Why the Packers need to rehire Mike Holmgren.
I’m interested to know what you think Packer Nation. Is it time to slam on the giant red panic button? A loss against a superior Vikings team in week 7 might not have been a surprise to anyone, but against the winless Bucs starting a rookie quarterback? Aaron Rodgers threw three interceptions and was sacked and took contact almost too many times to count. (Ok, sacked six times). The O-Line might be the worst in the NFL and at this rate Rodgers might be within reach of becoming one of the most sacked quarterbacks in a season. Things won’t get any easier as we face the Cowboys who are tied for sixth in the NFL with 21 sacks. The problem is, what can be done about our offensive line? The Packers have tried swapping guys around and nothing has worked so far this season. I say bring back Holmgren!
Here are some fun facts about Holmgren’s tenure with the Packers, courteous of Wikipedia.
Holmgren was head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 1998, which became one of the most successful coaching stints in NFL history. As head coach of the Packers, Holmgren posted a 75–37–0 (67.0%) regular-season record, a 9–5 (64.3%) postseason mark, and two Super Bowl appearances, including a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. By winning at least one game in five consecutive postseasons (1993–1997) Holmgren joined John Madden (1973–1977) as the only coaches in league history to accomplish the feat. Holmgren’s Packers posted an NFL-best 48–16 (75.0%) record, finished first in the NFC Central Division three times, second once, and set a 7–3 mark in the playoffs between 1995 and 1998. By taking the Packers to six consecutive postseasons (1993–1998), Holmgren set a franchise record with a team that had had just two winning seasons in the 19 years before he was hired.
Many of Holmgren’s 1992 assistant coaches, including Andy Reid, Steve Mariucci, Dick Jauron, Ray Rhodes and Jon Gruden, would go on to head coaching careers in the NFL. Marty Mornhinweg, an assistant hired later in Holmgren’s tenure at Green Bay, also became an NFL head coach, but is now the offensive coordinator under Andy Reid with the Philadelphia Eagles.