GREEN BAY – The Packers’ new coaches and those who received offseason promotions addressed the media on Tuesday. Here are five things we learned:
1. Tom Clements reconsidered retirement after talks with Aaron Rodgers.
Clements was sitting back, drinking a few choice beverages and enjoying retired life in Los Angeles when his former pupil reached out to gauge the longtime NFL assistant’s interest in a potential return to Green Bay.
The Packers had an opening at quarterbacks coach after Luke Getsy left to become the Chicago Bears’ new offensive coordinator. Clements previously held the QB post from 2006-11 before receiving a promotion to offensive coordinator.
One conversation with Rodgers led to another, and Clements eventually was offered the position after meeting with Head Coach Matt LaFleur during the week of the Super Bowl. While Rodgers didn’t officially announce his return for an 18th season until March 9, Clements felt good enough about things to accept.
“That was my first question to him, what are you thinking?” said Clements of his conversations with Rodgers. “We just talked about it and I felt good, fairly confident that he was coming back.
“The team and he have had some great years and still has a good chance to contend for the Super Bowl. I know that’s what he wants. He wants another Super Bowl and that was one of the things that intrigued me also.”
Clements most recently served as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals. In two seasons on Kliff Kingsbury’s staff, Clements oversaw the development of former No. 1 pick Kyler Murray.
Clements opted to retire after the 2020 season due to his family being in California and the travel restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Clements wasn’t actively looking to get back into the coaching ranks until Rodgers reached out, correspondence that stoked the fire inside the 68-year-old coach.
Watching from afar, Clements has been impressed by what Rodgers, LaFleur and the…