GREEN BAY – Matt LaFleur has found his new offensive coordinator.
On Monday, the Packers' head coach officially promoted offensive line coach/run game coordinator Adam Stenavich to replace the departing Nathaniel Hackett, who was hired last week as the new head coach of the Denver Broncos.
Here are five things to know about the move:
1. Stenavich has carried on a legacy of strong O-line play in Green Bay.
Stenavich had big shoes to fill when LaFleur hired him to replace James Campen, one of the longest-tenured assistant coaches in franchise history. Stenavich was up to the task, shepherding left tackle David Bakhtiari and center Corey Linsley during their All-Pro seasons, while also helping develop 2019 second-round pick Elgton Jenkins into a Pro Bowl guard. He had run game coordinator added to his title in 2021 after coaching an O-line that helped the offense lead the lead the NFL in scoring (31.8 ppg) and time of possession (32:29) and tied for second in sacks allowed (21).
2. He worked wonders with the Packers' O-line in 2021.
The Packers were thrown every curveball imaginable on the offensive line this past season. Bakhtiari played just 27 offensive snaps due to his rehab from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and Jenkins was lost for the season in Week 11 due to a torn ACL of his own. Without Bakhtiari or Jenkins, Stenavich entrusted the left tackle post to former undrafted free agent Yosh Nijman, who started eight games. All told, the Packers had nine different players start on the O-line this season, including two rookies: guard Royce Newman and center Josh Myers. Despite the turnover, Green Bay still finished ninth in scoring (26.5 points per game), 10th in total offense (365.6 yards per game) and tied for 11th in fewest sacks allowed (33).
3. Aaron Rodgers predicted big things for Stenavich.
Rodgers has known Stenavich for a long time. In fact, the two were teammates in Green Bay for two seasons after Stenavich signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2006. Known for being a competitive scout-team player, Stenavich has carried that same work ethic to his coaching. Count Rodgers among those impressed who have been impressed by what Stenavich has done during his short time in Green Bay. "Steno's a fantastic coach," said Rodgers in October. "He's not just a good man, but he's a really bright coach, and I think he's got a future above offensive line coach, for sure. I'm proud of those guys and that they battled really well."
4. He's quickly climbed the coaching ranks.
Stenavich, 38, has only been coaching in a full-time capacity for the past eight years. After an NFL career that spanned five seasons, Stenavich spent two years as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, the University of Michigan, before landing his first job as the offensive line coach at Northern Arizona in 2014. He coached the O-line at San Jose State for two seasons before catching on with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. He served as the assistant O-line coach to John Benton before LaFleur hired Stenavich as his O-line coach in 2019.
5. Stenavich has been a Wisconsin success story.
Born in Marshfield, Wis., Stenavich earned first-team all-state honors as a senior at Marshfield High School before earning a scholarship to Michigan. He started 39 of his 42 career games for the Wolverines and was a two-time All-Big Ten first-team selection. He's the second Wisconsinite to hold the title of offensive coordinator for the Packers and first since Jeff Jagodzinski in 2006.
