Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus has been on the team for the last two years. McManus missed a key field goal in the wild card round last season against the Chicago Bears. Green Bay has gone one-and-done for the last two seasons in the playoffs. They have been the seventh seed in the NFC for the last three years.
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Green Bay Packers place kicker Brandon McManus (17) reacts after missing a field goal late in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears during their wild-card playoff football game Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.
The special teams and kicking department has been up and down for this franchise. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported on Friday, “After drafting Florida kicker Trey Smack in the sixth round last month, the Packers released veteran kicker Brandon McManus today, per source.” It is obvious that the Packers are heading in a new direction at this position. McManus has been in the NFL since 2014 with the Denver Broncos and has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars. It remains to be seen how Trey Smack will do for Green Bay this upcoming season.
Green Bay Packers Fans Thrilled Over the Team Releasing Kicker Brandon McManus
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Green Bay Packers place kicker Brandon McManus (17) walks off the field after missing a field goal during the fourth quarter of their wild card playoff game Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers 31-27.
There are a lot of Green Bay fans who are thrilled about McManus being released by this team. This is what some fans had to say about the situation:
MCBUNS GONE SMACKIN SZN pic.twitter.com/MxrUnMsSzt
— yxngpack🧀 (@yxngpack) May 8, 2026
Brandon McManus was solid but Trey Smack has a CANNON. If you’re gonna use a draft pick on a kicker, you better start him.
— گمنام (@Hasnain1272) May 8, 2026
packers seemed to like trey smack’s upside enough to move on from a vet like mcmanus pretty quickly, wonder if smack’s preseason will be make or break for him
— Chintal | The Reading Muse 📚 (@chintalReads) May 8, 2026
WE ARE FREE OMGGGGGG pic.twitter.com/THh5WYi55T
— SlackPacks (@SlackPacks) May 8, 2026
FINALLY. We are FREE from the McManus era Missed kicks in the playoffs, now replaced by a 6th-round rookie named TREY SMACK before he even unpacked his bags. Gutey said ‘Smack that’ and cooked. New kicker, new vibes. LET’S GOOOOO #GoPackGo“
— Davy Cruze (@DavyCruze) May 8, 2026
Out with the old, in with the new. Draft a kicker in the 6th and this was always coming. Trey Smack era begins 💚💛
— گمنام (@Hasnain1272) May 8, 2026
This is the one position that a lot of Green Bay fans have been complaining about over the years. It will be interesting to see how the rookie kicker will be this season also.
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