Green Bay Packers GM Drops Bombshell on Team’s Championship Push and Urges Urgent Moves

Green Bay Packers general manager, Brian Gutekunst, stresses the need for greater urgency as the team returns to championship contention. Despite coming off an 11-win season and their fifth playoff appearance in six NFL seasons, the Packers have not made a Super Bowl in 14 years.

Gutekunst believes the team needs to ramp up its efforts to secure another Lombardi Trophy.

“You always have some disappointments in the year,” Gutekunst told reporters Thursday. “I think, for me, the thing that’s been on my mind as we’ve concluded this season is we need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency. These opportunities don’t come (very often). The life of a player in the National Football League is not very long. We’ve got a bunch of good guys in that locker room, got a bunch of talented guys in that locker room, and yeah, I think it’s time that we start competing for championships, right?”

The Packers are coming off a season where their young roster, which has undergone a transition after Aaron Rodgers’ departure, showed promise. Gutekunst is confident in the team’s potential, but stressed that more needs to be done to break through and compete at the highest level.

“They’re ready. Like I said, I think they are wired right,” Gutekunst said. “I think that group is the kind of guys that can do that. At the end of the day, you’ve got to go do it. … I’m excited about the group, but the sense of urgency, not getting complacent… Some of these guys have now proven themselves to be NFL football players and have attained that, but what’s out there for us as a team that we’re willing to commit to and sacrifice for?”

Key offseason decisions loom for the Packers on both sides of the ball. On defense, cornerback Jaire Alexander’s future with the team is uncertain. Alexander, 27, was limited to seven games this season due to a knee injury and has struggled with availability over the past two years. He is set to hit the Packers’ salary cap for nearly $25 million in 2025, raising questions about the team’s ability to keep him.

Gutekunst acknowledged the frustration surrounding Alexander’s injury woes, both for the player and the team.

“When he’s healthy and when he’s ready to play, he’s a pretty good player,” Gutekunst said. “I know it’s been really, really frustrating for not only him as a player but (also for) us as a club.”

On offense, quarterback Jordan Love’s growth remains a focal point. After a promising second half to the season, Love struggled in the Packers’ wild-card loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, throwing three interceptions. Head coach Matt LaFleur spoke about “tough lessons” for Love and the need for improvement before next season.

Despite Love’s struggles, Gutekunst strongly supported the young quarterback, noting his leadership and growth throughout the season.

“We’re very, very excited about his growth, not only as a player but what he’s doing in our locker room as a leader,” Gutekunst said. “He’s leading our team exactly how we want him to do it, so I’m excited about it.”

With questions around key roster decisions and the team’s direction, Gutekunst remains committed to the Packers’ process-driven approach. “You try not to look too far down the road more than two, three years out,” he said. “But I’m not a big believer in windows.”

As the Green Bay Packers look to rebuild their championship aspirations, Gutekunst knows that urgency will be key to achieving the ultimate goal: adding another Super Bowl title to the franchise’s storied history.