2018 Green Bay Packers season
The 2018 season was the Green Bay Packers' 98th season in the National Football League, their 100th overall and their 13th and final season under List of [Green Bay Packers head coaches|head coach] Mike McCarthy. After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to injury during their 2017 season, the Packers failed to improve their 7–9 record from last season and finished with a 6–9–1 record, their worst since 2008.
For the first time since 2007, Jordy Nelson did not play for the Packers as he signed with the Oakland Raiders via free agency during the offseason.
On January 7, 2018, Brian Gutekunst was named the new general manager, after Ted Thompson took over as the senior advisor to football operations.
On December 2, 2018, after a 4–7–1 start, Mike McCarthy was fired hours after the Packers’ Week 13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and Joe Philbin was named as the interim head coach. After a loss to the Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears] in week 15, the Packers were eliminated from the postseason for the second consecutive season. This was the first time the Packers missed the postseason in consecutive years since 2005 to 2006. This was also the first time the Packers suffered from consecutive losing seasons since 1990 to 1991, a year before Brett Favre's arrival.
Coaching moves
After missing the playoffs, the Packers made several coaching changes during its offseason, in addition to selecting Brian Gutekunst as the team's new GM. Notable coaching changes included:- Dom Capers was fired as defensive coordinator, and replaced by former New York Jets defensive coordinator and Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine.
- Edgar Bennett was fired as offensive coordinator, and replaced by Joe Philbin, who had previously served as the Packers offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2011.
- Mike Trgovac was fired as defensive line coach, and replaced by Jerry Montgomery.
- Alex Van Pelt left as quarterbacks coach, and was replaced by Frank Cignetti Jr.
- Luke Getsy left as receivers coach, and was replaced by David Raih.
Player movements
Free agents
The league year and free agency started on March 14, 2018.| Position | Player | Free agency tag | Date signed | Team |
| OLB | Ahmad Brooks | UFA | ||
| S | Morgan Burnett | UFA | March 20, 2018 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| NT | Quinton Dial | UFA | ||
| G | Jahri Evans | UFA | ||
| LS | Brett Goode | UFA | ||
| CB | Davon House | UFA | April 13, 2018 | Green Bay Packers |
| WR | Jeff Janis | UFA | March 30, 2018 | Cleveland Browns |
| OT | Ulrick John | UFA | April 23, 2018 | New England Patriots |
| TE | Richard Rodgers | UFA | April 4, 2018 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| P | Jake Schum | RFA | ||
| ILB | Joe Thomas | RFA | March 21, 2018 | Dallas Cowboys |
| WR | Geronimo Allison | ERFA | March 14, 2018 | Green Bay Packers |
| CB | Donatello Brown | ERFA | March 12, 2018 | Green Bay Packers |
| QB | Joe Callahan | ERFA | March 13, 2018 | Green Bay Packers |
| WR | Michael Clark | ERFA | March 12, 2018 | Green Bay Packers |
| FB | Joe Kerridge | ERFA | March 14, 2018 | Green Bay Packers |
| G | Justin McCray | ERFA | March 12, 2018 | Green Bay Packers |
| OT | Adam Pankey | ERFA | March 13, 2018 | Green Bay Packers |
| G | Lucas Patrick | ERFA | March 13, 2018 | Green Bay Packers |
| LS | Taybor Pepper | ERFA | ||
| CB | Herb Waters | ERFA | March 15, 2018 | Green Bay Packers |
| S | Jermaine Whitehead | ERFA | March 14, 2018 | Green Bay Packers |
Draft
Draft trades- The Packers traded their first-round pick to New Orleans in exchange for New Orleans’ first-round pick, fifth-round pick, and 2019 first-round pick.
- The Packers traded their first-round pick traded from the Saints, a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick to Seattle in exchange for Seattle's 18th overall pick and a seventh-round pick.
- The Packers traded their fourth-round pick, and a fifth-round pick to Carolina in exchange for Carolina's 3rd-round pick.
- The Packers traded their fourth- and fifth-round selections, and cornerback Damarious Randall to Cleveland in exchange for Cleveland's fourth-and fifth-round selections, and quarterback DeShone Kizer
- The Packers were awarded four compensatory picks.
- The Packers traded linebacker Lerentee McCray to Buffalo in exchange for Buffalo's seventh-round selection.
Roster cuts
The roster was cut to 53 on September 1, 2018.| Position | Player |
| G | Kofi Amichia |
| LB | Vince Biegel |
| RB | Joel Bouagnon |
| CB | Donatello Brown |
| TE | Emanuel Byrd |
| RB | LeShun Daniels |
| C | Austin Davis |
| C | Dillon Day |
| LB | Kendall Donnerson |
| S | Marwin Evans |
| CB | Demetri Goodson |
| CB | Josh Hawkins |
| LB | James Hearns |
| RB | Bronson Hill |
| LB | Naashon Hughes |
| WR | Adonis Jennings |
| FB | Joe Kerridge |
| NT | Tyler Lancaster |
| WR | Kyle Lewis |
| DE | James Looney |
| LB | Greer Martini |
| NT | Joey Mbu |
| LB | Chris Odom |
| OT | Adam Pankey |
| LB | Marcus Porter |
| TE | Kevin Rader |
| FB | Aaron Ripkowski |
| DE | Conor Sheehy |
| TE | Ryan Smith |
| LB | Ahmad Thomas |
| LS | Zach Triner |
| WR | DeAngelo Yancey |
Preseason
The preseason schedule was announced on April 11, 2018.| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
| 1 | Tennessee Titans | W 31–17 | 1–0 | Lambeau Field | ||
| 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 51–34 | 2–0 | Lambeau Field | ||
| 3 | at Oakland Raiders | L 6–13 | 2–1 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | ||
| 4 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 21–33 | 2–2 | Arrowhead Stadium |
Regular season
Schedule
The regular season schedule was announced on April 19, 2018.Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Chicago Bears
This was the Packers' first win from a 17-point deficit or more entering the 4th quarter in franchise history. This was especially noted for Aaron Rodgers coming back into the game after being carted off with a leg injury in the first half.Week 10: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 13: vs. Arizona Cardinals
In an upset, the Packers lost to the Cardinals at home for the first time since the 1949 season, when the Cardinals were based in Chicago, snapping a nine-game home winning streak against the team.Hours after the game, head coach Mike McCarthy was fired by the Packers.