Brian Gutekunst’s annual session with local reporters touched upon a lot of aspects of the Packers’ offseason, but it all tied back to one theme: stay disciplined, keep the long view, and don’t panic just because the calendar (or the draft board) looks different than usual.
The first big topic of conversation was Rich Bisaccia stepping down. Gutekunst said the move caught the organization by surprise, and the simplest reason offered was that Bisaccia wanted to explore other opportunities. Gutekunst went out of his way to praise Bisaccia’s impact—calling him a fabulous coach and admitting he hadn’t fully appreciated just how important Rich was to the culture until stepping back and reflecting. Losing a veteran like that is a hit, but Gutekunst emphasized confidence in Matt LaFleur’s process to replace him. He also framed the timing as “glass half full”: instead of rushing through the usual coaching-cycle scramble, Green Bay can be thorough, do deeper homework on candidates, and take the right fit rather than the quickest fit.
From there, the conversation shifted to special teams roster math—specifically how kickoff rules and the increased number of live returns could change the way teams build the 53 (and, more importantly, the weekly 48). Gutekunst acknowledged the injury uptick on returns and said it will absolutely factor into body types and roles on both return and coverage units. That’s a subtle but important note: special teams isn’t just “who can run fast,” it’s increasingly a roster construction problem.
The draft portion reinforced Gutekunst’s trademark steadiness. Even without a first-round pick, he said the Packers’ evaluation process doesn’t change: don’t skip steps, keep gathering intel, and keep learning players “inside and out” because it can matter not only this year, but years down the road in free agency, trades, or future drafts. He even mentioned meeting with prospects projected well above Green Bay’s current slot, simply because you never know what the board will do—or when you’ll need that information later.
Asked whether being near the back of the line makes things harder, Gutekunst pointed to league history and Green Bay’s own track record: good players will be available; it’s on the Packers to find them and make correct decisions. That mindset carried into free agency, too. He doesn’t feel compelled to change strategy just because the team is missing one top pick. Each free agent class is its own market, and Gutekunst cautioned against “chasing things that aren’t there,” while also noting the annual wave of cap-casualty releases that can reshape options quickly.
On roster specifics, Gutekunst talked about balancing the future and the present—especially with contract decisions. He praised Lucas Van Ness’ level of play before missed time and framed any major financial choice as a projection of what a player will do, not a tally of what he’s already done. He defended the organization’s medical and return-to-play philosophy, calling the rough injury/re-injury stretch “unusual,” and reiterated that the staff prioritizes player protection.
Defensively, he acknowledged Jonathan Gannon’s scheme versatility and the reality of today’s NFL: it’s a nickel league—more “4-2-5” than old labels. That opens the door for creative personnel groupings, including three-safety looks that the Packers have already leaned on in the past.
Finally, Gutekunst tackled the scouting world’s new reality. NIL and transfers have made college football more transactional, reducing the long-term continuity scouts once relied on. The Packers’ counter is broader information gathering across multiple stops, plus testing and layered background work—while admitting the truth that never changes: you don’t fully know a player until he’s in your building.
I'll be chatting with The Athletic's Matt Schniedman later this afternoon about everything we heard from Gutekunst today in Indianapolis. Be sure to check it out.