Packers offensive assistant Kevin Koger leaves to coach Chargers’ tight ends

When you field the league’s top-ranked offense, it’s natural to expect some of your assistant coaches to leave for bigger jobs. A few days after the Green Bay Packers saw assistant Butch Barry leave to join the San Francisco 49ers’ coaching staff, another offensive coach is heading out of town for a higher-profile position.

Kevin Koger has spent the past two seasons as a quality control coach for the Packers, with his primary responsibilities being to assist tight ends coach Justin Outten with that position group. A former wide receivers coach at Eastern Kentucky University, Koger will now get to lead his own position group at the NFL level.

On Monday, head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Koger is the second assistant coach leaving the Packers this offseason. Koger will coach the tight ends for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021, joining the staff of newly-hired head coach Brandon Staley and offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi.

The Chargers will face a difficult decision at the tight end position this offseason, as starter Hunter Henry played the 2020 season on the franchise tag. Veteran Virgil Green is also scheduled to be a free agent, so Koger may be dealing with an influx of young talent should the Chargers be unable to bring back their veterans. With Koger’s help, the Packers saw Robert Tonyan have a breakout season in 2020, tying a franchise single-season high for the position with 11 receiving touchdowns.