It has been a tough week for the Green Bay Packers and their loyal fan base. Not only did they let a game against the Denver Broncos slip through their fingers, but they suffered a handful of injuries on Sunday, most notably to superstar edge-rusher Micah Parsons.
Parsons was supposed to be the final piece to the Packers' Super Bowl puzzle that they've been working on for years. Of course, Parsons had been a one-man wrecking crew at times for Green Bay, but without him, things are a bit bleaker.
The Packers still control their destiny to an NFC North title, but that uphill climb to a Lombardi Trophy got a few degrees steeper after Parsons' injury. Spirits will certainly be high on Saturday against the Chicago Bears, but the vibes were still fairly low in the aftermath of this devastating setback.
Jeff Hafley's Micah Parsons quote makes Packers fans want to suit up on Sundays
That was, until defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley went to the podium for his Wednesday presser. When asked how the team plans to replace Parsons, Hafley took the time to talk about the superstar's journey, his wonderful approach to the game, and his wide-ranging impact on the unit.
Then, Hafley had the quote of the year.
"I just have so much respect for the guy, and I'm sad for the guy. But at the same time, I know that, just knowing who he is, just wait until you guys see how hard he works to come back, how fast he probably comes back," Hafley said. "And somehow, probably, if I were a betting man, would bet that he comes back even better and probably breaks the sack record next year. So, I'm going to put that on Micah and myself and you guys can put it out there and that's the confidence I have in him."
Does anyone else feel like running through a brick wall for Jeff Hafley? That quote should make the fan base want to suit up on Sundays and play for a coach like this. What an incredibly empowering and poignant thing to say about a player at his lowest point, and to a frustrated fan base.
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Obviously, fans hope that he's right. The sooner that Parsons is back, the better. Him setting the NFL sack record, which will probably be re-set by the Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett this year, would just be the icing on the cake.
It is no wonder that the Packers' defense has been so stout under Hafley's tutalege. This kind of approach to coaching and relationship-building can transform an entire defense, and it can certainly change a player's outlook on himself.
Packers fans will have to wait a while until they see Parsons in uniform again. If Hafley keeps up at this rate, he may land a head coaching job and have to watch Parsons' return from an opposing sideline. But for now, the fan base has this incredible quote and bit of hope to hold onto, courtesy of Hafley.