NASHVILLE https://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Marcedes-Lewis-Jersey , Tenn. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers are turning to fast-rising offensive whiz Matt LaFleur to aid Aaron Rodgers and end a two-year absence from the postseason.LaFleur accepted an offer Monday to become the next head coach of the Packers, according to a person familiar with the decision. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither the Packers nor the Titans had announced the decision.The 39-year-old LaFleur spent this season as offensive coordinator for the Titans, his first calling plays in the NFL. He takes over for Mike McCarthy, who was fired during the season following a stunning home loss to Arizona on Dec. 2. Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin went 2-2 to close out the season as the Packers failed to reach the playoffs for the second straight year with a 6-9-1 record that was the second straight under .500 for the storied franchise.He was offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, leading a group that paced the NFL in scoring and was 10th in total offense under coach Sean McVay, who called the plays on offense. LaFleur was the quarterbacks coach in Atlanta for two seasons, including when Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was the NFL MVP in 2016. LaFleur also has coached with Washington and Houston, and was the quarterbacks coach for Notre Dame in 2014.He will be charged with returning the Packers to the playoffs on a regular basis. McCarthy’s tenure of 12-plus seasons was by and large successful, highlighted by the 2010 Super Bowl season and nine playoff appearances.Still, the once potent offense that could make up for other deficiencies slowed in 2018, a tumultuous year that began with Rodgers leading a stirring comeback victory in the opener over the Bears.The two-time NFL MVP returned after halftime from a left knee injury that nagged him the rest of the season.Rodgers’ 62.3 percent completion rate was his lowest since 2015 (60.7) and his 25 touchdown passes were a low for a season in which he played at least 15 games, though so were his two interceptions.Injuries to Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison forced the Packers to turn to rookies perhaps earlier than expected https://www.thepackersfanshop.com , though Davante Adams emerged as an elite receiver.The relationship between LaFleur and Rodgers will be closely watched after the sometimes tenuous moments between the star QB and McCarthy. They characterized their relationship as close, but with ups and downs that come with two headstrong competitors who had worked together for more than a dozen years.The Packers reportedly interviewed several candidates with head-coaching experience, including Philbin, Chuck Pagano, Adam Gase and Jim Caldwell. The instead opted for LaFleur, who had never called plays before this season and until now has never been in charge of an entire roster.It is just one element of an offseason of change ahead in Green Bay.Clay Matthews, one of the last remaining links to Green Bay’s Super Bowl-winning season, is a free agent after finishing with a career-low 3½ sacks in his 10th season with the Packers but the first under the tweaked 3-4 scheme installed by first-year coordinator Mike Pettine.Cobb is also a prominent free agent for Green Bay, and a steady, experienced target for Rodgers — if he returns.The running game could be a strength next season behind Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones, who led the NFL in yards per carry before suffering a knee injury in mid-December. The coordinator’s job could be in flux, too. Philbin is well-liked by Rodgers and the 16-year NFL coaching veteran and he won respect from players for his even-keeled and straightforward demeanor in the transition following McCarthy’s firing.Pettine’s defense showed flashes in his first year on the job. First-round draft pick Jaire Alexander displayed the potential of playing like the top cornerback the Packers desperately need. Injuries struck the defensive line Green Bay Packers Customized Jerseys , which was one of the team’s strengths coming into the season, and the Packers lacked a consistent rush at outside linebacker outside of surprise sacks leader Kyler Fackrell (10½).Tennessee has changes coming, too. The Titans went 9-7 and missed the playoffs, ending the season ranked 27th in scoring and 25th in total offense while injuries took a toll. Quarterback Marcus Mariota will soon be working with his fourth offensive coordinator in five seasons. APC as a whole can’t quite bring ourselves to predict a change at kicker this summer." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesAcme Packing Company homepageHorizontal - WhiteAcme Packing Companya Green Bay Packers communityFollow Acme Packing Company online:Follow Acme Packing Company on TwitterFollow Acme Packing Company on FacebookFollow Acme Packing Company on InstagramLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchAcme Packing Company main menuFanpostsFanshotsSectionsPackersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections The APC PodcastPackers Film RoomFantasy Football AdviceCDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Packers 2019 53-man roster prediction: Crosby holds on to kicking job for one more yearTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailPhoto by Steven Ryan/Getty ImagesIn 2019, the Green Bay Packers’ roster looks very different from how it appeared at the end of the 2018 season. A large group of free agents, draft picks, and undrafted rookies will come to training camp to challenge for roster spots and a role on the team’s regular season 53-man roster. Over two weeks, Acme Packing Company will break down the roster position-by-position and reveal our compiled predictions for the 53-man roster.With one specialist job up for grabs this summer, Packers special teams coordinator Shawn Mennenga can focus primarily on figuring out the players who will line up on his coverage and return units. However, there is a significant competition set to kick off on Thursday, as Mason Crosby and Sam Ficken will go head-to-head over the next month.Here are APC’s predictions for which specialists will make the Packers’ 53-man roster at the end of camp.Starters: Mason Crosby (K), JK Scott (P) Green Bay Packers T-Shirts , Hunter Bradley (LS)Scott and Bradley are working unopposed for their respective jobs this year, so the predictions at punter and long snapper were unanimous. As for the kicking job, APC simply can’t shake the feeling that Crosby wins the job and plays out the final year of his contract in Green Bay. There is potential for a change this year, and Ficken represents the first true competition that Crosby has seen since fending off Georgio Tavecchio in 2013’s training camp. Although a few writers — three to be exact — predicted a change at kicker with Ficken winning the job, seven stuck with Crosby for 2019<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="xZOorU">Released: Sam Ficken (K)As mentioned above, APC just doesn’t quite have enough faith in Ficken to predict him beating Crosby for the job. Perhaps it’s his 5-for-8 mark on field goals in his NFL career or his 72 percent hit rate in college. Perhaps it’s the comfort of sticking with the incumbent.Or perhaps it’s the fact that the last time Crosby had training camp competition, he responded with the best season of his career, going 33-for-37 on field goals and a perfect 42-for-42 on PATs.Whatever the reason, Ficken still has a tough challenge ahead of him, and APC as a whole can’t quite find the gumption to pick him to win the job.