On Friday, the Packers decided to move on from Brandon McManus. Since the departure of Mason Crosby, the team’s kicking woes continue to appear in critical moments.

In October 2024, McManus looked to be the missing piece to the roster. After kicking the game winning field goal versus the Texans, he became the hero.

However, this league humbles you quickly. This is a results-based business, and the only thing that matters is, what have you done for me lately?

Brian Gutekunst has been known to hold onto players for too long. By releasing Nate Hobbs and Brandon McManus, he is proving that if you hold the team back, you don’t stay. There is zero time to waste.

The Packers drafted Anders Carlson in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. Many have said this was a move orchestrated by Rich Bisaccia, who worked with Anders brother Derek while coaching the Raiders.

Carlson could never reach consistent levels. He could make incredibly long field goals, then botch an extra point. This led to the Packers turning to Brayden Narveson off of the Tennessee Titans in August of 2024.

After Narveson missing five of seventeen field goal attempts, the team turned to Brandon McManus.

Packers Tenure with McManus is Over

After McManus earned a three-year extension, the honeymoon phase faded quicker than it started. In the middle of the season, McManus nursed a quadriceps injury.

The Packers rush to get him back on the field, proved to be costly. Due to inaccuracy, he was once again benched to work through the injury.

Nevertheless, McManus went on to make his last thirteen field goal attempts in the seven remaining regular season games.

The inaccuracy reared its ugly head at the worst possible moment, the playoffs. Not just any playoff game, but an NFC North showdown with the Chicago Bears.

The Packers led the game 21-3 at one point. McManus had an opportunity to take the lead to 24-3 but missed a 55-yard field goal.

After dominating an entire first half, the miss going into halftime felt eerie. In the back of many fans minds is devastating playoff losses. Packers’ fans know every single point and opportunity to take momentum is crucial.

The feeling went from eerie to a nightmare. McManus ended up missing an extra point, then another field goal with under three minutes left. While there is plenty of blame and costly errors to go around, the truth is simple. If the kicks are made, the Packers advance.

In the sixth round of the draft, the team selected Trey Smack, a kicker out of Florida. Smack has been in a starting role since 2023 and has ample experience in big games.

A kicking competition that was on the horizon is no more. McManus’s errors were one too many in the playoffs. Now, the Packers will look to Smack, another rookie kicker to fill a void.

Only time will tell how this move plays out. For now, the Packers have an experienced rookie in Trey Smack and their franchise long kick record holder in Lucas Havrisik on the roster.

Smack has the chance to be the new hero in town. However, if McManus’s tenure has taught us anything, it is that heroes only last as long as their best performance.