GM Brian Gutekunst remains
encouraged even after Packers' late-season slide
[February 05, 2026]
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay general manager Brian
Gutekunst remains optimistic about the Packers' long-term outlook as
they head into the offseason after a gut-wrenching playoff loss to
the Chicago Bears.
But he acknowledges they must do a much better job of finishing
games.
Gutekunst spoke to reporters Wednesday for the first time since the
Packers signed him as well as coach Matt LaFleur and executive vice
president/director of football operations Russ Ball to multiyear
contract extensions last week. The move by new Packers team
president/CEO Ed Policy keeps the Packers' football leadership triad
intact despite a string of disappointing postseason defeats.
“In every season, there’s successes, and there’s failures and
there’s disappointments,” Gutekunst said. “I was proud of our team
in a lot of areas this year, but finishing games is certainly
something that we got to concentrate on as we head into 2026.”
The Packers (9-8-1) dropped their final five games, including a
31-27 wild-card loss to the Bears in which they blew a 21-3 halftime
lead and allowed 25 fourth-quarter points.
Green Bay hasn't reached the Super Bowl since the 2010 team —
assembled by GM Ted Thompson, coached by Mike McCarthy and
quarterbacked by four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers — won it all. And
the team has won only one playoff game since ending the 2020 season
with an NFC championship game loss to Tom Brady and the eventual
Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The final loss to the Bears came after the Packers went 9-3-1 to
start the season and had a four-point lead entering the fourth
quarter of a 34-26 loss to the Denver Broncos on Dec. 14.
The Packers had won four in a row at that point, but they watched
No. 1 wide receiver Christian Watson leave the stadium in an
ambulance after suffering a chest injury, then lost All-Pro edge
rusher Micah Parsons to a torn ACL in his left knee later in the
game.
While Watson returned the following week, Parsons was lost for the
season, just as the team had lost emerging star tight end Tucker
Kraft to an ACL tear in his right knee in a Nov. 2 loss to the
Carolina Panthers.
“We were 9-3-1, and I didn’t think we had played particularly great
football during the season. I thought we had moments, but I thought
we had an opportunity to round into form there in the second half of
the season,” Gutekunst said. “And obviously it didn’t work out that
way.”
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Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur stands next to Packers
general manager Brian Gutekunst, right, before an NFL football game
between the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Commanders in Green
Bay, Wis., Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File)
And now, the Packers face a challenging offseason full of potential
change. Not only did they lose defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley,
who left to become the Miami Dolphins head coach, but they have a
number of starters and key contributors from their 2022 draft class
set to hit free agency in March.
Those players who could leave include left tackle Rasheed Walker,
middle linebacker Quay Walker, center/guard Sean Rhyan and wide
receiver Romeo Doubs. Prized backup quarterback Malik Willis, who
played well in place of an injured Jordan Love, also is a free agent
and could land a starting opportunity elsewhere.
“We have one goal here, and we never run from it. We’re here to win
championships,” Gutekunst said. “And I think this team is capable of
that.
“(The) 2026 (team) will be a different team, but the expectations
won’t change. Again, I thought there’s some really good things
during the (2025) season. There also were some major
disappointments. But I really do like the guys we have in that
locker room, the guys that are coming back, and we’ll continue to
add to that. And we’re all excited to get at it.”
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