Brandon McManus Released by Packers
Brandon McManus had a tough season last year, really too many misses if you think about it.
The Packers opted to draft a new kicker in the sixth round during the recent NFL Draft, letting McManus go just a year after signing him to a pretty hefty three-year, $15.5 million deal. This decision came after he missed a crucial field goal and an extra point in a playoff game last season.
During the regular season, McManus was decent, making 24 out of 30 field goals, though he did miss one extra point from 33 attempts. But the second year in Green Bay wasn’t quite what everyone hoped for.
His statistics look fairly okay on paper, yet in the playoffs—where everything’s magnified—his struggles were glaringly evident. In a tight 31-27 loss against the Bears in the wild card round, his performance really hurt the team’s chances. He missed a long 55-yard field goal that could have given Green Bay a solid lead at halftime and then missed another extra point when they were up 27-16, with time running out.
As you might imagine, the Bears capitalized on those missed opportunities, narrowing the gap and ultimately taking the lead. Green Bay found themselves needing a touchdown late in the game, and those seven points lost felt like a weight hanging over them as the drive fizzled out at the Bears’ 28-yard line.
McManus’s release suggests that the Packers have confidence in their new pick, Trey Smack, who had a solid college career at Florida. He hit 53 of 64 attempts, a decent 82.8 percent, and wasn’t shy about making longer kicks, including hitting 10 of 13 attempts from over 50 yards.
In contrast, McManus, now 34, made just three out of five long attempts last year. Remember the embarrassing 64-yard field goal attempt that he missed against the Eagles? Not exactly a highlight.
Once celebrated for his powerful kicks during his time with the Broncos from 2015 to 2022, McManus is now searching for his fourth team in just five years.
After a shaky run with the Jaguars in 2023, he had a rebound season with the Packers in 2024, leading to a contract extension. But his disappointing performance in 2025 forced the Packers’ hand, prompting them to part ways.
