Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur has added one of his former students, former NFL quarterback Sean Mannion, to his coaching staff.Mannion is in charge of the passing game and quarterback, according to ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson. Mannion had a nine-year NFL career. Most notably, it was with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 when LaFleur was the offensive coordinator.
“I don’t think we need to put out a lot of records,” LaFleur said before the 2021 meeting with Mannion and the Minnesota Vikings. “First of all, he’s a great person and a great teammate. He has big hands. He does exactly what the coaches say he does. He is very confident about it. “I respect him not only as a person but also as a player,” he said.Mannion graduated from St. Louis in 2015. He was a third-round pick of the St. Louis Rams and worked out with the Vikings and Seattle Seahawks this offseason.
His final career playing time came as a member of the Vikings against the Packers at Lambeau Field in Week 17 of the 2021 season. He was 22 of 36 for 189 yards and his only career touchdown. Mannion appeared in 14 games, including a Rams-high five in 2017. For his career, he has completed 60.9 percent of his passes with one touchdown, three interceptions and a 66.2 passer rating . This designation makes sense from various perspectives.One of them is veteran boxing trainer Tom Clements, who turned 70 in June.
LaFleur hopes Clements returns for at least one more season. Even if they do, the Packers will need a new coach at some point. “I think it’s something we’re going to work on. I have high expectations,” LaFleur said later in the season. “He’s been doing this for a long time. I believe that person has the right to make the best decision for him and his family. Of course, it was a big sacrifice for him to leave his life in California and come to Green Bay.“But when it comes to that guy, the coach, I can’t say enough about what he means to us.
Two years ago we didn’t know what we were doing, but I think it’s better when Tom is with us. I think I’m a better coach with Tom around. I think our players benefited from Tom there. “He’s a great person, a great coach and a great friend.”Second, running backs and receivers coach Jason Vrabel is viewed as a promising coach because of his role in turning the league’s youngest running back into a big-play offense in the second half of the season. If Vrable gets the opportunity to serve as coordinator at some point, Mannion could be ready to take over that role.
Third, Clements got help from Connor Lewis, a team assistant and one of LaFleur’s right-hand men the past two years. Like Vrable, Lewis is considered eligible for a promotion at some point.Mannion is with Athletes First, the same agency as quarterback Jordan Love, so there may be a correlation.
