The Packers GM Brian Gutekunst met with the media yesterday. This is the first time Gutekunst has spoken to the media since the Micah Parsons trade. Gutekunst spoke for quite some time. He touched on the season, the way it ended, and specific players and coaches. The biggest takeaway from his presser is he does not seem to be over how the last five games of the season went for his football team.
Brian Gutekunst refused to blame the Packers meltdown on the long, brutal list of injuries, especially injuries to key players. Gutekunst told the media that he fully believed the Packers would beat the Bears and then beat the Seahawks with the roster they had. He does not seem complacent with the way things currently are in Green Bay. He mentioned that the team needs to improve their late game execution and continue to develop and prioritize key fundamentals.
Gutekunst might be bias but when Green Bay was 9-3-1, he believed that the team still had not played their best ball. That statement is saying something because at the time, Green Bay led the NFC North and was well in contention for the NFC 1 seed. He believes that the group of players that he and his staff had assembled could compete with and beat anybody. But, what is holding them back is poor execution in key moments, a strange fundamental falloff, and despite Gutekunst’s opinion, pure bad luck and injuries.
The Benefits of Gutekunst’s Breakdown
The injury card would be the easy play for Gutekunst. Despite his reluctancy to admit the truth that the loss of Tom, Wyatt, Kraft, Parsons, etc. significantly impacted his football team, he would not play that card yesterday. That is an admirable approach. He mentioned that the one Super Bowl ring he has was won, was by a team that had 16 players on IR. He believes that the Packers have the major pieces in place but he knows that change is needed in specific areas.
It felt as if the Packers need to refocus on fundamentals and the basics of football. This offseason will be filled with discussions of how to improve their end of game management and execution. Gutekunst sounded willing to explore the free agent market as well as the draft to find players whop can help the Packers right away. Gutekunst and LaFleur appear to be well aware of the crippling issues. Now, the question is, can they fix them?
Green Bay should enter the 2026 season hungry and pissed off. 2025 started off filled with hope and potential but ultimately exploded into flames for reasons within the Packers control and outside of their control, too. Yesterday’s press conference made it clear that the GM is not pleased with the 2025 season. Gutekunst is determined to find a solution and get this Packers team to where it needs to be.
