The Green Bay Packers’ painful collapse in the NFC Wild Card round against the Chicago Bears has left the organization reeling, with questions swirling around the future of head coach Matt LaFleur’s staff. After watching an 18-point lead slip away in a gut-wrenching loss at Soldier Field, the mood in Titletown turned heavy, and LaFleur made it clear that tough conversations are on the horizon. One of those conversations is expected to center around the future of Rich Bisaccia, the team’s special teams coordinator.

Tough Conversations Ahead for LaFleur and His Staff

The Packers’ loss to the Bears marked another season-ending disappointment, leaving LaFleur to assess his team’s performance. While LaFleur remained noncommittal when asked about Bisaccia’s future, acknowledging that he’s still in the process of evaluating everything, it’s clear that nobody’s job is safe. According to Packers beat writer Ryan Wood, LaFleur didn’t offer a definitive answer about whether Bisaccia would return as the special teams coordinator.

As LaFleur works through his review, it’s evident that special teams played a major role in the team’s downfall. Bisaccia, who was brought in to improve a struggling special teams unit, admitted that he felt his group let LaFleur down when it mattered most. Once again, critical mistakes in special teams contributed to a painful playoff loss, and the pressure is now on Bisaccia to answer for these recurring issues.

The Special Teams Struggles: A Season of Missed Opportunities

While some of the issues on special teams were beyond Bisaccia’s control, such as a veteran kicker missing three kicks in one game, the reality is that the responsibility for recurring mistakes ultimately lands on the coordinator. In key moments, when every play counts, special teams blunders continue to plague the Packers, and someone has to own the outcome.

This wasn’t just a one-off situation. Earlier in the season, the Packers saw an opportunity slip away in Week 3 when Brandon McManus’ field goal attempt was blocked, allowing the Browns to take the lead and eventually win the game with a late field goal. In Week 4, a blocked extra point against the Cowboys shifted momentum, leading to a wild 40-40 tie. A missed 43-yard kick in Week 9 against the Carolina Panthers sealed a three-point loss. Add up all the critical special teams errors, and it’s hard to feel confident about Bisaccia’s future in Green Bay.

The Josh Jacobs Suggestion: LaFleur’s Gamble

One of the more interesting developments in the lead-up to the wild-card game was the suggestion from Bisaccia to use running back Josh Jacobs on kick returns. LaFleur, however, initially rejected the idea, expressing concerns about the risk involved. LaFleur was not convinced that it was the right call, but as the game wore on, the topic resurfaced. By Thursday, Jacobs himself pushed for the opportunity to return kicks, and LaFleur eventually green-lit the move.

LaFleur shared the details of that conversation: “When he said that to me, I said, ‘Do you really want to return?’ He said, ‘Heck yeah, I do,’” LaFleur recalled. Initially, the plan was to save Jacobs’ return duties for a later moment in the game when it could be a strategic advantage.

The Fumble: A Costly Gamble

Unfortunately, the decision backfired. Jacobs fumbled on the return, and only a heads-up recovery by safety Kevin Oladapo prevented a complete disaster. The Packers were able to avoid chaos in that moment, but the damage had been done. The game ended with the Packers falling 31-27, and fans were left wondering if that single moment on special teams tilted the game in the wrong direction.

Despite the fumble, Jacobs showed promise on kick returns. He handled two returns for 61 yards, averaging more than 30 yards per return, a statistic that stands out. However, LaFleur and his staff are now left with the difficult question of whether the production Jacobs provided on special teams was worth the risk of further injury.

The Dilemma: Jacobs’ Impact on Offense and Special Teams

The risk of using Jacobs on returns was amplified by his lackluster performance on offense, where he was limited to just 55 yards. As a running back who carried the team’s offensive load during the regular season with 929 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, exposing him to additional punishment on special teams while not getting much out of him offensively raises serious concerns about the team’s game plan.

Bisaccia’s Future and LaFleur’s Role

As LaFleur prepares to meet with team president Ed Policy to review the future of his coaching staff, the fate of Rich Bisaccia remains uncertain. While Bisaccia’s failures on special teams have been glaring, LaFleur must also confront his own role in the breakdown. The decision to give Jacobs a chance on kick returns, despite initial hesitation, reflects the kind of gamble that can cost a team in critical moments. In a game where every play matters, the Packers can’t afford to continue making these mistakes on special teams.

For Bisaccia, the season-ending loss to the Bears might very well be the final straw. The special teams unit, which was supposed to be a strength under his leadership, has consistently failed to deliver when the team needed it most. The recurring mistakes, particularly in high-pressure situations, make it difficult to envision him returning as the Packers’ special teams coordinator.

For LaFleur, the decision to approve Jacobs’ kick return request is just one example of the kind of tough decisions that will define his legacy in Green Bay. If the Packers are to move forward as a serious Super Bowl contender, LaFleur and his staff will need to make significant improvements, both in terms of coaching strategy and personnel choices.

The Future of the Packers’ Special Teams

The 2025 season served as a reminder that a team’s success is built on all three phases of the game, not just the offense and defense. For the Packers, special teams has been a critical weakness that has consistently undermined their playoff aspirations. If LaFleur wants to take this team to the next level, the special teams unit needs a complete overhaul, and that may begin with a change in coordinator.

As the offseason approaches, all eyes will be on the Packers’ coaching staff decisions, and whether LaFleur is ready to make the changes necessary to avoid another disappointing January exit. The question now is whether the special teams failures will be seen as a systematic issue or whether the right leadership can turn things around. With the stakes high, the Packers must make the right choices if they want to return to championship contention.