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If you are a Green Bay Packers fan, this week will surely be focused on the NFC Championship Game and Aaron Rodgers’s first postseason matchup with Tom Brady. Yet, elsewhere across the NFC North division, change is in the air amid the Packers’ championship quest.
First and foremost, the coaching and managerial searches appear to be over in Detroit as the Lions expect to name their newest head coach this week. The news comes after the team also wrapped up its General Manager hire in Brad Holmes. The next question for Lions fans may be the assistant status of Darrell Bevell, following an inspired run as interim head coach.
In the recap today, those decisions are discussed in more detail while also examining the Chicago Bears’ choice to not make changes in leadership prior to next season.
Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears retain Matt Nagy, GM Ryan Pace; veteran DC Chuck Pagano retires
Nagy and Pace will remain in Chicago this offseason, but not be given extensions. With the general manager entering the final year of his contract, that particular detail will impact both men in a make-or-break season.
A Sad Truth About Deshaun Watson to the Bears
A few years later, Chicago has its chance to correct its mistake in drafting Mitchell Trubisky over Watson. However, putting together a trade package good enough to land the Pro Bowler may not be possible.
7 big questions heading into a jobs-on-the-line offseason for Bears
A different quarterback name is listed as the Bears’ 2021 Week 1 starter, while a noteworthy defender could be a cap casualty this spring.
Minnesota Vikings
Glass Half Skol: Five reasons to be positive about the Vikings
The draft pick in the Stefon Diggs trade turned into Justin Jefferson, one of the few highlights in an otherwise gloomy year.
Lessons learned from Kirk Cousins’ third season with Vikings
After being pulled apart by the media in the first half of the season, Cousins finished the season on a good note and may have had his best season as a Viking. Quarterback may not be the team’s largest issue to fix as rumors involving Watson and others are bound to swirl this offseason.
Did poor special teams cost Vikings a playoff spot, alter perceptions?
Green Bay’s special teams may have left a lot to be desired at various points of the season, but Minnesota’s unit ranked 31st in DVOA with the worst punt return yardage in the NFL.
Detroit Lions
Sources: Detroit Lions expected to hire New Orleans Saints assistant head coach Dan Campbell
After a number of names were thrown around in recent weeks, Detroit apparently has settled on Campbell to lead the next era of Lions football.
Detroit Lions hire Rams’ Brad Holmes, a ‘proven leader,’ as next general manager
That was not the only hire made in Detroit this week, as Holmes, whom a few have compared to Ozzie Newsome, will attempt to reconstruct the roster as the new general manager.
Monday open thread: Will Darrell Bevell return as offensive coordinator?
After allowing Matthew Stafford to more freely throw downfield as the interim head coach, Bevell’s future with the team under Campbell will be something to watch in the coming days.