Brian Gutekunst has once again leaned into the annual art of saying plenty without saying anything definitive. We are in that sweet spot of the off season where all we have are hypotheticals and hopes for the future. Meanwhile, Gutey and company are firmly in “lying season”, when GM’s, coaches, and owners will all praise their current players and staff so as to not give away much about their intentions.
Gutekunst has carefully avoided throwing any individual player under the bus. Even as frustration is clear among fans after an inconsistent finish. Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, Gutekunst emphasized that the team needs to be “more consistent in situational football and finishing off games.”
He frames shortcomings as collective execution issues rather than personnel failures. It’s classic front-office positioning. Acknowledge the need for improvement, but keep the language broad enough that you’re not cornered into a specific roster move months before free agency and the draft.
Brian Gutekunst On Future of Players
That balancing act becomes even clearer when he discusses players whose futures are openly debated. On edge rusher Rashan Gary, Gutekunst said Gary was “impactful towards the second half of the season. He’s produced at a high level since he’s been here. We expect that next year as well”
He voiced confidence in his trajectory, despite fans pointing to sack totals and cap implications as reasons for change. It was clear to see the drop off once Parsons exited the field, and watching him give up on multiple plays in pursuit was hard to watch.
With wide receiver Romeo Doubs approaching free agency, Gutekunst noted, “We’d love to have him back… and if we do, he’ll be a big part of our football team. And if we don’t, I’m sure he’ll be very successful wherever he goes.”
That quote, in particular, is peak lying season. Supportive, complimentary, and completely noncommittal.
The same tone applies to the cornerback room. Most of Packer Nation (myself included) is calling for Keisean Nixon to be replaced at the outside CB1 role. I myself nearly pulled a spit take when I head him say the following:
Gutekunst is choosing his words carefuly and projecting positivity. Him stressing the need for competition and depth over “wholesale changes,” signals belief in the room while preserving flexibility to add talent if the opportunity presents itself.
Aaron Nagler over at CheeseheadTV had a great take on this sentiment leading to additions to the defense.
Full Video – Packers Daily: Gutekunst Chasing A Championship
The Road Ahead
The contrast between Gutekunst’s rhetoric and the fan base’s demands is stark, but certainly expected. Many Packers fans want decisive action like cuts, splash signings, or clear declarations about who is and isn’t part of the long-term core. Instead, Gutekunst offers optimism and optionality. By praising players publicly and keeping critiques general, he maintains locker-room trust and protects trade value while sidestepping hard commitments.
It may frustrate those craving transparency, but as always during lying season, the vagueness is the point. Say just enough to steady the ship, but never so much that you can’t pivot when roster reality inevitably shifts.
Here’s his full statements at the 2026 NFL Combine. Make of it what you will….
