The Packers have won two out of three games since firing Mike McCarthy, and Sunday’s comeback win over the New York Jets has led to even more talk about the team shedding the interim label for Joe Philbin and giving him the permanent head coaching job. At least one of Green Bay’s top players is openly campaigning for that to happen.
On Wednesday, Packers wide receiver Davante Adams said he would “love” if Philbin got the head coaching job rather than the team searching for a replacement.
Strongest statement yet in favor of interim coach Joe Philbin comes from Davante Adams: "I'd love to see the search stop there." https://t.co/kxBW6lXWCT
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) December 26, 2018
After Green Bay came back from down 35-20 late in the third quarter to beat the Jets in overtime, Aaron Rodgers also implied that he wants Philbin to stick around. Rodgers told reporters that putting Philbin in a position to earn the full-time head coaching job has been one thing motivating him and his teammates.
“We want to play for Joe and give him the best opportunity possible,” the quarterback said, via Jason Wilde of The State Journal.
Philbin’s first game as head coach with the Packers this season got off to a very embarrassing start, but he appears to be settling in nicely. Rodgers is obviously comfortable with him, and he and Adams may consider that level of familiarity extremely valuable. While the Packers will almost certainly interview other candidates, it is starting to sound like Philbin has a legitimate shot to remain the team’s coach next season.
