Packers Kicking Woes Could Finally End in 2026
The Green Bay Packers would decide to cut ties with kicker Mason Crosby following the 2022 season. Crosby spent 16 years with the team, building a legacy and becoming one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL. He ended his time with Green Bay as their all-time leading scorer with 1,918 points. Crosby would later retire in 2023 after spending just three games with the New York Giants, essentially having spent his entire career with just the Packers. Since then, the position has become a major issue for the organization with things only getting worse as the seasons go on.
Green Bay has worked through 15 different kickers since Crosby left town, unable to find a suitable replacement to hold the position. Kicker Anders Carlson took the reins in 2023, being drafted in the sixth round in hopes of moving on right away from worrying about a replacement. Unfortunately for Carlson, he missed 13 kicks in his rookie season which cut his time short. Kicker Brayden Narveson was the next option, playing the first six games of the 2024 NFL season. He made 12 of 17 field goals, which ultimately forced the Packers to release him immediately. Kicker Brandon McManus took over for the rest of the season, having a fantastic year where he made 20 of his 21 field goals. McManus had earned the spot going forward and temporarily relieved the stress of fans that had enough inconsistency at the kicking position after years of consistency under Crosby.
The story wouldn’t remain the same the following season however, with McManus making 24 of 30 field goals and dealing with injury issues throughout the year. The breaking point would happen in the Wild Card playoff game against their rival the Chicago Bears, where McManus missed two field goals and an extra point in a 31-27 loss. Despite signing a three-year, $15.3 million extension at the beginning of 2025, the Packers decided to release him just a few days ago and move on. Fortunately for Green Bay, they drafted kicker Trey Smack with their sixth-round pick in this year's NFL draft. The former Florida Gator is known for his strong leg and accuracy, nailing 10 out of his 13 field goal tries that were beyond 50 yards. Smack proved himself to be one of the most accurate kickers in college, now earning himself a starting position this upcoming season. The Packers will now hope that their kicking woes are behind them as they look to return to form in 2026.
