The Green Bay Packers aren’t expected to go very far to find a replacement for offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who left to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
Instead, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, the expectation in Green Bay is that quarterbacks coach Tom Clements will replace Philbin.
Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, in offering a public congratulatory message to Philbin, suggested that he would prefer to promote a coach currently on the staff to take over for Philbin.
“Your first intent is to look within,” McCarthy said. “That’s where you start. But I don’t want to talk about that now. This is Joe’s moment. He deserves all the attention. You don’t replace people like Joe. I’m going to miss him personally a whole lot, forget as a professional. He’s someone I enjoy being around. He’s a great guy. This is a very good opportunity for him.”
It’s still possible that Clements, who has been identified as a candidate for the Buccaneers coaching vacancy, could leave to become a head coach, too. But if he doesn’t, he’s in line to get a promotion in Green Bay.