Packers Add To Coaching Staff
Head coach Matt LaFleur added three new coaches to his staff.
By rex.sheild
As the Green Bay Packers await a final decision from quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the team added members to their coaching staff earlier this week as head coach Matt LaFleur hired Tim Lester as a senior analyst, Rob Grosso as an offensive quality control coach, and Kyle Wilber as a special teams quality control coach. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky broke the news regarding the additions of Grosso and Wilber.
Lester served as head coach for Western Michigan University from 2017 until 2022, amassing a 37-32 record (26-20 in conference play). Prior to his head coaching stint at Western Michigan, he was the quarterbacks coach for Purdue (2016) and held many offensive roles during his time at Syracuse (2013-2015). He was also the head coach of Division-III Elmhurst College from 2008 until 2012. Lester attended Wheaton Warrenville South High School (IL) and was set to commit to the University of Florida and head coach Steve Spurrier, but the All-American quarterback suffered a knee injury and so UF went in a different direction. That led Lester to commit to Western Michigan, where he was teammates with LaFleur during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. LaFleur was Lester’s backup.
Grosso, who played wide receiver at Division-III John Carroll University, has worked in the NFL in a full-time capacity since 2018, according to his Linkedin profile. He started off with the Denver Broncos (assistant to head coach, special teams/outside linebackers) and served as a defensive quality coach with the Arizona Cardinals for the last four seasons, working primarily with defensive backs.
Wilber played for the Dallas Cowboys (2012-2017) and the Oakland Raiders (2018-2021), primarily on special teams under the tutelage of Rich Bisaccia, the Packers’ special teams coordinator.
ESPN described the duties of a quality control coach in a 2018 article: “They're responsible for writing scouting reports on future opponents, often working a game or two ahead. They draw up the plays the coaches want in the game plan that week. They put together the practice scripts. They assist in the coaches' booth on game day.”
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Rex is a lifelong Packers fan but was sick of the cold, so he moved to the heart of Cowboys country. Follow him on Twitter (@Sheild92) and Instagram (@rex.sheild).
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Comments (77)
stockholder
March 10, 2023 at 12:11 pm
Amazing- He got somebody.
The lack of unity is obvious.
And there never would have been a
Divide if they just talked man to man.
Rodgers Spirit is damaged,
Thanks to the press. & GUTEY!!!
There is No Resolution Now.
And this is where Rodgers
must beware of the consequences.
They're putting/Forcing it on him.
It’s suppose to be his choice.
But it isn’t. Playing: is The Time Bomb.!!
Rodgers put his best into lambeau.
And he’ll never be happy IN NY.
Hanging it up is the only way to let
This House of Cards collapse.
The wrong person is at the top of
The pyramid.
For A Fair Solution.
It’s out of Control now.
But Staying is reality!
#12 Needs to "Deal himself “ IN!
If Not. I hope he takes "The Retirement Plan.”
The Green is on the Golf Course now.
It’s the only way he can Be himself again!
jurp
March 10, 2023 at 12:33 pm
TF? How is this post at all relevant on an article about Scooter giving a cushy job to a personal friend and hiring two new coaches?
I've had to order a new Bonkers Scale because you broke my old one with a classic WTF? post yesterday (honestly, we need a Post Hall of Fame here - I'd nominate your MVS post for top honors). Still, I'd give this one a 5 or 6 just because it's so left-field off-topic.
JerseyAl
March 10, 2023 at 12:34 pm
"Amazing- He got somebody.
The lack of unity is obvious."
1) This article has nothing to do with Rodgers.
2) Gutey doesn't pick the coaches.
3) The repetition of your comments is a bit much.
3) Do we need to send someone to your house to check on you if Rodgers is traded?
Breathe...
stockholder
March 10, 2023 at 01:44 pm
1. Quote- As the Green Bay Packers await a final decision
from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. ?????
2. Gutey doesn't pick the coaches,- Correct
Amazing! - Together = so Quickly?
3. Just reading between the Lines.
But many have written things off topic in their answers.
Is it a bit much as we "wait"? I didn't think so-
The repetition? - almost everything here & in the news
has Rodgers - Price, Drama, Slams, Disrespect, etc.
I only hope that Rodgers Decision is best for him.
Not me. Thanks for caring. just putting my 2 cents in.
MainePackFan
March 10, 2023 at 03:21 pm
Let's be real Al., at the end of the day every article winds it's way back to Rodgers. SH just cut to the chase. We should all breathe... : )
jurp
March 10, 2023 at 04:33 pm
We need an article that just repeats "Aaron Rodgers" 21,901 times. Saves times that way.
zerotolerance
March 10, 2023 at 12:45 pm
Rodgers can shove it.
cdoemel
March 10, 2023 at 06:14 pm
Wtf? Dude you need to back off your man love of AR. He’s a prima donna who only cares about himself. The NFL is a business. Rodgers know that. Everyone accept you is sick of him and ready to see him go. That might not be the case with a few less chokes in the post season.
Renllaw
March 11, 2023 at 06:47 am
Hey CheeseheadTV.... Can we get a mute option?
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2023 at 12:45 pm
When the cards are a Marked Deck, everything collapses. Read'em and weep.
croatpackfan
March 10, 2023 at 12:13 pm
I like boosting coaching positions, but have little problem that hires are again MLF buddies. I do not see one MLF buddy available if that buddy is capable. On the positive side, he did not brought his brother to Packers (yet!).
jurp
March 10, 2023 at 12:34 pm
I hate the "buddy" hire because the buddy has absolutely zero NFL experience. This will work just as well as Irsay hiring his cigar-buddy as head coach.
dobber
March 12, 2023 at 09:51 am
Maybe, but these quality control/film/writing scouting reports are entry-level NFL positions, so the lack of NFL experience doesn't bother me at all. Grosso, it says, has several seasons of QC experience.
I'd argue that Lester, with his college HC experience, is actually qualified for this kind of scouting position.
This kind of hiring is really not much different from what happens around the league.
BirdDogUni
March 10, 2023 at 12:21 pm
Lester intrigues me. My hope is with Lester around, he can keep MaLF on point and help with designing plays.
Would be nice if MaLF could find that special guy to take over play calling so he can concentrate on the "team..."
jurp
March 10, 2023 at 12:35 pm
Lester has no NFL experience - how is this a good thing?
BirdDogUni
March 10, 2023 at 12:48 pm
I hate to point this out to you, but nobody has NFL experience until they do.
Remember Bill Belichick getting fired by the Browns? ; P
The reason this could be good is because he's been a starting QB in college. MaLF was his back-up, so they have a relationship. When they discuss things, I think it would be great to have a guy you trust and value his opinion when making the decisions MaLF will be asked to make in the near future.
I think back to my backup in college. We were friends and also very competitive, which made us both better.
He may be smarter, a better coach, and football mind than MaLF, which would actually be a great thing for the Packers.
Sometimes, all a guy needs is the opportunity...
T7Steve
March 10, 2023 at 12:57 pm
I agree to try a new untested look. As long as he's assertive and unafraid to tell his boss when he thinks he's wrong. If he's there because Matt's comfortable with him or for a toe in the door, it's more of a detriment.
T7Steve
March 10, 2023 at 12:57 pm
duper
mnbadger
March 10, 2023 at 01:20 pm
plus, mlf had to look up to and respect him at some point. Lester may be able to speak truth to power. An MLF whisperer, hopefully.
GPG
jurp
March 10, 2023 at 04:36 pm
That's a good point about Scooter maybe hiring someone he respects and will listen to, but Lester's experience is solely in college, so Scooter is likely to get college-based information. Now, if you're right (and I hope you are) that Lester is able to see pro-level issues and be able to get Scooter to address them, then yes, it's a good hire. I just see a Rodgers-Clements relationship, which has apparently degenerated into a Yes-Man relationship.
Lester needed a job. Scooter gave him one. I'm a beer half gone kind of guy,
jannesbjornson
March 12, 2023 at 12:50 pm
The Innovative offenses are in the College ranks. The MAC conference knows how to use the TEs. Fast WRs to the spot, not a set of plow horses.
Duhawk_47
March 10, 2023 at 05:52 pm
FWIW - I played against a Lester-coached team in my senior year of college ball. They whooped our @$$3$. His offenses were nearly unstoppable and quarterback play was as good as I had ever seen at that level.
Since'61
March 10, 2023 at 12:28 pm
Pretty soon the Packers will have a 1 to 1 coach to player ratio. Maybe at that point we will have a coach who can teach our receivers how to catch the ball and the defensive players how to tackle. Maybe we will even find a gem among them who actually knows how to coach. But we need to manage expectations. So most not likely no. Thanks, Since '61
jurp
March 10, 2023 at 12:39 pm
If we trade AR and the "illusion of complexity" turns out to actually be "illusion of competency", then I sure as hell want the entire coaching staff - except Bisaccia unless STs melt down - fired the day after the last loss (game) of the season. Followed by Murphy a day later (a guy can dream, can't he?).
BirdDogUni
March 10, 2023 at 01:09 pm
It may be a long-shot, but I dream about MaLF developing too. Learning from his mistakes and growing as a coach and leader. I would rather he succeed and me be wrong than to be right...
If indeed we trade AR and Love is installed as our starting QB, I pray MaLF, Lester, and Tom Clements unleash the "Love Gun" on the NFC North and he truly rises to the challenge and exceeds our expectations...
Leatherhead
March 10, 2023 at 01:58 pm
Even the Great Belicheat failed as a HC in Cleveland.
'The Love Gun'.....you should copyright that.
We don't need a 35ppg offense, but we do need an offense that protects the ball and puts at least 21 points on the board.
We lost six out seven games where we failed to get more than 20. Twice against the worst defense in the league. I'm really optimistic that we can improve on that this season.
Since'61
March 10, 2023 at 03:21 pm
BDU - I hope that Matt LaChooch rises to the challenge as well. But for now I'm managing my expectations until we see what happens when the games count. Until then it's all hype, hope and speculation. Thanks, Since '61
greengold
March 10, 2023 at 04:36 pm
OMG. I love that your use of the term "LaChooch," falls under the "Managing My Expectations" umbrella.
ROFLMAO!!!
goddammit that's funny.
Coldworld
March 10, 2023 at 10:47 pm
We will see very soon by the looks of it.
Leatherhead
March 10, 2023 at 12:56 pm
The Packers were charged with 30 drops last year, most in the league. Buffalo, Tampa, and Jacksonville all had 29. Median is around 21.
I can't find the missed tackles statistics.
I'll just say, there's plenty of room for extra help. It's a long season. Practices, film sessions, meetings, .....
greengold
March 10, 2023 at 02:24 pm
You know, uh, whatshisnut had his share of accuracy issues last year with that thumb. Wow.
jurp
March 10, 2023 at 04:36 pm
He-who-shall-not-be-named is never ever ever at fault.
Johnblood27
March 10, 2023 at 02:36 pm
I'll just say, there's plenty of room for extra help. It's a long season. Practices, film sessions, meetings, .....
If more coaching will cure the ills, the existing coaches need to be shit-canned.
greengold
March 10, 2023 at 02:22 pm
LOL. Now do it with your voice sounding like an old man.
Since...! Too funny.
BirdDogUni
March 10, 2023 at 02:33 pm
Well, I can tell you if he's been around since '61, it's something he and I have in common, and I am sure there are times I sound like an 'Old Man... (In a sea of prickly pear...)
Sometimes I feel very old. Other times, I feel as though I'm 20 years old again, working cattle along the Colorado and the Clear Fork of the Brazos Rivers.
An absolutely beautiful day here in Texas...
If Aaron Rodgers would announce his intentions for next season, it would be an even greater day. ; P
greengold
March 10, 2023 at 02:49 pm
I'm right behind you boys at '63.
BirdDogUni
March 10, 2023 at 03:00 pm
See, now you seem even smarter to me... ; P
DanL
March 10, 2023 at 03:11 pm
Since ‘53 here. Alas, my voice is always gravely now. I tune to these threads for pearls of wisdom from you whippersnappers. Thanks.
Guam
March 10, 2023 at 06:19 pm
Youngsters!
Hematite
March 11, 2023 at 07:16 am
I may just be the oldest one here.
Went to my first Packers game in1956.
Seventy five years old now.
croatpackfan
March 11, 2023 at 11:06 am
Oh, another peer!
Nice to learn that greengold!
Oppy
March 12, 2023 at 06:49 am
He's been a Packers fan since '61, he's 'been around' since at least '54 as he's a Vietnam war veteran.
Since'61
March 10, 2023 at 03:29 pm
Lombardi had 9 assistants, Nine! Went home at 5 PM everyday and beat the crap out of the league for nine years. Now teams have 25+ coaches, they work 60-70 hours a week and the on field product seems to get worse with every game. Not to mention the complete deterioration of the officiating. But hey it's all good.
Thanks, Since '61
fair_weather
March 10, 2023 at 03:09 pm
Pad level!
splitpea1
March 10, 2023 at 12:36 pm
I'm always amused by the term "quality control" coach. When I think of quality control, what comes to mind are people in white lab coats inspecting heads of lettuce on a conveyor belt, or something like that. They should be maybe called "advanced preparation'' or just simply "assistant" coaches instead.
I see the new DBs coach brought along a friend, and the same with Bisaccia, so none of this is really unexpected.
jurp
March 10, 2023 at 12:42 pm
I don't mind those two guys so much - I mean, Scooter's coaching tree has no branches - but the Lester hire fries my shorts because he has no NFL experience. Allowing our occasionally amateurish head coach to rely on an amateur for analysis sounds like SUCH a good idea.
T7Steve
March 10, 2023 at 01:05 pm
LOL. "When I think of quality control, what comes to mind are people in white lab coats"
Or me, your fellow CHTVer sitting at his desk being the Qality Control Manager of a steel fabrication plant.
I always felt the same when they invented these positions for football.
BirdDogUni
March 10, 2023 at 01:25 pm
"Or me, your fellow CHTVer sitting at his desk being the Qality [sic] Control Manager of a steel fabrication plant."
Hate to point this out to you T7S, but you misspelled Quality in Quality Control... ; P
See, I can be a Quality Control Coach too!
T7Steve
March 10, 2023 at 01:50 pm
HA! That's why it's against code to check your own work.
I can never see the mistake till I push "send".
BirdDogUni
March 10, 2023 at 02:40 pm
It's the classic mistake at the perfect time... ; )
One of my pet peeves is people using they're, there, their incorrectly...
Stroh for years spelled their (thier)... It was a easy give away when he'd get a new account at APC... : P
I'm not immune to mistakes. I get to typing so fast I can % up in a heartbeat... Being dyslexic, I see things after the fact too.
Love you can edit here at CHTV!
T7Steve
March 10, 2023 at 02:44 pm
I'll go back to my old favorite QC saying.
"I thought I made a mistake once, but I was wrong."
Swisch
March 10, 2023 at 03:18 pm
In Australia, it's spelled Koalaty Control, mates.
I hope I don't roo the day I made this pun.
greengold
March 10, 2023 at 02:25 pm
And they all have clipboards, pocket protectors loaded with pens... they wear glasses...
Since'61
March 10, 2023 at 03:33 pm
When I see/hear quality control I think of the guy who pulls the burnt potato chips off the conveyor belt before they get into the bag. Whoever it is does a great job because I have very rarely had a burnt potato chip.
As for bringing along friends everyone gets on the gravy train. Why not? Thanks, Since '61
pantz_bURp
March 10, 2023 at 01:08 pm
Easy, easyyyyyy. They can do whatever they want, hire more coaches, fire more coaches, raise ticket prices, lower ticket prices, keep #12, trade #12, sell the naming rights to Lambeau Field, put in more underground parking....blah, blah, blah..
But, if you change those wholesome cheerleaders with the Hardware Hank gloves...well, there just might be an a$$-whoopin! Tread very, very lightly in that regard.
https://youtu.be/Y0mhrqfeFjQ
✌️
cdoemel
March 10, 2023 at 06:21 pm
Man, the comments in this place have just become incoherent rambling.
crayzpackfan
March 10, 2023 at 01:10 pm
Hopefully MLF's current ambitions are realized when He has to hire a "real" DC at some point. If he did, it would be his greatest success as a HC.
greengold
March 10, 2023 at 02:10 pm
I just saw Bisaccia was also promoted to Assistant Head Coach. We can surmise Bisaccia has made a commitment to GB in accepting that promotion.
Good. Perfect man for the job.
Might help us retain a solid core of ST players as well, 3 of which are FAs:
S Dallin Leavitt
CB Keisean Nixon
LB Eric Wilson
crayzpackfan
March 10, 2023 at 02:14 pm
Great news!! Is this sourced?
greengold
March 10, 2023 at 02:17 pm
Tom Silverstein Twitter
Since'61
March 10, 2023 at 03:38 pm
Yes gg! And I'm hoping that is a message and a sign to MLF that Bisaccia is ready to move into the HC spot if Matt LaChooch can't get it done in 2023 or maybe even by mid season. Maybe we will see Bisaccia as an interim HC if necessary.
It also tells me that the Packers want to keep Bisaccia and prevent him from being poached. Thanks, Since '61
croatpackfan
March 10, 2023 at 04:02 pm
This is the best news this offseason. I only hope that Rich will light up locker room and that players finally start to play with passion.
I like him a lot.
jurp
March 10, 2023 at 04:40 pm
Closer to the head chair, and a replacement if Scooter is canned. Excellent move.
4thand10
March 10, 2023 at 02:13 pm
This is kinda exciting, tells me maybe Rich Bisaccia is staying. If he does stay I’ll be super happy
greengold
March 10, 2023 at 02:19 pm
Yeah. I like it a lot too, 4thand10. Also, Tom Clements is staying on here with LaFleur - "with or without 12." That's sourced by Jason Wilde.
croatpackfan
March 10, 2023 at 04:03 pm
Wow, today only good news.
crayzpackfan
March 10, 2023 at 04:32 pm
Hey croatpackfan. Back in the day, America embraced a cheaply made Swiss watch. They marketed it and called it a "Swatch" made me think, had this happened between Croatia and America, would this time piece have been called a "Crotch?" Food for thought.
croatpackfan
March 10, 2023 at 04:37 pm
Or Cratch? Well, it is Swatch, not Swotch.
But good one :-)
greengold
March 10, 2023 at 04:41 pm
Yeah, right? It doesn't suck...
HarlanHuckleby
March 10, 2023 at 02:17 pm
That's awesome they got Rob Grosso. His Youtube videos are wacky and fun, he and Nagler have some good back-and-forths, and.....oh...wait.....
beerandbrats
March 10, 2023 at 02:18 pm
Very uninspiring.
croatpackfan
March 10, 2023 at 04:15 pm
Packers reconstruct David Bakhtiari contract and saved additional 7.5 mill $. No void years.. but cap hit in 2024 will be 40 mill $.
croatpackfan
March 10, 2023 at 04:42 pm
Mark Murphy gave short statement. I saw it on podcast from Buffalo Jet Fan 3 minutes ago talking about Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre.
canadapacker
March 10, 2023 at 05:31 pm
If anybody wants to check it out - I recommended that Rich should be assistant Head Coach a few months ago - not that I am any sort or expert - but it just seemed correct - whilst ST still had its moments of failure - they did have a marked improvement - and the extra passion on the ST unit was obvious. And it is hard to change any segment of a team in one year. Unlike Stockholder - who maybe had too many Jack and Cokes before his posting - we needed to upgrade some of our coaches - whether or not there are too many - only time will tell. And there is no use in muddying the water with a bunch of AR drivel. AR is gone GONE - even if he is back he is a backup. I believe that just like number 4 - people in the HO are fed up with the drama. Now rather than focus on that lets just focus on us moving forward = with a new vision and that needs to be - letting the new guys play behind center and the new guys play with more passion ( as provided by Rich in Lafleur's ear) . So this announcement needs to be seen as positive.
vin0770
March 10, 2023 at 07:19 pm
Any chance their vaunted DC grew a pair this offseason? The players don’t respond to his weak sauce philosophy so we get more of the same old same old unless he has become a different aggressive person 🤪
ko40489
March 10, 2023 at 08:30 pm
It will be interesting to see how MLF does if his other assistant coach (the one who wears number 12) isn't around. At least he's still got his buddy Joe Barry.
4thand10
March 11, 2023 at 12:25 am
The promotion went to Bosccacia.He is now special teams and assistant head coach. These moves are good. I’m satisfied.