Packers could lose key coordinator to head coach job

Rich Bisaccia was hired by the Green Bay Packers to help turn around one of the worst special teams units in recent memory.

He achieved this in year one.

Unfortunately, the Packers could now lose Bisaccia to a head coach job.

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Friday that they have interviewed Bisaccia for their vacant head coach job.

I think I can speak on behalf of all Packers fans by politely asking the Colts to go away.

But it’s not surprising. Bisaccia absolutely deserves to be in the conversation for a head coach job.

A year ago, Green Bay ranked 32nd in Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams rankings. You can’t get any lower than 32nd, but it still felt too high for the Packers.

Under Bisaccia, they rank a more respectable 22nd this season.

While it’s hardly a worst-to-first turnaround, it’s important to remember how bad the Packers were on special teams a year ago. They were far improved in almost every area in 2022.

Part of that is on the players the Packers brought in. Bisaccia helped bring Keisean Nixon and Dallin Leavitt to Green Bay, who were key special teams players for him while he coached the Las Vegas Raiders.

Nixon was named a first-team All-Pro as a return specialist this year.

Bisaccia has some head coaching experience. He replaced Jon Gruden in Week 6 last season, guiding the Raiders to a 7-5 record and into the playoffs, where they lost a close game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

After again proving himself as a special teams coordinator this season, Bisaccia deserves an opportunity to become a head coach. Maybe he will be the Colts’ next coach.

It would be well deserved, although the Packers would be disappointed to see him go. He has made such a difference as part of Matt LaFleur’s coaching staff, and they will be hoping he returns in 2023.