Diehard Green Bay Packers fans are about to receive some news that will make them think back to the height of the Mike McCarthy days.
The organization has hired two former defensive backs who were both a part of the Super Bowl XLV team nearly 15 years ago.
Packers Hire Nick Collins, Morgan Burnett
According to Packers insider Matt Schneidman, former Packer safeties Nick Collins and Morgan Burnett have joined the Packers’ coaching staff this spring as part of the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.
The two were teammates together in both 2010 and 2011 with the team, and both ended up having quite a career on Lombardi Avenue.
Former Packers safeties Nick Collins and Morgan Burnett are among the 15 coaches on Green Bay’s staff this spring as part of the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) June 4, 2025
These hires by Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst are great for a multitude of reasons.
First of all, they are allowing these former players to find their footing as coaches at the NFL level, which isn’t always easy to find.
Additionally, these legends are well-versed in the organization and the community, which is why all Packer fans should be excited about these moves.
The Legacies of Both Nick Collins and Morgan Burnett
While it appears as though the overall legacies of both Collins and Burnett in Green Bay are still being written, it has to be known that they left a great mark on the organization as players.
Starting with Collins, the 2005 second-round pick out of Bethune-Cookman ended up playing seven remarkable seasons for the team before a neck injury ended his career in 2011.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection was possibly on his way to becoming a Pro Football Hall of Famer, but he still rightfully earned his way to becoming a Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer.
He recorded over 420 career tackles, 68 career pass deflections, and 21 career interceptions, with his most notable interception coming in the team’s Super Bowl XLV win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Injuries robbed us from greatness 💔
Enjoy 2 minutes of Nick Collins highlights pic.twitter.com/8SQNSsiVpT
— PackersUpdate (@UpdatePackers) January 10, 2024
For Burnett, while he doesn’t have the stacked awards case that Collins does, he was still a solid player for eight seasons (2010-2017).
During his time in Green Bay, he recorded 100 or more tackles in three separate seasons, totalled 44 pass deflections, and forced eight fumbles.
The former Georgia Tech star was all over the field, which was something he likely learned from both Collins and fellow team legend Charles Woodson.