Mike Pettine in Green Bay

The Packers need a new defensive coordinator.

Mike Pettine’s contract is expiring and he will not return to Green Bay in 2021, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

This is not a big surprise, given that the Packers’ defense suffered some disappointments in their loss in the NFC Championship game to the Buccaneers, including giving up a long touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Scotty Miller just before mid -time. Such a failure wouldn’t cost a coach a job if everything else went smoothly, but there were plenty of times throughout the 2020 season when the Packers’ defense didn’t look particularly well trained, and head coach Matt LaFleur hinted after the loss to the Buccaneers that he was not happy with Pettine.

Now Pettine, the former Browns head coach who has also served as a defensive coordinator with the Jets and Bills, will try to find a new job. And the Packers will try to find a coordinator who can play their defense to Super Bowl level after a year in which they have failed.