NFC North Rundown: Matthew Stafford era appears to be coming to a close in Motown

Well, it was a good run.

For the second straight season, the Green Bay Packers represented the NFC North in the NFC Championship Game. Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, it was a special feat for Matt LaFleur’s team, who has now reached the second-to-last game of the season in each of the head coach’s two years in Green Bay. There will be plenty of time to talk about the loss throughout the week and offseason. However, today’s rundown offers an opportunity to take the focus off some disappointment and glance at what is happening across the division.

Perhaps no story was more eye-popping this past week than the reports that the Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford will most likely be mutually parting ways this offseason. This recap covers several angles of that decision, while checking in on the assistant coaching situation in Chicago and Minnesota.

Chicago Bears

Sean Desai, the New “Big Boss” of the Chicago Bears’ Defense

The former safeties coach becomes the internal defensive coordinator replacement for recent retiree Chuck Pagano.

Chicago Bears: The impact of losing Ragone and London

A trio of offensive assistants have recently left the Bears, leaving just the wide receivers coach as the lone survivor from Matt Nagy’s original offensive staff.

Chicago Bears should add one of these free agents from Green Bay

Any of these three players in a Bears uniform would be an ugly sight for Packers fans.

Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, 59, retires from NFL again

It’s official: Kubiak will not be back with the Vikings next season, opening up another coordinating vacancy in the division.

Sources: LSU expected to hire Vikings assistant Daronte Jones as defensive coordinator

Could the Vikings lose a position coach on the other side of the ball as well?

Rapoport: Vikings nearly traded Stefon Diggs to New England

A deal that worked well for both sides almost didn’t happen. The Bills are glad they came out on top over their divisional rival.

Detroit Lions

The ramifications of a Matthew Stafford trade could haunt the Lions for a while

Trading a franchise quarterback would signal a full rebuild, while potentially scaring away free agents both internally and externally.

What does trading Matthew Stafford mean for the Lions in value and their future QB?

Could Tyrod Taylor be a bridge? What is fair market value in terms of draft compensation? Those are just two of the questions surrounding the decision to trade Stafford.

Matthew Stafford trade matches: These five teams are most likely to swing monster deal with Lions

Could New England find its heir apparent to Tom Brady a year later? The Patriots are one of five potential teams looking for an upper-echelon quarterback to build around.