The Chicago Bears have watched the Green Bay Packers lose multiple coaches from their staff since their season ended. It was great to see Jeff Hafley and Sean Mannion take jobs elsewhere. And the moves didn't stop on that front either, but this one can't make people in the Windy City happy.
The Packers announced that assistant head coach/special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia is stepping down from his role. He was with the team for the last four seasons, but throughout his tenure, Green Bay's special teams had their flaws, and they came out on the biggest stage. Chicago knows this all too well, as they saw it firsthand in the wild-card win over Green Bay.
Bisaccia Stepping Away from Packers May Not Help Bears in the Long Run
In that victory, kicker Brandon McManus played a key role for Chicago after his underwhelming performance. He went 0-2 on field goals, missing from 55 and 44 yards out. McManus also missed an extra point, costing Green Bay seven points in a game the Bears won 31-27.
That was just the latest example of the Packers' special teams unit laying an egg in the playoffs. During the 2024 wild-card round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Keisean Nixon fumbled on a kickoff, and McManus missed a 38-yard field goal.
Meanwhile, in the 2023 divisional round loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Packers kicker Anders Carlson couldn't make a 41-yard field goal in the 4th quarter that would have put them up 24-17. Instead, they lost 24-21.
No matter the season, it's the same story with Green Bay's special teams unit, so the fact that he won't be there in 2026 is a loss for the Bears. Having one of your division rivals own a flaw that won't change is a game-changer. Chicago defeating their foe in the postseason was a top-notch feeling, but seeing their special teams unit be at the forefront again was that much better.
Considering the Packers' season ended on Jan. 10, it's surprising that it took five weeks for a change to come. Especially since Bisaccia wasn't fired, electing to step down instead. It seemed like the Packers were content with him returning for the 2026 season, yet something changed.
Nonetheless, Green Bay is late in its search for a new special teams coordinator, as teams around the league have been filling their staffs to start preparing for the upcoming free-agent and draft class. The Packers are late to the party, but having a new voice in the room could help a unit that consistently struggles.