The 2021 season was the Green Bay Packers' 101st season in the National Football League (NFL), their 103rd overall and their third under head coach Matt LaFleur.
With a Week 15 win over the Baltimore Ravens, the Packers won the NFC North for the third consecutive year. With their victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17, they earned home field advantage, a first round bye, and the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. They also became the first team in NFL history to finish three consecutive seasons with 13 or more wins. Aaron Rodgers was also named MVP for the fourth time and the second year in a row.
However, their season came to an abrupt end for the third time in a row, with a 13–10 upset loss to the underdog San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round; this marked the Packers' fourth loss against the 49ers in the playoffs and in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs since Aaron Rodgers became the starting quarterback, with it also being their second home divisional loss in the Rodgers era.
While the Packers were able to clinch the top seed and clinching the NFC’s best record, the Packers special teams received scrutiny during the entire season as they were ranked 32nd in the NFL by the Football Outsiders DVOA, Packer Central, and Sports Illustrated writer Rick Gosselin. This special teams unit was one of the primary reasons why the Packers lost in the NFC Divisional Game to the 49ers. Following the loss to the 49ers, Maurice Drayton was fired as special teams coordinator. The Packers had their sixth stock sale during the season.
Player movements Trades DatePlayer incomingPlayer outgoing July 28, 2021 To Green Bay PackersRandall Cobb To Houston TexansDraft pick August 17, 2021 To Green Bay PackersIsaac Yiadom To New York GiantsJosh Jackson August 24, 2021 To Green Bay Packers2022 seventh-round Draft pick To Houston TexansKa'dar Hollman August 31, 2021 To Green Bay PackersCorey Bojorquez2023 seventh-round Draft pick To Los Angeles Rams2023 sixth-round Draft pick
Free agents PositionPlayerFree agencytagDate signed2021 team DE Montravius Adams UFA March 19 New England Patriots WR Tavon Austin UFA August 6 Jacksonville Jaguars LB James Burgess UFA June 2 San Francisco 49ers RB Tyler Ervin UFA NT Damon Harrison UFA November 13 Retired RB Aaron Jones UFA March 26 Green Bay Packers CB Kevin King UFA March 26 Green Bay Packers TE Marcedes Lewis UFA March 30 Green Bay Packers C Corey Linsley UFA March 17 Los Angeles Chargers S Will Redmond UFA April 2 Green Bay Packers G Lane Taylor UFA April 16 Houston Texans OT Jared Veldheer UFA May 27 Retired RB Jamaal Williams UFA March 19 Detroit Lions DE Billy Winn UFA QB Tim Boyle RFA March 22 Detroit Lions S Raven Greene RFA May 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers DE Tyler Lancaster RFA March 30 Green Bay Packers CB Parry Nickerson RFA May 17 Minnesota Vikings CB Chandon Sullivan RFA April 23 Green Bay Packers TE Robert Tonyan RFA May 27 WR Allen Lazard ERFA July 27 WR Malik Taylor ERFA May 21 OLB Randy Ramsey ERFA March 18 OT Yosh Nijman ERFA May 6
Additions Position Player Former team Date LS Joe Fortunato Dallas Cowboys March 24 QB Kurt Benkert Atlanta Falcons May 17 QB Blake Bortles Los Angeles Rams May 24 WR DeAndre Thompkins Pittsburgh Steelers May 26 ILB De'Vondre Campbell Arizona Cardinals June 9 QB Jake Dolegala New England Patriots June 10 OT Dennis Kelly Tennessee Titans July 29 NT Josh Avery Alphas (Spring League) August 4 OLB Chauncey Rivers Baltimore Ravens August 6 CB Dominique Martin Tarleton State (Spring League) August 12 QB Jake Dolegala New England Patriots August 18 WR Damon Hazelton Houston Texans August 20 DE Abdullah Anderson Pittsburgh Steelers August 25 CB Stephen Denmark CB Rojesterman Farris Denver Broncos August 27 OLB LaDarius Hamilton Tampa Bay Buccaneers September 17 TE Tyler Davis Indianapolis Colts September 28 CB Rasul Douglas Arizona Cardinals October 6 ILB Jaylon Smith Dallas Cowboys October 7 OLB Whitney Mercilus Houston Texans October 21 LS Steven Wirtel Green Bay Packers November 2 RB Patrick Taylor November 4 LB Tipa Galeai November 16 G Ben Braden November 23 WR Juwann Winfree December 14 S Shawn Davis December 18
Subtractions PositionPlayer2021 teamRelease date LB Christian Kirksey Houston Texans February 19 OT Rick Wagner TE John Lovett March 12 CB KeiVarae Russell New Orleans Saints May 24 RB Mike Weber New York Giants June 9 NT Anthony Rush Tennessee Titans June 10 QB Blake Bortles New Orleans Saints July 27 QB Jake Dolegala New England Patriots LS Joe Fortunato August 5 G Jon Dietzen Green Bay Packers August 16 P Ryan Winslow Arizona Cardinals G Zack Johnson Arizona Cardinals August 16 CB Stanford Samuels III August 18 CB Dominique Martin August 20 TE Daniel Crawford August 23 NT Josh Avery Carolina Panthers August 24 ILB Kamal Martin Carolina Panthers WR Chris Blair Green Bay Packers August 25 QB Jake Dolegala Miami Dolphins August 27 TE Jace Sternberger Seattle Seahawks September 21 LS Hunter Bradley November 2 LB Jaylon Smith New York Giants LB LaDarius Hamilton Green Bay Packers November 13 S Will Redmond Indianapolis Colts November 22 G Ben Braden Green Bay Packers January 10 DE Kingsley Keke January 19
Retirements PositionPlayer OG Simon Stepaniak CB Tramon Williams OT Jared Veldheer NT Damon Harrison
Draft
2021 Green Bay Packers Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 29 Eric Stokes CB Georgia 2 62 Josh Myers C Ohio State 3 85 Amari Rodgers WR Clemson From Tennessee 4 142 Royce Newman OG Ole Miss Compensatory pick 5 173 Tedarrell Slaton DT Florida 178 Shemar Jean-Charles CB Appalachian State Compensatory pick 6 214 Cole Van Lanen OG Wisconsin 220 Isaiah McDuffie LB Boston College Compensatory pick 7 256 Kylin Hill RB Mississippi State
Notes/Trades
Undrafted free agent additions 2021 Undrafted Free Agents Position Player College Date G Jacob Capra San Diego State May 3 OT Coy Cronk Iowa G Jon Dietzen Wisconsin WR Bailey Gaither San Jose State DE Jack Heflin Iowa OLB Carlo Kemp Michigan SS Christian Uphoff Illinois State TE Daniel Crawford Northern Illinois August 3
Roster cuts The roster was cut to 53 on August 31, 2021.
Position Player 2021 team DE Abdullah Anderson Green Bay Packers WR Reggie Begelton Calgary Stampeders QB Kurt Benkert Green Bay Packers G Ben Braden Green Bay Packers G Jacob Capra Buffalo Bills OT Coy Cronk Jacksonville Jaguars CB Stephen Denmark CB Kabion Ento Green Bay Packers CB Rojesterman Farris Denver Broncos S Innis Gaines Green Bay Packers OLB Tipa Galeai Green Bay Packers ILB De'Jon Harris Washington Football Team WR Damon Hazelton TE Bronson Kaufusi Green Bay Packers DE Carlo Kemp Denver Broncos K JJ Molson Green Bay Packers DE Willington Previlon Tampa Bay Buccaneers OLB Delontae Scott Pittsburgh Steelers P J. K. Scott Jacksonville Jaguars WR Equanimeous St. Brown Green Bay Packers RB Patrick Taylor Green Bay Packers S Christian Uphoff OT Cole Van Lanen Green Bay Packers ILB Ray Wilborn Green Bay Packers RB Dexter Williams New York Giants WR Juwann Winfree Green Bay Packers
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Packers' preseason opponents and schedule were announced on May 12.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Houston Texans L 7–26 0–1 Lambeau Field Recap 2 New York Jets L 14–23 0–2 Lambeau Field Recap 3 at Buffalo Bills L 0–19 0–3 Highmark Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule The first week was announced 11 hours ahead of the rest of the season on May 12.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 at New Orleans Saints L 3–38 0–1 TIAA Bank Field Recap 2 Detroit Lions W 35–17 1–1 Lambeau Field Recap 3 September 26 at San Francisco 49ers W 30–28 2–1 Levi's Stadium Recap 4 October 3 Pittsburgh Steelers W 27–17 3–1 Lambeau Field Recap 5 October 10 at Cincinnati Bengals W 25–22 4–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 6 October 17 at Chicago Bears W 24–14 5–1 Soldier Field Recap 7 October 24 Washington Football Team W 24–10 6–1 Lambeau Field Recap 8 at Arizona Cardinals W 24–21 7–1 State Farm Stadium Recap 9 November 7 at Kansas City Chiefs L 7–13 7–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 10 November 14 Seattle Seahawks W 17–0 8–2 Lambeau Field Recap 11 November 21 at Minnesota Vikings L 31–34 8–3 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 12 November 28 Los Angeles Rams W 36–28 9–3 Lambeau Field Recap 13 Bye 14 December 12 Chicago Bears W 45–30 10–3 Lambeau Field Recap 15 December 19 at Baltimore Ravens W 31–30 11–3 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 16 December 25 Cleveland Browns W 24–22 12–3 Lambeau Field Recap 17 January 2, 2022 Minnesota Vikings W 37–10 13–3 Lambeau Field Recap 18 January 9, 2022 at Detroit Lions L 30–37 13–4 Ford Field Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at New Orleans Saints The Packers start off their season with a 35-point loss to the New Orleans Saints. This took place in Jacksonville due to expected power outages to the Superdome.
Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 3: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 4: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
This was the Packers' first regular season win against the Steelers since Week 17 in 1995, and their first win against them overall since Week 2 of the 2018 Preseason. This also gave Aaron Rodgers his first regular season win over the Steelers which in turn gave him a regular season win over every team but the Packers.
Week 5: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 6: at Chicago Bears
Week 7: vs. Washington Football Team
Week 8: at Arizona Cardinals
The Packers handed the previously undefeated Cardinals their first loss of the season following a game-ending interception by cornerback Rasul Douglas.
Week 9: at Kansas City Chiefs
This was the Packers' first loss since Week 1 against the Saints, as star QB Aaron Rodgers missed this game due to contracting COVID-19.
Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Packers held off the Rams in their home in Lambeau Field. After the Rams would score to make it 20 - 17, the Packers would take a lead they would never surrender, scoring 16 unanswered points in the process to improve to 9 - 3.
Week 14: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 15: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns Christmas Day game
Aaron Rodgers surpassed Brett Favre with his 443rd touchdown pass to Allen Lazard.
Week 17: vs. Minnesota Vikings
The game was the coldest of the NFL season, with a game-time temperature of 11 degrees Fahrenheit, and a wind chill of 1 degree Fahrenheit. With the win, Green Bay clinched the #1 seed in the NFC for the second straight year, and their 3rd straight 13-win season.
Week 18: at Detroit Lions
Standings Division
Conference
Postseason
As the result of clinching the NFC North division title and the best record in the NFC, the Packers hosted a playoff game in the Divisional round. Despite hoisting the number 1 seed in the NFC, the Packers lost to the 49ers in the divisional round due to several special teams blunders during the game. Prior to the postseason, the special teams unit was scrutinized during the 2021 season as they were ranked 32nd in DVOA by Football Outsiders.
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild CardFirst-round bye Divisional San Francisco 49ers (6) L 10–13 0–1 Lambeau Field Recap
Game summaries NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (6) San Francisco 49ers
Despite leading 7–0 and 7–3 throughout most of the game, the Packers went on to lose 13–10 to the 49ers. During the game, the special teams received scrutiny after allowing a blocked field goal, a 32-yard kick return by JaMycal Hasty, a 45-yard return by Deebo Samuel, and blocked punt that would tie the game at 10–10 in the 4th quarter. Prior to the game, the special teams was scrutinized during the entire season as they were ranked 32nd in the NFL DVOA by Football Outsiders.
Statistics Starters Regular season
Offense