relaxation of the team.

Clearly, the resolution became made to preserve Pettine, who did now not sign a contemporary contract heading into this season. Inexperienced Bay performed the 300 and sixty five days seventh in passing defense (221.2) and tied for 13th in scoring (23.1) and speeding defense (112.8).

The Packers moreover tied for 10th in sacks (41), 12.5 of which got here from Za’Darius Smith, and ranked within the bottom seven in takeaways (18). Smith and lockdown corner Jaire Alexander will picture Inexperienced Bay within the Pro Bowl.

The Packers ranked out of doorways the pause 15 in scoring defense, takeaways and total defense in 2018, nonetheless were amongst the NFL’s stingiest in 2019. The team performed ninth, seventh (tied) and 18th in those respective classes that season.

The 2020 campaign became Pettine’s 19th within the NFL. Since joining the Ravens as a working in opposition to assistant in 2002, he has frolicked as a coach in Baltimore, DC with the Jets and Payments and as the Browns head coach in 2014 and 2015.