The Green Bay Packers are attempting to lure back NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers for another season by hiring Canadian Football Hall of Famer Tom Clements as his new quarterbacks coach, according to a report from Aaron Wilson of the Pro Football Network.
Clements previously spent a decade with the Packers organization, beginning as quarterbacks coach in 2006 and helping guide Rodgers to his lone championship victory in Super Bowl XLV. He was promoted to offensive coordinator ahead of the 2012 season and was later named assistant head coach in 2015. Clements’ contract was not renewed by then head coach Mike McCarthy following the 2016 season.
A former first team All-American at the University of Notre Dame, Clements went on to have an illustrious career under centre in the CFL. He played a total of 12 seasons with the Ottawa Rough Riders, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, throwing for 39,041 yards, 252 touchdowns and 214 interceptions.
The eventual seven-time CFL all-star won the league’s Most Outstanding Rookie Award in his first season with the Roughriders in 1975. He followed it up with a Grey Cup title the following season, connecting with Tony Gabriel on “the catch” to win the game.
Clements would not win another title until 1984, leading the Bombers to their first Grey Cup victory in 22 years. He retired in 1987 as the league’s reigning Most Outstanding Player, after throwing for 4,686 yards, 35 touchdowns and 30 interceptions. Clements was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
Since retiring, Clements has gone on to a distinguished career as a quarterback guru, first with his alma mater Notre Dame before jumping to the professional level with the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent two seasons as offensive coordinator with the Buffalo Bills before settling down with the Packers.
Clements last job was as pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Arizona Cardinals, assisting fellow CFL QB Kliff Kingsbury throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons. He retired ahead of the 2021 campaign, but now appears poised for a return to the sideline at 68 years of age.