Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers released Mike Sherman after the 2005 season, because of having the Packers going 4-12. They went on the hunt soon after, and picked up Mike McCarthy, the former offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. He was also the former quarterbacks coach for the Packers in 1999.
After missing the playoffs in 2006, Brett Favre announced that he would return for the 2007 season. The Packers won 10 of their first 11 games and finished 13-3, earning a first round bye in the playoffs. The Packers’ passing offense, led by Favre and one of the best wide receiver groups in the NFC, finished first in the NFC. Running back Ryan Grant, acquired for a sixth-round draft pick from the New York Giants, became the featured back in Green Bay and rushed for 956 yards and 8 touchdowns in the final 10 games of the regular season. In the divisional playoff round, in a heavy snowstorm, the Green Bay Packers beat the Seattle Seahawks 42-20. Grant rushed for three touchdowns and over 200 yards, while Favre tossed three touchdown passes.
On January 20th 2008, Green Bay appeared in their first NFC Championship Game in 10 years facing the New York Giants in Green Bay. This would also mark the final game of Brett Favre’s career. The game was lost 23-20 on an overtime field goal by Lawrence Tynes. The sudden death kick was set-up by a Corey Webster interception, the final pass of Favre’s career. Favre’s last completed pass was a 5 yard toss to Donald Lee with 2:36 remaining in the 4th quarter.[5] His last touchdown pass was to Donald Driver, a 90-yard catch and run in the second quarter.
Mike McCarthy coached NFC team during the 2008 Pro Bowl in Hawaii. Al Harris and Aaron Kampman were also picked to play for the NFC Pro Bowl team as starters. Donald Driver was named as a third-string wideout on the Pro Bowl roster. Brett Favre was named the first-string quarterback for the NFC, but he declined to play in the Pro Bowl and was replaced on the roster by Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ quarterback Jeff Garcia. The Packers also had several first alternates, including Chad Clifton and Nick Barnett.
In December 2007, Ted Thompson was signed to a 5-year contract with the Green Bay Packers, while it was announced on February 5, 2008 that head coach Mike McCarthy has signed a 5-year contract with the Packers organization as well.
On March 4th, 2008, Brett Favre announced his retirement, but has since then said that he would leave the doors open in case Aaron Rodgers suffered an injury. The Packers organization has since placed Favre on the reserve/retired list to free up room on their roster, and made plans to retire his number on the opening day of the 2008 season. General manager Ted Thompson has announced his confidence in Aaron Rodgers, who backed up Favre for three years, to start in the NFL. To help fill out the quarterback position, Thompson drafted Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn.
