The Green Bay Packers had a tumultuous 2018 campaign, going just 6-9-1 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year.
In early December, the Packers fired long-time head coach Mike McCarthy, ending a near 13-year term with the organization. While a loss to the lowly Arizona Cardinals and a 4-7-1 mark at the time certainly had a lot to do with McCarthy's dismissal, his souring relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers also played a significant role.
As a result, Rodgers has drawn plenty of criticism for his lack of leadership, and tight end Marcedes Lewis detailed just how much Rodgers lacked respect for McCarthy during their final season together:
“One time I really saw it for the first time, we were in the huddle. I guess McCarthy called in a play, and Aaron was kind of like, ‘Nah,’ ” Lewis said, according to Ryan Young of Yahoo Sports. “He gave a direction and a protection to the line, and went. It was a four-minute offense, he threw a 40-yard bomb for a completion. I’m like, ‘What’s really going on?’ I’ve never seen anything like that before in my life.”
The fact that Rodgers proceeded to throw a 40-yard completion likely took some of the sting off of things, but shaking off your head coach is never a good look, especially when that coach has such a long and established track record.
“I think all of that stuff that happened towards the end in Green Bay all came from the top,” Lewis said. “I feel like Aaron had his own set of things that he wanted to do, then obviously McCarthy had his things that he wanted to do. I just think there was a little dysfunction.”
Rodgers threw for 4,442 yards, 25 touchdowns, and two interceptions on the season.
