Packers Hire New Special Teams Coordinator, but Real Progress Demands Changes That Go Deeper Than a Single Decision

The Green Bay Packers’ special teams unit has been a source of frustration for many years, consistently ranking among the worst in the NFL. Head coach Matt LaFleur, having endured multiple failed experiments, has now made his fourth attempt to fix the unit. After an exhaustive search, the Packers have hired Cameron Achord as their new special teams coordinator, following Shawn Mennenga, Maurice Drayton, and Rich Bisaccia. While Achord brings a wealth of experience, especially from his time with the New England Patriots, the question remains—will he finally bring the much-needed stability and success to this crucial aspect of the game?

In the wake of yet another disappointing season for Green Bay’s special teams, LaFleur’s decision to bring in Achord is a bold one. The Packers have experienced a revolving door of special teams coordinators, each one with their own shortcomings, and this hire represents yet another attempt to resolve the team’s long-standing issues. However, the real solution goes beyond the choice of coordinator—it will require a shift in culture, approach, and prioritization within the organization.

Cameron Achord: The New Hope for Green Bay’s Special Teams

Cameron Achord’s coaching resume is a reflection of his development under some of the best minds in the game. Having joined the NFL in 2018, Achord started as an assistant special teams coach under Joe Judge with the New England Patriots. His early years were marked by versatility, as he had experience both on offense and special teams during his college career. When Joe Judge became the head coach of the New York Giants, Bill Belichick elevated Achord to the role of special teams coordinator. Under Achord’s leadership, the Patriots achieved the top-ranked special teams unit in the NFL in 2020, as noted by Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams rankings.

While Achord’s success in New England was notable, his career took a turn in 2024 when he was let go by the Patriots and replaced by Jeremy Springer. Despite this setback, Achord continued to stay involved in the NFL, serving as an assistant special teams coach for the Giants under Michael Ghobrial. However, with the Giants’ coaching staff undergoing a shake-up, Achord found himself at a crossroads. The Packers, recognizing the need for a proven leader, decided to make their move, bringing Achord on board in the hopes that he could help turn around their special teams unit.

Achord’s experience with the Patriots and Giants has given him a strong foundation, but his work with Green Bay will present new challenges. Unlike his time in New England, where he was part of a well-established team culture, Achord will be stepping into a Packers organization that has been in search of a consistent special teams identity for years. His success will depend not only on his technical acumen but also on his ability to adapt to the specific needs of the Packers.

A History of Struggles and Missed Opportunities for Green Bay

Green Bay’s struggles with special teams are well-documented. When Matt LaFleur was first hired in 2019, he had the opportunity to bring in Darren Rizzi, a former Miami Dolphins special teams coordinator, but opted for a cheaper option. This decision ultimately left the Packers with a series of underwhelming hires that failed to fix the issue at hand. Despite bringing in high-profile names like Rich Bisaccia, who had earned praise for his work with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Packers’ special teams remained inconsistent at best and disastrous at worst.

The 2021 season was particularly painful, with the Packers’ playoff hopes dashed after a blocked punt in the NFC divisional round. This kind of mistake has become synonymous with Green Bay’s special teams struggles, but it also reflects a deeper issue—lack of stability and continuity within the unit. After several years of disappointing performances, LaFleur and the Packers decided it was time to spend more money on a respected and well-established coordinator. Bisaccia was brought in with high hopes, but his tenure was marked by volatility. The Packers’ special teams showed some improvement in 2022, climbing from dead last in 2021 to 17th in DVOA rankings, largely thanks to the emergence of Keisean Nixon as a dynamic returner. However, the progress was short-lived, and in 2023, the unit regressed to 31st in the league before bouncing back to 15th in 2024 and falling again to 21st in 2025.

While Green Bay’s special teams have never been outright disastrous under LaFleur, they’ve consistently been mediocre, often failing to make critical plays when it matters most. This continued inconsistency in a key phase of the game has led to costly mistakes—missed field goals, poor returns, and inability to convert in short-yardage situations—that have hindered the team’s ability to contend for a championship.

A New Era: The Packers’ Long-Term Special Teams Strategy

The Packers’ decision to hire Achord is a step in the right direction, but it’s just one part of a much larger puzzle. As LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst look to build a championship-contending team, special teams cannot continue to be an afterthought. The team has already made strides in improving the personnel by signing special teams-specific players and utilizing more starters in these units, but the lack of consistency and poor execution remain glaring weaknesses.

Gutekunst’s willingness to allocate resources to special teams-specific players is a positive sign, but it is clear that a deeper cultural shift is required. Special teams need to be valued as an integral part of the team, not as an afterthought. Whether it’s the practice time devoted to the unit, the way special teams players are integrated into the overall team culture, or simply a shift in mindset, Green Bay must take a holistic approach to improving this phase of the game.

The addition of Achord brings a sense of hope, but his success will depend on more than just his coaching ability. The Packers need to ensure that special teams are treated with the same level of respect and attention as the offense and defense. Only then will the team truly be able to overcome their history of special teams failures and make meaningful progress.

The Road Ahead: A Crucial Test for the Packers’ Special Teams

For now, Achord’s task is clear: turn the Packers’ special teams into a reliable, consistent unit capable of making game-changing plays. However, the path to success won’t be easy. He inherits a unit with a track record of inconsistency, and his success will depend on his ability to establish a culture of excellence and focus on the fundamentals. Whether or not the Packers can finally solve their special teams woes will be one of the defining stories of the upcoming seasons.

If Achord can achieve the kind of success he enjoyed with the Patriots, the Packers could finally see meaningful improvement in this area. But it will require more than just a new coordinator—it will demand a commitment from everyone within the organization to treat special teams as an essential component of a championship-caliber team.

As the Packers enter a new era under Achord’s guidance, all eyes will be on how quickly he can turn this unit around. The future of Green Bay’s special teams hangs in the balance, and only time will tell if the latest hire can break the cycle of disappointment and lead the team to the success that has eluded them for far too long.