Packers To Bring Back Tom Clements

Following a short retirement, Tom Clements is coming back to the NFL. The longtime Packers assistant will return to Green Bay to become the team’s quarterbacks coach, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com notes. While Clements has not signed a contract just yet, the parties have agreed to terms, ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky adds (on Twitter).

Previously with the Cardinals, Clements has been an NFL QBs coach since 1997. Much of that time came in Green Bay. The 68-year-old staffer spent 11 seasons with the Packers, working as their QBs coach and serving as one of Mike McCarthy‘s offensive coordinators during the 2010s. This move could impact Aaron Rodgers‘ forthcoming decision, with The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman positing (via Twitter) it is unlikely Clements would agree to return to the Packers unless Rodgers would be in the picture.

Clements served as Green Bay’s QBs coach from 2006-11, beginning his tenure when McCarthy arrived and when Brett Favre was still the Packers’ QB1. This involved two years of Rodgers development and his ascent to the MVP tier. Clements was on the Packers’ staff for the first two Rodgers MVP slates, staying on through the 2016 season, and the veteran quarterback has offered Clements extensive praise over the past several years, Schneidman adds (via Twitter).

Clements will replace Luke Getsy, whom the Bears hired as their offensive coordinator. A former Heisman candidate at Notre Dame, Clements served as the Bills’ OC for a time in the 2000s and spent two seasons helping Kliff Kingsbury as the Cardinals’ passing-game coordinator.

It is certainly not a lock Rodgers returns, but Matt LaFleur bringing Clements back to Wisconsin cannot hurt here. And Rodgers’ relationship with the Packers has undoubtedly improved compared to where it was during the 2021 offseason. While the Packers have seen the long-QB-needy Broncos hire Nathaniel Hackett and stay in the mix as the likely top outside Rodgers suitor, the NFC North champions continue to receive positive signs their 14-year starter is interested in coming back.

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