At the NFL Scouting Combine, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Aaron Rodgers played a “significant role” in the team hiring Tom Clements to replace Luke Getsy as quarterbacks coach.
LaFleur wouldn’t comment on what impact Clements’ arrival would have on Rodgers returning to Green Bay in 2022, but he did outline the process of hiring Clements and said the veteran coach will be good for any player in the Packers quarterback room.
For starters, Rodgers’ consistent praising of Clements over the last three years helped motivate LaFleur’s interest in pursuing the former Packers assistant to return.
“I would say that, just in terms of our conversations over the last couple of years, and how much he credits Tom for his development, it was very intriguing when we had an opportunity,” LaFleur said. “I got an opportunity to go out and meet with him prior to the Super Bowl, really sit down and had lunch with him. I think we interviewed each other, to some level, but just the conversations we had, it’s pretty easy for me to see why he is such a great quarterback coach and developer, he’s such a great communicator, he’s got such a great even-keeled demeanor.”
Clements, now 68, was an assistant coach for Mike McCarthy from 2006 to 2016. He was Rodgers’ quarterback coach from 2006 to 2011, the offensive coordinator from 2012 to 2014 and the assistant head coach from 2015 to 2016.
Was hiring Clements a directive from Rodgers or a simple suggestion? The Packers still aren’t certain if the four-time NFL MVP will return to Green Bay for the 2022 season. Hiring one of Rodgers’ favorite coaches certainly won’t hurt the Packers’ chances of getting him back.
Another possible explanation: LaFleur simply acted on an opportunity to hire an accomplished and well-regarded coach that Rodgers helped put on his radar with consistent admiration.
“When you have a player of that caliber, as important as he’s been to this organization, and when he credits and gives somebody like that so much praise, to me, you’d be foolish not to listen to that,” LaFleur said. “So that’s why I wanted to go sit down with Tom. Like I said, he’s a very impressive guy.”
LaFleur said he’s excited to have Clements – who has been coaching quarterbacks at the NFL level since 1997 – in the offensive game-planning sessions, and even more excited to learn from the veteran coach.
“He’s been coaching this game a lot longer than I have,” LaFleur said.
Regardless of whether Rodgers returns or not, Clements could provide a boost to the quarterback position in Green Bay.
“Just his ability to develop quarterbacks, no matter who is in the room, is going to be very beneficial to the Green Bay Packers organization,” LaFleur said.