Following the 2024 NFL season, it was clear the Green Bay Packers needed to focus on improving one specific area of their defense. While the team finished in the top ten in the NFL in sacks, they did not create consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. What is more, 15 of the 45 sacks they amassed occurred in just two games. In other words, the Packers had 30 total sacks in the other 15 regular season games that they played.
This, of course, was not good enough, especially considering the high number of early draft picks Green Bay invested into that side of the ball. Because many of their starting defenders are former first round picks, the Packers, to the surprise of many, did not address the pass rusher positions in free agency. Instead, they fired their defensive line coach and hired former New England Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington to fill the role.
The message that Green Bay sent with this decision is that they believe they have the players necessary to have a great pass rush, and that those players (of course) have the talent to be successful.
Rashan Gary Says Kenny Clark Has Had the Green Bay Packers Defense Over at His House Every Week
While the Packers did not sign any free agents to boost their pass rush, they did select Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver, and Warren Brinson in the 2025 NFL Draft. That being said, none of these players are likely to get significant playing time right away based on how Green Bay has gradually brought players along in the past.
This means, of course, that the onus is on the veterans that they already have to show improvements in 2025 under the leadership of their new position coach.
To ensure that this happens, the elder statesman of the Packers defense has taken it upon himself to do everything that he can this offseason to help himself and his teammates improve.
Per Packers reporter Zach Jacobson, Rashan Gary told the media that Clark has had the defense over to his house every week during the offseason to have dinner and watch film together:
As Jacobson notes, Gary has never seen anything like this happen so early in the year in all of his seven seasons in the league.
Hopefully it sets a good foundation for an improved pass rush in 2025.
