The Green Bay Packers and their fan base are well acquainted with having their coordinators and assistant coaches leave the building with promotions. While a bit unfortunate, it is the ultimate sign of their steady success and the general appeal of the Mike McCarthy and Matt LaFleur coaching trees.
Have these coaches been able to stand on their own two feet? Nathaniel Hackett, Luke Getsy, and Patrick Graham are evidence to the contrary. But Anthony Campanile has done well as the defensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jeff Hafley is expected to garner head coach interest.
But another key Packers assistant, offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, hasn't been as hot a topic in NFL coaching cycle conversations as most would expect. LaFleur obviously gets most of the credit for Green Bay's offense, but it's not like Stenavich is just a fly on the wall and along for the ride.
Packers' Adam Stenavich could be coveted for Michigan HC position
When it comes to the college football world, however, Stenavich could suddenly be a hot commodity. Due to all that went down with head coach Sherrone Moore at the University of Michigan, however, The Athletic's Michael Silver believes that Stenavich would be the perfect fit in Ann Arbor.
"As Michigan searches for a new head coach, I'd be surprised if they didn't consider Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich, an alum whose teaching skills and natural leadership qualities have earned him respect throughout the NFL," Silver wrote.
"He is steeped in the Kyle Shanahan/Matt LaFleur system (he played for Shanahan in Houston and coached with him in SF) and understands the run game's foundational impact. And he bleeds blue and maize, at a time when the program really needs it. Every time I talk to Packers players (including yesterday in Denver), they sing his praises. He may get NFL head coaching looks in this cycle, too."
Silver is correct that Stenavich is both well-liked and well-respected around the league, and especially in Green Bay. This alone would make him a great choice to lead a Big Ten school, but as Silver mentioned, there is more to it than that.
Although Stenavich was born in Wisconsin, he made the trek across Lake Michigan to play for the Wolverines in college. Then, he later hopped on the staff at Michigan before his coaching career took off, and it wasn't long until he was in the professional ranks.
If the opportunity presented itself, however, for Stenavich to take over at his alma mater and become a head coach for the first time in his life, it may be hard for him to turn down. It's unlikely that he lands an NFL head gig during this cycle, so if he doesn't feel like being patient, this could be his chance.
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This isn't like taking a job at any old college, either. This is the Michigan Wolverines. The same Michigan Wolverines that got Jim Harbaugh back into the NFL, who is now leading the Los Angeles Chargers to back-to-back playoff appearances in his first two campaigns.
While an offensive coordinator position under Matt LaFleur, one of the game's brightest minds, is coveted and has its perks, the mystique (and pay raise) of being a head coach would be a lot for Stenavich to turn down should he be offered the job.
Now, Michigan has a deep Rolodex of coaches that they are surely vetting as we speak. Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is likely at the top of their list, but it's possible that he fills an NFL head coaching vacancy this offseason. Regardless, Stenavich should be in the running.
Hopefully, if Stenavich starts entertaining the idea of a move, it wouldn't distract from the playoff push that the Packers are making. Green Bay fans saw last year what an effect that can have, as they watched the Detroit Lions crumble in the playoffs with their coordinators interviewing elsewhere.
Perhaps Stenavich wants to try his luck in this NFL coaching cycle, or he is perfectly happy where he is. But fans wouldn't blame him if he wanted to uproot his family a short geographical distance to lead his old college team, be a head coach and make a ton more money.
The Packers are built to survive his departure. That doesn't mean that it's preferable, but LaFleur has proven time and time again that not only is he a talent himself, but he is an incredible talent spotter when it comes to assistant coaches.
Stenavich is just another example of that, and it's also why he may make a great head coach elsewhere, like Michigan. At least he wouldn't have to face the Packers.