So, after that crazy finish in Dallas, the San Francisco 49ers punched their ticket to Lambeau Field to play the Packers this weekend in the divisional round of the playoffs. They met in week three in Santa Clara. In that game the Green Bay defense couldn’t hold a 17-0 lead, and had to rely on Aaron Rodgers brilliantly maneuvering the team into field goal position in the final 37 seconds. Mason Crosby won it with a 51 yarder as time expired. 

The thing that jumps out at you with the Niners is their speed. Their skill players like Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Elijah Mitchell are quick and explosive through the gaps and uncatchable in the open field.  Kyle Shanahan is a creative play designer and Jimmy Garoppolo runs his offense smoothly. The best way to combat that speed is to keep it off the field. The Packers will need long, patient scoring drives to win. 

As the Green Bay coaching staff huddles to put together its game plan, you couldn’t blame offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett if he is having a little trouble staying focused.  You see, Hackett is one of the hottest names being tossed around the NFL as a candidate to fill one of the head coaching vacancies.  During the bye week, Hackett was scheduled to interview with at least four teams, two of which are NFC North rivals.  The Vikings, Bears, Broncos and Jaguars have all come calling.   

It’s not like the league has suddenly discovered the 42 year old assistant.  He was getting buzz after last season, and interviewed for the Falcons head coach job, before Atlanta hired Titans OC Arthur Smith. 

It is a credit to the culture that currently exists in the Green Bay organization that Hackett, as well as the other coaches and players, seem to be able to freely and openly discuss this situation with the media and each other.  No one seems threatened.  No one has to whisper so the boss doesn’t hear.  No one has to walk on egg shells.  No one appears worried about team unity or distraction.  To the contrary, Matt LaFleur and the others seem genuinely happy that their OC is getting the attention they feel he deserves. 

“I’m excited for him”, LaFleur said recently.  “I think if I was a team out there that had a vacancy, I would absolutely want to get him in a room.  I just think there’s so many great qualities about him. First and foremost, it starts with who he is as a man. He’s a man of the highest integrity, he treats people the right way, and then I think he just cares about people. Not only the other coaches on our staff, but the players. The players feel that. The players know that.” 

Maybe LaFleur shouldn’t get too excited.  It’s a bit scary to imagine what a bright, offensive mind like Hackett’s might be able to do as head coach in, say, Minnesota, with weapons like Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Kirk Cousins to work with.  Or how he might enhance the development of a young quarterback like Justin Fields as head coach of the Bears.   

If and when the opportunity does come, Hackett told the media last week his goal would be to replicate exactly the environment he is working in now in Green Bay.  “it’s been a great experience here because how we do it here is how I want to do it” he said.  “So it’s been kind of on the job training since I got here with Matt.” 

Although Hackett is a hot commodity, it’s likely there would be no commitment from another team until after the Packers finish their playoff run.  The Vikings and Bears are also looking to hire a general manager, and logic would dictate they would fill that position first, and then let the new GM pick his coach.   

One of the theories out there is that the Broncos will hire Hackett as the strategic first step toward luring Aaron Rodgers to the franchise next season.  Rodgers and Hackett are close and the quarterback has often sung his praises.  Adding more fuel to this theory is the Broncos also interviewing another Rodgers favorite, Green Bay quarterback coach Luke Getsy, for their head coach opening.  Since the two (Hackett and Getsy) have to work together to plan the Packers’ offensive attack, this would seem to make for a most awkward situation.  But here again, the closeness of the Packers’ staff seems to eradicate any potential hard feelings.  “I am so excited for Luke” Hackett gushed.  “Luke is my brother.  I want him to be a head coach in this league at some point.   I don’t care when that is.  I’ll be so happy for him one way or the other.” 

Jacksonville’s interest is a bit ironic in that Hackett was run off as the Jaguars OC in the middle of the 2018 season, in a move many thought was scapegoating him for the failures of head coach Doug Marrone.  

 The Vikings have long demonstrated a penchant for being Packer wannabes, having a history of signing former Green Bay players such as Brett Favre, Greg Jennings and Ryan Longwell.  Minnesota has struggled mightily in recent seasons under Mike Zimmer, who was a defense guy, and the franchise might be ready to try an offensive-minded leader. 

Chicago would seem to be the least likely landing place.  Unlike the envious Vikings, the Bears community has a century-long loathing of all things Packers, and the thought of hiring a Green Bay assistant to be their head coach would be a hard sell to the faithful in the Windy City.   

Of course, all of these potential suitors are also interviewing several other candidates, and it is very possible Hackett’s phone won’t ring with an offer.  That will be just fine with him.  The California native doesn’t talk like a guy who is anxious to leave Green Bay.  “This is how it should be, the way we have it” he told beat writers.  “The players can feel that trust and that caring and that love that we have for each other, and that’s one of the reasons we’ve been so successful.   

It’s been very much a growing process and a learning process here the past three years and I love it.  I don’t want it to end.” 

Neither do Packer fans.