Packers lose Luke Getsy to Bears, but line coach Adam Stenavich won't be leaving for Denver
Tom Silverstein
GREEN BAY - Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur lost two of his closest offensive associates a week after his season ended, but he is keeping running game coordinator/offensive line coach Adam Stenavich.
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett left to become head coach of the Denver Broncos earlier this week, and now quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator Luke Getsy is leaving to join the Chicago Bears.
Getsy was named Sunday to be the Bears' offensive coordinator under new coach Matt Eberflus.
According to a source, LaFleur's choice to replace Hackett as offensive coordinator will be Stenavich, who has been one of the most valuable members of the staff. Hackett had sought to bring Stenavich to the Broncos, but according to Mike Klis of 9News.com in Denver, Stenavich is staying in Green Bay.
The Packers did not have the right to block the Broncos from hiring Stenavich, but offering him the offensive coordinator's job made it easier to keep him.
Stenavich designs most of the running attack and did a remarkable job holding the offensive line together with four of his five starters missing big chunks of the season. With Getsy leaving, he would take over most of Hackett's duties and LaFleur would likely promote assistant offensive line coach Luke Butkus.
LaFleur also will need to name a quarterbacks coach.
After losing out on Stenavich, the Broncos went after Packers wide receivers coach Jason Vrable, according to a source. But Vrable also will be staying and is expected to take over Getsy's position as passing game coordinator. He could also take over the quarterback's coach position.
The Broncos are expected to pursue tight end coach Justin Outten for a position on Hackett's staff, possibly offensive coordinator. Hackett would not need permission from the Packers to hire Outten as offensive coordinator.
Like in the case of Stenavich and Outten, the Packers weren't able to deny the Bears permission to speak to Getsy because his new position is a promotion from his position with Green Bay.
LaFleur calls the plays for the Packers but in Chicago, Getsy will call the plays and be in charge of the entire offense.
Getsy, originally hired by former coach Mike McCarthy as a quality control assistant in 2014, was promoted in 2016 to receivers coach and became a favorite of veteran Davante Adams and others because of his unique coaching drills and personality. He left to become offensive coordinator/play caller for Mississippi State in 2018 and returned to Green Bay under LaFleur to coach quarterbacks in ’19.
He had the passing game coordinator title added after the ’19 season. Along with Hackett, Getsy had considerable input in the offense, particularly in the passing game, and was close to quarterback Aaron Rodgers
According to NFL Network, LaFleur is interviewing two outside candidates for the coordinator's job. Los Angeles Chargers tight ends coach Kevin Koger, a former quality control assistant under LaFleur, and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Brian Johnson will be considered for the job.
LaFleur would not be able to consider either for any position but offensive coordinator in accordance with anti-tampering rules.