Rich Bisaccia, 65, is stepping down as the Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator and assistant head coach after four seasons with the franchise, NFL Network insiders Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported. The Packers quickly confirmed the news, marking the end of a tenure that began with high expectations but ended amid persistent struggles in the team’s kicking and special teams units.
Bisaccia Reflects on Packers Tenure Amid Persistent Special Teams Struggles
Bisaccia, who previously served as interim head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 and held stops with the Buccaneers, Chargers, and Cowboys, expressed gratitude in his statement. He thanked Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, general manager Brian Gutekunst, president Mark Murphy, and executive vice president Ed Policy for their support, as well as the players for their dedication. “The people in this building make it a special place to work,” Bisaccia said, reflecting on his time in Green Bay.
Rich Bisaccia Steps Down as Packers Special Teams Coordinator After Struggling SeasonsThe Packers’ special teams troubles were evident throughout the 2025 season. A Week 3 loss to the Cleveland Browns highlighted the difficulties when a potential game-winning field goal with 27 seconds remaining was blocked.
The following week, Green Bay tied the Dallas Cowboys after allowing an extra point return. During a season-ending five-game losing streak, kicking missteps were particularly costly against archrival Chicago, including a Week 16 overtime loss in which Romeo Doubs mishandled an onside kick recovery and a wild-card defeat where kicker Brandon McManus missed an extra point and two field goals after the team had led 21-3.
Packers Face Urgent Need to Improve Special Teams Performance and Consistency
Green Bay averaged just 5.6 yards per punt return, ranking last in the NFL, and finished 20th in Sports Illustrated’s annual special teams rankings. The lone bright spot was punter Daniel Whelan, who led the league with a 51.7-yard average per punt. Despite his experience and prior success, Bisaccia’s units consistently struggled to achieve the expected consistency in returns, coverage, and kicking execution.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur acknowledged the value of Bisaccia’s contributions, praising his influence on both players and team culture. LaFleur emphasized that while the team was disappointed to lose such a respected coach, they fully respected his decision to step down and wished him and his family the best moving forward.
Bisaccia’s departure adds to changes on the Packers’ staff, with defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley already leaving for the Miami Dolphins head coaching position. The team will now search for a new coordinator to address persistent special teams issues, hoping to stabilize a kicking game that has repeatedly hindered Green Bay’s performance. Bisaccia’s four-year tenure ends as a reminder of both his coaching experience and the ongoing challenges the Packers face in special teams execution.
This marks a turning point for the Packers, who aim to rebuild confidence in their kicking and return units for the 2026 season, ensuring that past errors do not continue to determine game outcomes.
