Why the Packers Are Watching Championship Sunday from the Couch (Again) - And Which Former Players Are Still in the Hunt
For the fifth straight year, the Green Bay Packers won’t be playing on NFL’s Conference Championship Sunday. And for fans in Titletown, that reality stings - especially considering how promising this 2025 campaign once looked.
Let’s rewind to early December. Green Bay had just taken down the Chicago Bears in Week 14, improving to 9-3-1 and sitting atop the NFC North. Jordan Love was playing confident football, the defense was holding its own, and the Packers looked like a team with real Super Bowl aspirations.
Then came the collapse.
Injuries hit hard and fast. Star linebacker Micah Parsons suffered a season-ending ACL tear, and Jordan Love went down with a concussion.
Green Bay didn’t win another game. They closed out the regular season with four straight losses, tumbling into the playoffs as the NFC’s No. 7 seed.
Their reward? A third showdown with the Bears - this time in the Wild Card round.
And for three quarters, it looked like Green Bay had regrouped. They held a 15-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
But then the wheels came off. The defense gave up 25 points in the final frame, and just like that, the Packers' season ended in a 31-27 heartbreaker.
So here we are. The Rams and Seahawks will battle for the NFC crown, while the Patriots and Broncos square off in the AFC.
And the Packers? They’ll be watching from home - just like the rest of us.
But not every player with Green Bay ties is done playing football this season. A handful of former Packers are still suiting up this weekend, and one in particular is chasing the Super Bowl stage that always eluded him in Green Bay.
Former Packers Still in the Championship Hunt
Los Angeles Rams
WR Davante Adams
Let’s start with the biggest name on the list - Davante Adams.
The former All-Pro wide receiver spent eight seasons in Green Bay after being drafted in the second round back in 2014. He helped lead the Packers to four NFC Championship appearances, but despite his elite production, none of those runs ended with a trip to the Super Bowl.
Now, Adams is trying to change that narrative in Los Angeles. He’s been a force all season long, leading the league with 14 touchdown receptions during the regular season. And last weekend, he gave Packers fans a reason to smile, torching the Bears in the Divisional Round to help the Rams move on.
Sure, there are still some mixed feelings about how his tenure in Green Bay ended. But when he takes the field this weekend, don’t be surprised if plenty of Cheeseheads are pulling for him to finally get his shot at the big game.
DE Jack Heflin
Also with the Rams is defensive end Jack Heflin, who spent parts of two seasons in Green Bay after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Heflin’s role has been limited - he appeared in just one game this season and currently resides on the Rams’ practice squad - but he’s still part of a team that’s one win away from the Super Bowl.
Seattle Seahawks
DT Jarran Reed
Seattle’s lone former Packer is defensive tackle Jarran Reed.
He played in Green Bay during the 2022 season, tallying 52 tackles and 2.5 sacks before heading back to the Seahawks on a three-year deal in 2023. He’s not a headline name in this matchup, but he brings veteran experience to Seattle’s defensive front.
Denver Broncos
TE Marcedes Lewis
On the AFC side, the Broncos have one familiar face in tight end Marcedes Lewis. The 41-year-old spent five seasons with the Packers from 2018 to 2022, carving out a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable blocking tight ends and a respected locker room presence.
Lewis is in his 20th NFL season - a remarkable feat in itself - but he’s unlikely to suit up this weekend. He’s been on Denver’s practice squad for much of the year, though he did appear in five regular-season games and even made one start. Still, he wasn’t targeted in the passing game and remains more of a veteran presence than an active contributor at this stage.
New England Patriots
As for the Patriots? No current ties to Green Bay on the roster.
There was a brief stint earlier this season when cornerback Corey Ballentine - who played for the Packers - was with New England. But that lasted less than a month, and he was released after just one game.
He finished the season with the Cowboys.
Looking Ahead
For Packers fans, this postseason is another reminder of how narrow the margin for error is in the NFL. Just a few weeks ago, Green Bay looked like a team that could make noise in January. Instead, they’re left wondering what could’ve been - again.
But if there’s a silver lining, it’s watching former Packers like Davante Adams still chasing that elusive Super Bowl ring. He never got there in Green Bay, but if he makes it this year, you can bet plenty of fans back in Wisconsin will be cheering him on.