Packers Head Coach Rumors: Green Bay To Interview Josh McDaniels, Will Pat Fitzgerald Leave Northwestern?

The NFL’s head coaching carousel is running at full speed, with one of the league’s most storied franchises interviewing several candidates for its next leader over the next few days. The Green Bay Packers will interview at least three head coaching candidates this weekend, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

On Friday, the Packers will interview New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. McDaniels is a bit of a controversial figure, having gone just 11-17 in less than two seasons as the Denver Broncos head coach, before infamously backing out of a deal to coach the Indianapolis Colts last offseason.

The Packers will follow that up with a Saturday interview of New Orleans Saints tight ends coach and assistant head coach Dan Campbell. The 42-year-old played in the NFL for more than a decade and went 5-7 as the interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2015, following the firing of current interim Packers coach Joe Philbin.

Lastly, on Sunday, Green Bay will interview Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur. The 39-year-old playcaller was also the OC for the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, when LA led the league in scoring. The Titans were near the bottom of the NFL in most offensive stats this season, though they were seventh in rushing yards per game. Some of that can be attributed to injuries and the inconsistent play of Marcus Mariota.

The Packers have already interviewed former Detroit Lions coach Jim Caldwell and former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano for the position. Other candidates include newly unemployed Dolphins coach Adam Gase, Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores and reportedly even Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald has compiled a 96-70 record since getting the Northwestern job in 2006. Prior to his arrival, Northwestern’s only bowl game victory was in 1948; Fitzgerald has won four bowl games since 2012. However, when asked about the Packers job following Monday’s victory in the Holiday Bowl, Fitzgerald said he would not leave Northwestern.