Green Bay Packers fans who have been clamoring for a change in leadership on special teams: you’re getting your wish. First reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network and shortly thereafter confirmed by the Packers’ official social media account, Rich Bisaccia is stepping down from his post as the Packers’ special teams coordinator.
Bisaccia has spent the last four years in that role following a stint as the interim head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021. The last three years also saw Bisaccia hold the title of Assistant Head Coach. In a statement through the team’s website, Bisaccia issued a statement thanking the organization and its leadership, noting “I look forward to whatever is next for me and my family, and I wish nothing but the best for everyone in the organization.”
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Notably missing from Bisaccia’s statements is anything related to retirement, however, which suggests that he will look to continue coaching in 2026. However, his voluntarily resigning means that the Packers will not have to buy out any remaining years on his existing contract.
Replacing Bisaccia will be just the latest coaching change on the Packers’ staff for 2026. The team already saw major changes on the defensive staff after former coordinator Jeff Hafley left to take the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins and several of his assistants followed him out of town.
Under Bisaccia, the Packers’ special teams failed to improve significantly after failing the team repeatedly over the previous decade-plus. He was hired shortly after special teams cost the Packers a trip to an NFC Championship Game in 2021; that year’s Divisional Playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers featured a blocked field goal early and a blocked punt that was recovered for a game-tying 49ers touchdown late in the game.
Bill Huber of SI.com compiled a ranking of special teams units in 2025, which found the Packers finishing in 20th place out of the 32 NFL teams. Those same rankings put the Packers 22nd, 27th, and 17th in Bisaccia’s first three seasons, going in reverse chronological order.
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In 2025, the return and place-kicking phases were the biggest issues. Brandon McManus connected on just 80 percent of his field goal attempts, going just 6-for-12 from beyond 40 yards. Punt returns in particular were abysmal, with the team averaging just 5.6 yards per return, while kickoff returns found the Packers finishing 22nd in yards per return at 25.2. The coverage teams were largely solid, however, and Daniel Whelan led the NFL in gross punting average and was one of the top punters in net average.
Unfortunately for the Packers, Bisaccia’s decision comes late in the hiring cycle. Most of the prominent special teams coaches on the market already have new jobs, so the team may be sorting through a second wave of potential coaches to try to find his successor.
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