Packers Release Sanders, 5 Other Coaches

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The Green Bay Packers' season came apart thanks in large part to a defense that consistently blew fourth-quarter leads. Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and most of his staff were let go Monday as a result.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy released six assistants, including five on defense: Sanders, defensive ends coach Carl Hairston, defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn, secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer and nickel package/cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington.

Also let go was strength and conditioning coordinator Rock Gullickson.

''These are difficult decisions,'' McCarthy said in a statement. ''I hold each of these men in high regard on a personal level, and I want to thank them for their service to the Green Bay Packers.''

Linebackers coach Winston Moss is the only major defensive coach to keep his job and is a likely candidate to take Sanders' place. But Moss, who also carries the title of assistant head coach, is a candidate for the St. Louis Rams' vacant head coaching job.

[The Nac]

Wouldn't be surprised to see John Lynch being interviewed for one of the vacant defensive positions. Maybe assistant def. coordinator?

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Nolan to coach Packers defense

The best thing about the most obvious, superficial analyses of NFL coaching connections is that, sometimes they’re accurate.

We suggested last night that former 49ers coach Mike Nolan could be the next defensive coordinator in Green Bay, due to the fact that Packers coach Mike McCarty worked as Nolan’s offensive coordinator in 2005.

A league source tells us that Nolan curently is in the process of lining up a staff of assistants, and the thinking is that Nolan will be the next defensive coordinator of the Packers.

Pro Football Talk