How the Packers Can Get Back to the Super Bowl in 2026
The 2025 season was a tough pill to swallow for the Green Bay Packers. Injuries, inconsistency, and a defense that couldn’t hold up down the stretch left them watching the playoffs from home. But as the dust settles and the league resets for 2026, the path back to contender status is clear - and it starts with learning from the team that just hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
Seattle’s dominance throughout the playoffs and in Super Bowl LX wasn’t a fluke. The Seahawks built a roster that’s deep, balanced, and battle-tested - a team that didn’t blink when the lights were brightest. If Green Bay wants to get back to the big stage, there’s plenty to take away from the champs.
Defense Wins Championships - But It Has to Be Complete
Let’s start with the obvious: Green Bay knows defense matters. That much was clear when they pulled off a blockbuster trade for Micah Parsons last year and added Nate Hobbs to the cornerback room in free agency.
Parsons didn’t just elevate the defense - he redefined it. His presence alone opened up lanes for Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness, who both looked far more disruptive with No. 11 commanding attention.
But when Parsons tore his ACL against Denver, everything changed. The pass rush lost its teeth, and the secondary got exposed. Suddenly, the cracks that had been covered up were impossible to ignore.
The Seahawks, by contrast, fielded a defense that was strong across the board. They didn’t just have a dominant pass rush - they had playmakers at linebacker and lockdown talent in the secondary.
That’s the blueprint. Green Bay can’t rely on a patchwork cornerback group and expect to shut down elite offenses come playoff time.
Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, and Nate Hobbs are solid rotational guys, but asking them to anchor a Super Bowl-caliber secondary is a big ask. Seattle had multiple stars in the back end who made life miserable for New England’s offense in the Super Bowl. That’s the kind of firepower Green Bay needs to match.
The pressure now falls on General Manager Brian Gutekunst. The Parsons trade was a swing for the fences - and it connected.
But to complete the puzzle, he needs to find a true difference-maker in the secondary. Whether that comes via the draft or free agency, it’s not optional.
It’s mission-critical.
The Run Game Needs More Than Just Jacobs
When Josh Jacobs arrived in Green Bay, he brought juice to the offense. His 2024 campaign was electric: over 1,300 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns, and a steady 4.4 yards per carry. He looked like the bell cow back the Packers needed to balance the offense and take pressure off the quarterback.
But 2025 told a different story. Jacobs still found the end zone 13 times, but his production dipped across the board - 929 yards and just 4.0 yards per carry. The run game as a whole lacked rhythm, and the one-two punch with Emmanuel Wilson didn’t land the way the Packers had hoped.
Meanwhile, over in Seattle, Kenneth Walker III stole the show in the Super Bowl. He ran for 135 yards at a clip of 5.0 per carry - a performance that earned him MVP honors and reminded everyone that yes, running backs can still change games.
And it wasn’t just Walker. The Seahawks had a second hammer in Zach Charbonnet, who racked up 730 yards and 12 touchdowns before injury cut his season short. That kind of depth is what makes a run game dangerous in January - and it’s what Green Bay is missing.
Wilson and Chris Brooks are both restricted free agents, so the running back room could look very different in a few months. As for Marshawn Lloyd, the former third-round pick has barely seen the field and has battled injuries since arriving in Green Bay. Banking on him to be a contributor feels like a long shot at this point.
The Packers need to retool. Jacobs is still a top-end talent, but he can’t carry the load alone - not in a league where defenses are faster, smarter, and more aggressive than ever.
Adding a dynamic No. 2 back, someone who can bring fresh legs and a different skillset, should be high on the offseason to-do list. Whether that’s through the draft or a savvy free agent signing, Green Bay needs more juice in the backfield.
The Blueprint Is There - Now It’s About Execution
Seattle didn’t build a champion overnight. They hit on draft picks.
They made smart moves in free agency. And they built a roster with depth, balance, and star power at the right positions.
Green Bay has already taken some big steps. The Parsons trade was bold - and necessary.
Jacobs still has plenty left in the tank. And there’s young talent on both sides of the ball that’s just waiting to break out.
But to get back to the Super Bowl, the Packers need to finish the job. That means solidifying the secondary with a true difference-maker.
That means giving Jacobs a running mate who can keep defenses honest. And that means taking a hard look at the roster and asking, “Where are we elite?
Where are we just okay?”
Because in today’s NFL, “okay” doesn’t cut it. Just ask the Seahawks - or better yet, watch the tape from Super Bowl LX.
That’s the level Green Bay has to reach. And with the right moves this offseason, they just might get there.