Matt LaFleur was coy about who will play in the Green Bay Packers’ preseason opener this Saturday, but he mentioned one group that will get an extended look.
His offense coaches.
As in previous years, LaFleur won’t call plays during the preseason, giving offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, passing-game coordinator Jason Vrable, tight ends coach John Dunn, and others the chance to dictate the offense.
Preseason games may not feature much action from the starters or delve too deeply into the playbook (it’s best not to reveal too much before the real games start). Still, tangible play-calling experience will help any coach develop their skills and advance their career.
It’s particularly noteworthy for Stenavich, who had a head coaching interview with the Chicago Bears and play-calling offensive coordinator interviews with the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans. While he didn’t get those jobs, the league is taking an interest in Green Bay’s offensive coordinator. Unless the Packers completely fall apart this season, Stenavich likely gets even more interviews next coaching cycle.
How close is Stenavich to a new role, and will preseason play-calling make a difference?
As an offensive line coach, Stenavich was beloved by players and his fellow staff, eventually becoming the team’s run-game coordinator. When former OC Nathaniel Hackett left for a head coaching job, LaFleur promoted Stenavich to OC to avoid losing him to Hackett’s new (and eventually ill-fated) staff.
While LaFleur has repeatedly said he’s open to giving up play-calling if it’s the correct move for the team, it doesn’t seem like that will or should happen any time soon. He’s one of the league’s most celebrated offensive minds.
That means there aren’t many higher career opportunities for Stenavich in Green Bay. The next logical step would be to follow in LaFleur’s footsteps and make a “lateral” move as a play-calling offensive coordinator.
Teams with a dearth of coaching talent love to raid successful teams during the offseason. The Packers had multiple coaches asked to interview, including Stenavich and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. They even lost a few positional coaches this past cycle. As long as LaFleur continues to perform at a high level, his staff will keep getting looks.
A point against Stenavich, through no fault of his own, might be the lack of success previous Green Bay coaches have had after being poached.
Hackett’s tenure in Denver was short, with the first-time head coach fired before the end of his first season. Hackett then took a play-calling OC job with the New York Jets to coach Aaron Rodgers, but the results were no better.
Luke Getsy left the Packers for a play-calling offensive coordinator role in Chicago and couldn’t perform miracles, so they also cast him aside. He took another OC job with the Las Vegas Raiders until he was fired alongside ill-fated interim-turned-head-coach Antonio Pierce in early November.
Hackett and Getsy’s lack of success outside of Green Bay has nothing to do with Stenavich. Still, it might make NFL teams believe that the true magic in Green Bay belongs to LaFleur, and every one of his lieutenants is a cog in the machine rather than a promising coach in their own right.
Stenavich has a deep understanding of football mechanics, particularly of the offensive line. It’s one reason Green Bay continues to be one of the league’s best teams when it comes to drafting and developing offensive linemen. His pressers are always revealing, and he’s a phenomenal teacher of the game. Last year’s run game also incorporated new power concepts better suited to Josh Jacobs‘ style, showing a willingness to innovate and improve his area of expertise.
I admit I used to think I knew what I was watching until I attended a COOL Clinic a few years ago where Stenavich spent a good 30 minutes breaking down a single rep and highlighting the differences between Bakhtiari and Runyan's first steps. Made me realize what a hobbyist I was.
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) April 10, 2025
If Stenavich wants to take the next step in his career, displaying play-calling savvy and leadership skills are essential, and the chance to call plays in the preseason will allow him to show off both.
The playbook might not be deep in the preseason, but we can still see how Stenavich plans a game and reacts to obstacles. We’ll be able to see more of how he approaches the nuances of situational football and rallies his team. Even if his next role isn’t a head coaching job, play-calling offensive coordinators are often considered the “head coach” of the offense. NFL teams will want to see if Stenavich has the intangibles to succeed in that role.
Ultimately, Stenavich’s work in the regular season will be more impactful toward his career’s future. Can he successfully rotate his offensive line to find the best five, and can he develop Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton into quality starters? Can his offense shake off last year’s self-inflicted mistakes, especially with two rookie wide receivers? And can the offense become more physical to compete with the NFC’s top teams?
Adam Stenavich on feeling the need to become more physical on offense after playoff loss in Philly: "Whenever you get to those playoffs, however you are is going to get exposed. That's one thing we've talked about, is we're going to be the more physical football team."
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) July 30, 2025
It’s Matt LaFleur’s offense first, but fans often don’t get to see just how much a non-play-calling offensive coordinator contributes to the on-field product. Stenavich’s fingerprints are all over the offense, and its success is the best resumé material.
Calling plays in the preseason is a small but important display of what Stenavich can do in a bigger role. This season’s full body of work will determine how many interviews he gets next offseason. Still, the preseason will give NFL teams a taste of his leadership and play-calling style, which could determine if he’s ready for the next step.