When the Green Bay Packers hired veteran quarterbacks coach Tom Clements, the lure for him to end his retirement was significant. Clements wanted to coach star quarterback and NFL Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers, and the feeling was mutual.
This was a significant piece in Rodgers’ decision-making as he contemplated retirement or pursuing a trade before signing a new contract with the Packers.
Tom Clements ended retirement to coach Aaron Rodgers
“It was after the season that Aaron contacted me,” Clements told Green Bay reporters. “He had talked to (Packers coach) Matt (LaFleur), [who] wanted to gauge my interest in coming back. I said, ‘Yeah, I’d talk about it,’ and then talked with Matt a couple times. We got together, talked, talked a little bit more with Aaron, and it just worked out.
“That was my first question to him, ‘What are you thinking?’ And we just talked about it and I felt good, fairly confident that he was coming back. The team and he have had some great years and still a good chance to contend for the Super Bowl.”
Clements previously worked with Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre and Rodgers as a quarterbacks coach before becoming Green Bay’s offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.
Clements was credited with helping to develop Rodgers at the start of his career to become Favre’s replacement. Rodgers is the only player in NFL history to pass for 4,000 yards in his first two seasons as a starter. He also won Super Bowl XLV and earned Super Bowl MVP.
In 2011, with the Packers’ record at 14-1, Matt Flynn started the regular-season finale and threw for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns in one record-setting game. That helped to propel Flynn into free agency.
What’s his background?
Clements was a former Notre Dame quarterbacks coach under Lou Holtz. In addition to a law degree magna cum laude from Notre Dame, Clements practiced law in Chicago after finishing his playing career. Clements has also coached with the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Buffalo Bills. He landed his first offensive coordinator role with the Bills from 2004 to 2005.
Clements, 68, is a former Notre Dame All-American quarterback, national champion in 1973, and Heisman Trophy finalist. He passed for 39,041 career yards and 252 touchdown passes as a CFL all-star, CFL Most Valuable Player, and two-time Grey Cup champion.
Clements has a ton of knowledge about the game, especially the quarterback position, and is well-respected in NFL circles. This is regarded as a strong hire by the Packers.
And Rodgers and Clements want the same thing — a Vince Lombardi trophy.
“I know that’s what he wants. He wants another Super Bowl,” Clements said. “And that was one of the things that intrigued me also.”