The 2018 season was the Green Bay Packers' 98th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 100th overall and their 13th and final season under head coach Mike McCarthy. After missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and losing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to injury during their 2017 season, the Packers failed to improve their 7–9 record from last season and finished with a 6–9–1 record, their worst since 2008.
For the first time since 2007, Jordy Nelson did not play for the Packers as he signed with the Oakland Raiders via free agency during the offseason.
On January 7, 2018, Brian Gutekunst was named the new general manager, after Ted Thompson took over as the senior advisor to football operations.
On December 2, 2018, after a 4–7–1 start, Mike McCarthy was fired hours after the Packers’ Week 13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals and Joe Philbin was named as the interim head coach. After a loss to the Chicago Bears in week 15, the Packers were eliminated from the postseason for the second consecutive season. This was the first time the Packers missed the postseason in consecutive years since 2005 to 2006. This was also the first time the Packers suffered from consecutive losing seasons since 1990 to 1991, a year before Brett Favre's arrival. McCarthy would be reunited with Aaron Rodgers in 2026 in Pittsburgh after Mike Tomlin stepped down as the head coach of the Steelers.
Coaching moves After missing the playoffs, the Packers made several coaching changes during its offseason, in addition to selecting Brian Gutekunst as the team's new GM. Notable coaching changes included: Dom Capers was fired as defensive coordinator, and replaced by former New York Jets defensive coordinator and Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine. Edgar Bennett was fired as offensive coordinator, and replaced by Joe Philbin, who had previously served as the Packers offensive coordinator from 2007 to 2011. Mike Trgovac was fired as defensive line coach, and replaced by Jerry Montgomery. Alex Van Pelt left as quarterbacks coach, and was replaced by Frank Cignetti Jr. Luke Getsy left as receivers coach, and was replaced by David Raih.
Player movements
Free agents The league year and free agency started on March 14, 2018.
Position Player Free agencytag Date signed Team OLB Ahmad Brooks UFA S Morgan Burnett UFA March 20, 2018 Pittsburgh Steelers NT Quinton Dial UFA G Jahri Evans UFA LS Brett Goode UFA CB Davon House UFA April 13, 2018 Green Bay Packers WR Jeff Janis UFA March 30, 2018 Cleveland Browns OT Ulrick John UFA April 23, 2018 New England Patriots TE Richard Rodgers UFA April 4, 2018 Philadelphia Eagles P Jake Schum RFA ILB Joe Thomas RFA March 21, 2018 Dallas Cowboys WR Geronimo Allison ERFA March 14, 2018 Green Bay Packers CB Donatello Brown ERFA March 12, 2018 Green Bay Packers QB Joe Callahan ERFA March 13, 2018 Green Bay Packers WR Michael Clark ERFA March 12, 2018 Green Bay Packers FB Joe Kerridge ERFA March 14, 2018 Green Bay Packers G Justin McCray ERFA March 12, 2018 Green Bay Packers OT Adam Pankey ERFA March 13, 2018 Green Bay Packers G Lucas Patrick ERFA March 13, 2018 Green Bay Packers LS Taybor Pepper ERFA CB Herb Waters ERFA March 15, 2018 Green Bay Packers S Jermaine Whitehead ERFA March 14, 2018 Green Bay Packers
Trades March 15, 2018 To Green Bay PackersDeShone Kizer2018 4th-round pick (101st)2018 5th-round pick (138th) To Cleveland BrownsDamarious Randall2018 4th-round pick (114th)2018 5th-round pick (150th) August 26, 2018 To Green Bay PackersAntonio Morrison To Indianapolis ColtsLenzy Pipkins August 29, 2018 To Green Bay Packers2019 6th-round pick To Seattle SeahawksBrett Hundley October 30, 2018 To Green Bay Packers2019 4th-round pick To Washington RedskinsHa Ha Clinton-Dix October 30, 2018 To Green Bay Packers2020 7th-round pick To Baltimore RavensTy Montgomery
Additions Position Player Former Team Date DE Muhammad Wilkerson New York Jets March 15, 2018 TE Jimmy Graham Seattle Seahawks March 16, 2018 CB Tramon Williams Arizona Cardinals March 23, 2018 TE Marcedes Lewis Jacksonville Jaguars May 25, 2018 G Byron Bell Dallas Cowboys May 30, 2018 DT Joey Mbu Indianapolis Colts June 11, 2018 G Ethan Cooper New York Giants July 13, 2018 LB James Hearns Dallas Cowboys August 4, 2018 RB Akeem Judd New York Jets August 6, 2018 RB LeShun Daniels Washington Redskins August 18, 2018 RB Bronson Hill Arizona Cardinals August 19, 2018 LB Korey Toomer San Francisco 49ers September 3, 2018 RB Darius Jackson Dallas Cowboys September 3, 2018 CB Deante Burton Atlanta Falcons September 11, 2018 CB Will Redmond Kansas City Chiefs CB Bashaud Breeland Washington Redskins September 26, 2018 P Drew Kaser Los Angeles Chargers November 3, 2018 S Ibraheim Campbell New York Jets November 5, 2018 S Eddie Pleasant Arizona Cardinals November 28, 2018 DE Fadol Brown Oakland Raiders December 5, 2018 CB Natrell Jamerson Houston Texans G Nico Siragusa Baltimore Ravens December 12, 2018 RB Kapri Bibbs Washington Redskins December 17, 2018
Subtractions Position Player New team Release date WR Jordy Nelson Oakland Raiders March 15, 2018 ILB David Talley April 13, 2018 QB Joe Callahan Philadelphia Eagles April 30, 2018 P Justin Vogel Cleveland Browns May 4, 2018 G Jacob Alsadek Dallas Cowboys May 30, 2018 WR Colby Pearson Atlanta Falcons June 6, 2018 OT Kyle Meadows Pittsburgh Steelers July 13, 2018 WR Parris Bennett July 24, 2018 WR Michael Clark July 25, 2018 G Ethan Cooper Kansas City Chiefs August 6, 2018 CB Herb Waters Pittsburgh Steelers September 3, 2018 S Marwin Evans September 11, 2018 CB Deante Burton Atlanta Falcons September 19, 2018 RB Darius Jackson Dallas Cowboys October 6, 2018 S Jermaine Whitehead Cleveland Browns November 6, 2018
Draft
Draft trades The Packers traded their first-round pick (14th overall) to New Orleans in exchange for New Orleans’ first-round pick (27th overall), fifth-round pick (147th overall), and 2019 first-round pick. The Packers traded their first-round pick traded from the Saints (27th overall), a third-round pick (76th overall) and a sixth-round pick (186th overall) to Seattle in exchange for Seattle's 18th overall pick and a seventh-round pick (248th overall). The Packers traded their fourth-round pick (101st overall), and a fifth-round pick (147th overall) to Carolina in exchange for Carolina's 3rd-round pick (88th overall). The Packers traded their fourth- and fifth-round selections (114th and 150th overall), and cornerback Damarious Randall to Cleveland in exchange for Cleveland's fourth-and fifth-round selections (101st and 138th overall), and quarterback DeShone Kizer The Packers were awarded four compensatory picks (133rd, 172nd, 174th and 207th overall). The Packers traded linebacker Lerentee McCray to Buffalo in exchange for Buffalo's seventh-round selection (239th overall).
Undrafted free agent additions Position Player College Date G Jacob Alsadek Arizona May 4, 2018 LB Parris Bennett Syracuse QB Tim Boyle Eastern Kentucky C Austin Davis Duke S Raven Greene James Madison LB Naashon Hughes Texas LB CJ Johnson East Texas Baptist NT Tyler Lancaster Northwestern OT Alex Light Richmond OT Kyle Meadows Kentucky NT Filipo Mokofisi Utah LB Marcus Porter Fairmont State TE Kevin Rader Youngstown State DE Conor Sheehy Wisconsin LB Greer Martini Notre Dame May 7, 2018 TE Ryan Smith Miami (Ohio) WR Adonis Jennings Temple July 25, 2018 WR Kyle Lewis Cal Poly ILB James Crawford Illinois August 8, 2018
Roster cuts The roster was cut to 53 on September 1, 2018.
Position Player G Kofi Amichia LB Vince Biegel RB Joel Bouagnon CB Donatello Brown TE Emanuel Byrd RB LeShun Daniels C Austin Davis C Dillon Day LB Kendall Donnerson S Marwin Evans CB Demetri Goodson CB Josh Hawkins LB James Hearns RB Bronson Hill LB Naashon Hughes WR Adonis Jennings FB Joe Kerridge NT Tyler Lancaster WR Kyle Lewis DE James Looney LB Greer Martini NT Joey Mbu LB Chris Odom OT Adam Pankey LB Marcus Porter TE Kevin Rader FB Aaron Ripkowski DE Conor Sheehy TE Ryan Smith LB Ahmad Thomas LS Zach Triner WR DeAngelo Yancey
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The preseason schedule was announced on April 11, 2018.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 Tennessee Titans W 31–17 1–0 Lambeau Field Recap 2 Pittsburgh Steelers W 51–34 2–0 Lambeau Field Recap 3 at Oakland Raiders L 6–13 2–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 4 at Kansas City Chiefs L 21–33 2–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule The regular season schedule was announced on April 19, 2018.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 9 Chicago Bears W 24–23 1–0 Lambeau Field Recap 2 September 16 Minnesota Vikings T 29–29 1–0–1 Lambeau Field Recap 3 September 23 at Washington Redskins L 17–31 1–1–1 FedExField Recap 4 September 30 Buffalo Bills W 22–0 2–1–1 Lambeau Field Recap 5 October 7 at Detroit Lions L 23–31 2–2–1 Ford Field Recap 6 San Francisco 49ers W 33–30 3–2–1 Lambeau Field Recap 7 Bye 8 October 28 at Los Angeles Rams L 27–29 3–3–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap 9 November 4 at New England Patriots L 17–31 3–4–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 10 November 11 Miami Dolphins W 31–12 4–4–1 Lambeau Field Recap 11 at Seattle Seahawks L 24–27 4–5–1 CenturyLink Field Recap 12 November 25 at Minnesota Vikings L 17–24 4–6–1 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 13 December 2 Arizona Cardinals L 17–20 4–7–1 Lambeau Field Recap 14 December 9 Atlanta Falcons W 34–20 5–7–1 Lambeau Field Recap 15 December 16 at Chicago Bears L 17–24 5–8–1 Soldier Field Recap 16 December 23 at New York Jets W 44–38 6–8–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 17 December 30 Detroit Lions L 0–31 6–9–1 Lambeau Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Chicago Bears
This was the Packers' first win from a 17-point deficit or more entering the 4th quarter in franchise history. This was especially noted for Aaron Rodgers coming back into the game after being carted off with a leg injury in the first half.
Week 2: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 3: at Washington Redskins
Week 4: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 5: at Detroit Lions
Week 6: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 8: at Los Angeles Rams
Week 9: at New England Patriots
Week 10: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 11: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 12: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 13: vs. Arizona Cardinals
In an upset, the Packers lost to the Cardinals at home for the first time since the 1949 season, when the Cardinals were based in Chicago, snapping a nine-game home winning streak against the team.
Hours after the game, head coach Mike McCarthy was fired by the Packers.
Week 14: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 15: at Chicago Bears With the loss the Packers not only allowed the Bears to clinch the NFC North but they themselves were disqualified from playoff contention. This was also the Packers last loss to the Bears in Chicago until 2025, and their last one overall until 2024.
Week 16: at New York Jets
Week 17: vs. Detroit Lions With the loss, the Packers closed out the season with a disappointing 6–9–1 record. This was the second straight year in which the Detroit Lions swept the Packers.
Standings
Division
Conference
Statistics
Starters
Offense Pos.NameGSQB Aaron Rodgers 16RB Jamaal WilliamsAaron Jones 88WR Randall CobbMarquez Valdes-ScantlingJake Kumerow 6102WR Davante Adams 15WR Geronimo AllisonEquanimeous St. Brown 47TE Jimmy GrahamMarcedes LewisLance KendricksRobert Tonyan 12431LT David Bakhtiari 16LG Lane TaylorLucas Patrick 142C Corey Linsley 16RG Justin McCrayByron BellLucas Patrick 592RT Bryan BulagaJason Spriggs 142
Defense