:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27016451/20130125_ter_al2_020.0.jpg)
During an offseason that's already seen the Packers weather the loss of their quarterbacks coach, it appears another assistant is on the way out.
Linebackers coach Kevin Greene announced today that he's stepping down from his position to spend more time with his young family.
I am stepping away from the NFL at this time in order to spend more time with my wife, Tara, and our children Gavin and Gabrielle. I will miss coaching and will try to return after our kids move on to college if a team will have me.
There's little doubt another team will hire Greene if and when he decides to return to coaching. In five years with Green Bay, Greene developed Clay Matthews into one of the elite pass rushing linebackers. He's also managed to extract decent play at times from the likes of Frank Zombo, Vic So'oto, Erik Walden, Nick Perry, and Mike Neal. Greene was viewed as one of the rising stars of the Packers' defensive staff and perhaps a future defensive coordinator.
The Packers have yet to announce his replacement, but defensive quality control coach Scott McCurley is considered the top in-house candidate. There has been some speculation that former NFL head coach and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips could be an external candidate if he does not get a coordinator job elsewhere this off-season. Phillips has extensive experience coaching 3-4 defenses and he was the linebackers coach for the Houston Oilers during part of Ted Thompson's career as a linebacker with that team.
This is purely speculation, but another factor that may have played a role in Greene stepping down is the Packers' policy of restricting assistants from interviewing with other teams. The NFL rules allow for teams to refuse permission for their assistant coaches to interview for any non-head coach openings. The above referenced Ben McAdoo was only able to interview for outside positions because his contract with Green Bay had expired. It's possible that Greene, who was still under contract with the Packers, felt other teams were passing him over because of Green Bay's interview policies.
Whatever the case, Kevin Greene has decided that it is time for him to move on to the next phase of his life.
