Report: Packers Hire Steve Marshall to Replace Assistant Offensive Line Coach Joel Hilgenberg

When news of Joel Hilgenberg's resignation from the Packers first hit last Saturday, what stuck most was the curious timing of the decision. After the initial wave of coach firings following the conclusion of the regular season, most assistants stay in place save for those hired elsewhere as head coaches. On the rare occasions that assistants do leave well after the coaching carousel closes down for the year, it becomes considerably more difficult for teams to find suitable replacements.

When outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene stepped down in January, Mike McCarthy decided to allow Winston Moss to absorb those responsibilities into his current position. However, the Packers have apparently determined that doing something similar with offensive line coach James Campen was not a viable option in replacing Hilgenberg.

Instead, the Packers tabbed New Mexico State offensive line coach Steve Marshall as Hilgenberg's replacement. While New Mexico State is hardly a bastion of football glory, Marshall sports an impressive resume that includes stops at several big college programs as well as the NFL's Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns.

Marshall also has at least one significant Packers tie. From 2011 to 2012, he served as Colorado's offensive line coach, working extensively with David Bakhtiari. It seems likely that Marshall's familiarity with the Packers' starting left tackle played a role in his hiring with Green Bay.