Packers: Scott Tolzien reportedly joins Mike McCarthy’s staff with Cowboys

Former Packers QB Scott Tolzien is reunited with Mike McCarthy.

Scott Tolzien spent three seasons playing under Mike McCarthy with the Green Bay Packers, and now he’ll be joining McCarthy’s coaching staff with the Dallas Cowboys.

Jon Machota of The Athletic tweeted the full list of the Cowboys’ coaching staff, and Tolzien is listed as a coaching assistant.

Tolzien got his first opportunity with the Packers following Aaron Rodgers‘ collarbone injury in 2013. Backup Seneca Wallace also went down with an injury a week later, forcing Tolzien into action.

He played in three games with two starts, throwing for 717 yards but just one touchdown with five interceptions. He did make an impressive rushing touchdown, spinning his way into the end zone against the Minnesota Vikings.

Matt Flynn returned and took over the starting job until Rodgers returned, but Tolzien remained part of the roster for two more seasons, eventually replacing Flynn as the backup quarterback.

Tolzien was often praised for his work ethic and the improvements he made to his game over the years. He flashed potential when given opportunities, but his decision-making led to turnovers too often.

Tolzien left in 2016 as a free agent, signing with the Indianapolis Colts where he would be the backup to Andrew Luck.

Now, the former Packers QB returns to the NFL, but this time not as a player. After spending the 2019 season working with the Wisconsin Badgers as an analyst, Tolzien will be reunited with McCarthy in Dallas.

There are a number of names on McCarthy’s staff that Packers fans will recognize, most notably Joe Philbin. Philbin was the Packers’ offensive coordinator twice and took over as interim head coach after McCarthy was fired late in the 2018 season.

It’s going to be interesting to see how McCarthy’s offense changes in Dallas after a year out of the game, and how successful the Cowboys will be in 2020.