The Green Bay Packers will see a familiar face on the opposing sideline when they face their division rival the Minnesota Vikings this season. Former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine has been promoted within the organization and will take a larger role in 2023.
Vikings OLB coach/pass rush specialist Mike Smith is taking a personal leave of absence. Mike Pettine will be filling role in meantime alongside Imarjaye Albury, who is highly respected inside the building.
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) September 4, 2023
Former Green Bay Packers DC Mike Pettine Gets Promotion
The promotion comes with OLB/pass rush coach Mike Smith taking a leave of absence from the team six days before the season starts. Pettine, along with Imarjaye Albury, will take on a more significant role in his absence. The defensive staff now coordinated under Brian Flores is looking to improve after an abysmal season in 2022. Despite winning 13 games last season, the defense left much to be desired and lost Za’Darius Smith in free agency who had a large chunk of their sacks as a team.
Can The Vikings Recreate The Magic Of Last Season?
It is hard to quantify how lucky this team was last season. The Vikings beat the Packers in week one but they got shellacked in the late-season matchup. The number of games where Minnesota pulled out a victory from the jaws of defeat was astounding. There will likely be some regression but any team with Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson is going to be dangerous on offense. Flores is also one of the top defensive minds in the game and should raise the floor of the defense. As usual, they will be a tough out in the division.
It’s been a few years since Mike Pettine graced the Green Bay Packers sideline but fans most likely still remember the disappointment from his defenses. He came in with such promise and was never able to really put it together. He gets another chance in Minnesota to show what he can do.
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