Packers’ Sean Mannion Gets Shrine Bowl Opportunity - and It Could Be Just the Beginning
The Green Bay Packers got a win this week, and it didn’t come on the field. Quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion has been selected to serve as the offensive coordinator for the West team at the Shrine Bowl - a significant opportunity not just for Mannion, but for the Packers as they head into a pivotal offseason.
Let’s break down why this matters.
A Front-Row Seat to the Draft Process
With no first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft - thanks to the trade that brought in Micah Parsons - Green Bay’s scouting efforts are under the microscope more than ever. The Shrine Bowl gives NFL teams a closer look at mid-to-late round prospects, and with Mannion running the offense for one of the teams, the Packers now have a direct line to some of the talent that could be available on Day 2 or 3.
This is the kind of access teams covet. Mannion will get to coach these prospects up close, see how they learn, how they respond to coaching, how they perform in a pro-style system. That kind of intel can be invaluable when you’re trying to find contributors without the luxury of a top pick.
Mannion’s Coaching Star Is Rising
But there’s another layer here - and it might be the more intriguing one: Sean Mannion is quietly building a résumé that’s turning heads around the league.
He’s only two years into his coaching career, but he’s already making an impact. Jordan Love’s development has been one of the biggest stories in Green Bay, and while Love deserves plenty of credit, so does the staff around him.
And then there’s Malik Willis, who’s shown signs of growth under Mannion’s guidance. When a coach starts getting results from multiple quarterbacks, people notice.
Mannion may not have had a standout playing career - 571 career passing yards and a single touchdown - but that’s hardly a knock when it comes to coaching potential. Some of the best minds in football weren’t stars on Sundays.
What matters is football IQ, leadership, and the ability to teach. Mannion checks those boxes, and then some.
A Glimpse Into the Future?
He’s only 33, but Mannion is already showing signs of being on the fast track. The Shrine Bowl gig is more than just a one-week assignment - it’s a showcase.
For the league. For front offices.
For owners looking for the next young offensive mind to build around.
Now, let’s be clear: the Packers aren’t expected to lose Mannion this offseason. But in today’s NFL, where teams are increasingly leaning into youth and innovation on the coaching front, it’s not out of the question. If he impresses in Vegas, teams with coordinator openings - or even those looking to groom a future play-caller - could come calling.
What It Means for Green Bay
For the Packers, this is both a short-term boost and a long-term challenge. In the immediate future, they benefit from Mannion’s presence at the Shrine Bowl. He’ll bring back firsthand evaluations that could give Green Bay a leg up in a draft where they need to find value outside the first round.
But down the road? The better Mannion gets, the more likely it is that someone else will come knocking.
That’s the reality of developing good coaches - eventually, they move on. It’s a sign that things are working.
And in Green Bay, that’s exactly what’s happening.