The 5 best offensive coordinators in the history of the Green Bay Packers

Many of the greatest offensive minds have coached for the Green Bay Packers, from Vince Lombardi to Andy Reid to Mike Holmgren. However, only 10 have held the title of offensive coordinator during this team's rich history.

It's rare for a Packers offensive coordinator to call the plays—Holmgren, Mike McCarthy, and Matt LaFleur have all run the offense as head coach—but they still play an important role for the team.

Coaches and general managers have changed over the past three decades, but from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers and now to Jordan Love, the Packers are a pass-first, offensive-minded team. During each of those runs, the Packers have had several offensive coordinators working alongside the head coach. Let's take a look at the best in team history.

Criteria for selection

As noted, not every Packers offensive coordinator has experience calling plays, so we have to dive into other factors. While they may not directly send in the plays to the quarterback, each offensive coordinator has value to the entire setup, from designing and tweaking the playbook during the offseason to implementing the game plan.

It's no coincidence that several former Packers coordinators landed head-coaching jobs due to their work at 1265 Lombardi Ave.

The success of the offense is an important element, of course, but it's only part of the criteria. How much individual impact did the offensive coordinator have on the team's success? Longevity is also important to consider. If the Packers moved on after a season or two, it's a sign that things weren't going well. If a coordinator sticks around for a while, it shows they play an important role alongside the head coach.

When weighing up all these factors, we can rank the Packers' best offensive coordinators.

The top 5 offensive coordinators in Green Bay Packers history

5. Adam Stenavich (2022-present)

Adam Stenavich has quickly risen in the coaching ranks since following Matt LaFleur to Green Bay in 2019. He had the tough task of replacing longtime offensive line coach James Campen in the same role, but Stenavich thrived.

According to ESPN, here are Green Bay's pass-block win-rate rankings from 2019-2021 under Stenavich's watch: No. 1, No. 1, and No. 4. During his run as the offensive line coach, the Packers had a combined three All-Pros and three Pro Bowl selections.

Stenavich became the run game coordinator in 2021 and earned another promotion to offensive coordinator a year later.

In his second season in the new role, Stenavich helped the offense build around Jordan Love and a new-look receiving corps. Despite losing David Bakhtiari after one week, the offensive line ranked second in pass block win rate, per ESPN. By season's end, the Packers' offense was one of the best in football.

Stenavich is still a young NFL coach, but his quick rise on LaFleur's staff speaks volumes. He has helped Green Bay's offense reach a high level consistently.

4. Joe Philbin (2007-2011, 2018)

Joe Philbin arrived in Green Bay before Mike McCarthy, but the two have remained connected ever since. Philbin was the offensive line coach when McCarthy became the head coach, but it only took a season to receive a promotion to offensive coordinator.

Philbin did so well in the role that it landed him the Miami Dolphins' head coach job in 2012. As McCarthy's offensive coordinator, Philbin helped build the game plan each week. Green Bay's offense enjoyed tremendous success during this period, ranking 2nd, 8th, 6th, 9th, and 3rd in total yards during his five years as the offensive coordinator.

He spent four seasons as Miami's head coach, another two as the assistant head coach and offensive line coach, and then returned to Green Bay as McCarthy's offensive coordinator in 2018. However, McCarthy was fired after a 4-7-1 start, with Philbin taking over as the interim head coach for the final four games, going 2-2. Philbin reunited with McCarthy as his offensive line coach in Dallas in 2020, where he would spend three seasons.

The Packers boasted one of the league's best offenses throughout Philbin's first run as offensive coordinator, and he deserves credit for the part he played.

3. Tom Clements (2012-2014)

Tom Clements has spent a combined 14 seasons as part of the Packers' coaching staff but only three as the official offensive coordinator. He earns a high spot in our rankings for his work developing the Packers' quarterbacks.

Clements has coached Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and now Jordan Love, and his impact is evident. He helped Rodgers develop his footwork and fundamentals, and we're seeing similar progress from Love.

He was Mike McCarthy's quarterbacks coach when he arrived in Green Bay in 2006 before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2012. Over the following three seasons, the Packers' offense ranked 13th, 3rd, and 6th in total yards. In 2014, they ranked 1st in points per game and Rodgers won NFL MVP.

Clements earned another promotion in 2015, becoming the assistant head coach. But he still played a huge part on offense, even briefly taking over the play-calling duties from McCarthy in 2015. Clements left Green Bay after the 2016 season and retired from coaching in 2021. However, Rodgers convinced him to return in 2022, and he has stuck around to help Love begin a new era.

Whether as the quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator, Clements has played a significant role in the success of the Packers' quarterbacks since 2006.

2. Nathaniel Hackett (2019-2021)

Nathaniel Hackett's brief run as an NFL head coach couldn't have gone much worse, but there's a reason why he landed that job in the first place. Hackett made a huge impact in Green Bay, joining LaFleur as his offensive coordinator in 2019.

He sat in the booth on game days and fed information back to LaFleur.

"I know this: We wouldn't be where we are today without him," said LaFleur in November 2020, via Packers.com.

Part of the job was to help Aaron Rodgers bounce back after the Packers' offensive struggles in Mike McCarthy's final season. Mission accomplished.

Rodgers enjoyed arguably the best period of his career in the LaFleur/Hackett offense. From 2020 to 2021, he completed 69.8 percent of his passes for 8,418 yards, 85 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions, taking home back-to-back MVP awards.

"I love Nathaniel Hackett," said Rodgers. "He's arguably my favorite coach I've ever had in the NFL. His approach to it, how he makes it fun, how he cares about the guys. How he goes about his business, with respect, with leadership, with honesty, with integrity."

It's no surprise that the two reunited with the New York Jets. Hackett helped build LaFleur's offense in 2019, and his incredible passion and energy brought the best out of the players each week.

1. Sherman Lewis (1992-1999)

Sherman Lewis and Mike Holmgren spent nine years together on the San Francisco 49ers' offensive staff. Holmgren coached the quarterbacks before becoming their offensive coordinator. Lewis coached the running backs and wide receivers. When Holmgren took the Packers' head coach job in 1992, he hired Lewis as his offensive coordinator, a role he would hold for a franchise-record 128 games.

While Holmgren called the plays, Lewis worked alongside him to build the scheme and game plans. Together, they helped the Packers' offense rank inside the top 10 for total yards five times in seven years, and for total points six times.

Brett Favre won three straight MVPs from 1995 to 1997. In 1996, the Packers led the league in points and won Super Bowl XXXI.

Following Holmgren's departure in 1999, Lewis took over the play-calling duties for new head coach Ray Rhodes. While Green Bay fell to an 8-8 record with the entire coaching staff, including Lewis, getting fired, the offense still performed well. With Lewis calling the plays, the Packers ranked 10th in points and 9th in yards.

Lewis spent eight seasons as Green Bay's offensive coordinator, the most in franchise history. The Packers consistently had one of the league's best offenses, made two Super Bowls, and Favre won three NFL MVP awards.

The 5 best offensive coordinators in Packers history by games coached