The 2023 Green Bay Packers lost six games that were decided by seven or fewer points, including their loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs. Three of those games, including that postseason loss, saw former kicker Anders Carlson miss a field goal that would have tied the game or given the Packers the lead.
In other words, Green Bay knew that they needed to find stability and consistency at the kicker position because Carlson, quite literally, played a significant role in their losses last season. In order to win close games, they needed a kicker upon whom they could rely.
It took Carlson and Greg Joseph performing poorly in training camp for the Packers to turn to undrafted rookie Brayden Narveson, but he struggled in the first six weeks of the season as well, missing five field goals inside 50 yards. Green Bay waived him and decided to sign free agent kicker Brandon McManus.
Brandon McManus Has Been Exactly What the Green Bay Packers Needed
McManus was a free agent due to allegations brought against him by two Jacksonville Jaguars flight attendants in a lawsuit. The suit, though, was “resolved” according to McManus and his agent, and the Packers felt comfortable signing him.
For a team and fanbase that had little faith in their kicking situation for over a year, the long-time veteran was a breath of fresh air. He kicked the game-winning field goal in each of his first two games with Green Bay and currently has a 93.3% field goal percentage.
Should he maintain that level of accuracy for the rest of the season, he will have the second-best field goal percentage in franchise history, second only to Mason Crosby’s perfect 16/16 season in 2020.
Gone are the days of holding one’s breath when the field goal unit comes on. Much like Crosby before him, McManus brings a confidence that the kick is going to go through the uprights every time he steps out onto the field.
But how long does he plan on sticking around?
According to an article by Rob Reischel of Forbes, McManus is appreciative of the Packers giving him a chance this year, but will not say whether their leap of faith in him gives them the advantage of signing him next season.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it here,” McManus said, according to Reischel. “This place is so nostalgic. I’ve really enjoyed being here and being a part of this tradition here and it’s been great.
“But when it comes to free agency and stuff like that, a lot of it is out of my control. So we’ll have to see what happens.”
When asked if he believes the Packers have the upper leg in signing him in 2025, McManus responded, “I appreciate the question. But right now, I’m really focused on this year. I was very appreciative of Green Bay giving me a chance here, giving me a chance to come back and play. Obviously, the first two games were cool. The locker room is one of the coolest places in the world.
“I got the chance to meet all these guys and play for one another. So, you know, I haven’t been back to the playoffs since I won the Super Bowl in 2015, so that’s really what I’m focused on and what I want to do and help this team get to where they want to go. When I signed here, I figured I might be a piece that could help them do that. So a couple more games here to help get us to where we want to go.
“It’s a nostalgic place here. It’s an honor to play for this organization. I think a lot of people wear that on their sleeve and they want to play well.
“If it works out here, that would be great. But right now, there’s unfinished business here for me the rest of this season.”
In that same report, Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark was quoted as saying, “He’s just given us so much stability at that position. When he comes in, you pretty much know it’s going to be good. I hope he’s here a long time.”
And so, it sounds like Green Bay would certainly welcome McManus back in 2025, and it appears that he is open to a return as well. But money talks, and there are many teams with deep pockets that may be willing to make McManus one of the highest-paid kickers in the game.
That may be enough to convince him to the leave the team that gave him a second chance.
