Just when it seemed like Jeff Hafley had wrapped up his coaching raid on Matt LaFleur’s staff, the Philadelphia Eagles swooped in with a gut punch of their own - and this one stings for Green Bay.
The Packers were hoping to hold on to quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion, a fast-rising figure in NFL coaching circles and someone many view as a future head coach. But that hope is now out the window. Mannion is heading to Philadelphia, where he’ll take over as the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
For Green Bay, this is more than just another assistant heading out the door - this is a significant loss for Jordan Love and the offensive development that’s been building in Titletown.
Let’s break it down.
From Backup QB to OC in Two Years
Mannion’s coaching trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. He retired from playing just two years ago.
Since then, he’s gone from a coaching assistant in Green Bay to quarterbacks coach, and now, he’s getting the keys to the offense in Philadelphia. That’s a major leap - and a bold move by the Eagles, who are entrusting him to guide Jalen Hurts and recalibrate an offense that’s looking to bounce back.
But while Philly is betting on Mannion’s upside, Green Bay is left to pick up the pieces.
Why This Hurts the Packers - and Jordan Love
Mannion wasn’t just another assistant on LaFleur’s staff. He was handpicked by the head coach, who moved quickly to bring him in before the Bears could, and later promoted him to replace the retiring Tom Clements - a beloved figure in the Packers' coaching lineage.
What made Mannion valuable wasn’t just his knowledge of the position, but the way he connected with Love. He zeroed in on fundamentals and footwork - the unglamorous but essential details that helped Love take a big step forward in 2025.
The results speak for themselves: 23 touchdowns, just six interceptions, and a career-best passer rating of 101.2. Before a concussion sidelined him for two games, Love was even climbing into the MVP conversation, reaching as high as third in the odds.
That kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. Mannion was a big part of it.
Now, LaFleur has to find someone who can not only maintain that momentum but build on it. That’s no small task.
Who Could Step In?
Replacing Mannion won’t be easy, especially considering he was already filling the shoes of Clements - a coach who helped shape both Aaron Rodgers and, more recently, Love. Could LaFleur try to coax Clements out of retirement again? Maybe, but that’s a long shot.
One name to watch is Luke Getsy. He worked closely with Rodgers during his back-to-back MVP seasons in 2020 and 2021 before taking the offensive coordinator job in Chicago.
Getsy returned to Green Bay in 2024 as a consultant and was elevated to senior offensive assistant this past season. He knows the system, he knows the quarterback, and he has a track record with high-level QB play.
There’s also the possibility that LaFleur goes outside the building. Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky has publicly expressed interest in the role before. Whether that’s a serious option or just media chatter remains to be seen, but it’s a reminder that the Packers have options - even if none are quite as seamless as Mannion.
Big Shoes to Fill
However this plays out, one thing is clear: Sean Mannion leaves behind a significant void. His rise through the ranks was fast, but it wasn’t a fluke. He helped elevate Jordan Love’s game, and that kind of impact is tough to replace.
For the Eagles, this is a gamble with upside. For the Packers, it’s a challenge - and a test of how well this coaching staff can adapt and keep the arrow pointing up for their franchise quarterback.