Noah Pauley will be joining the Packers as Green Bay’s new wide receivers coach. Head coach Matt LaFleur and the Packers have already experienced many changes to the coaching staff this offseason, but Pauley is the first addition to the offensive side of the ball.

Jordan Schultz initially reported last Thursday that the Packers were parting ways with former wide receivers coach Ryan Mahaffey and hiring the 36-year-old Pauley. It's unclear how it all transpired, but it's possible that Mahaffey’s exit could have been a mutual parting of ways, as he is reportedly joining Sean Mannion in Philadelphia as the Eagles’ new run game coordinator and tight ends coach. 

Pauley has been described as a "rising star" in the coaching ranks. He's said to have a bright and gifted offensive mind. Unlike Mahaffey, Pauley brings plenty of wide receiver experience to Green Bay. Pauley was a four-year starter at wide receiver for the University of Minnesota-Duluth and has coached the position for nearly ten years. His experience and coaching skill set make this a very encouraging hire for Matt LaFleur, despite a lack of NFL experience. 

The #Packers are parting ways with WRs coach Ryan Mahaffey and plan to hire Penn State WRs coach Noah Pauley as his replacement, per sources.

Pauley spent the past three years as Matt Campbell’s WRs coach at Iowa State, working with Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, and others, then… pic.twitter.com/PR2agaWKpQ

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 5, 2026

From Duluth to Green Bay

Noah Pauley is a Midwesterner through and through. He grew up in Duluth, Minnesota, and then went on to play wide receiver for his hometown school. After his playing career, Pauley joined the University of Minnesota-Duluth staff as a student assistant. He then worked as a graduate assistant for two seasons before becoming the school's offensive coordinator and wide receiver coach, a role he held for three seasons.

After five years at UMD, Pauley was hired to be the wide receivers coach at North Dakota State (NDSU). During Pauley’s tenure with the Bison, he helped the team win two FCS championships and two Missouri Valley Conference championships. He also coached current Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson for multiple seasons, helping Watson become an FCS All-American and three-time all-conference selection. Pauley spent the summer of 2022 working with the Packers as part of the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship.

Pauley most recently served as the pass game coordinator and wide receiver coach at Iowa State University. He was hired in 2023 to coach wide receivers, but added the role of pass game coordinator in 2024. During Pauley’s time with the Cyclones, he helped develop NFL draft picks Jayden Higgins (second round) and Jaylin Noel (third round). Pauley was hired as the wide receivers coach at Penn State after the 2025 season, following head coach Matt Campbell. Pauley only spent a couple of months with the Nittany Lions before making his jump to the NFL with the Packers.

Reunited and It Feels So Good

The Packers might not have consulted with wide receiver Christian Watson when hiring Noah Pauley, but the addition has Watson's seal of approval. The two were together at North Dakota State from 2019 to 2021. "That's my dawg. I love Coach Pauley," Watson said last week. "Obviously, I'm super excited for the opportunity for him. I'm ready to work with him again."

Watson was lightly recruited out of high school, but Pauley helped develop him into a second-round draft pick. "He was definitely one of the coaches who, throughout my lifetime, I'm most grateful for," Watson shared. "He definitely helped me grow as a player and as a man. I'm excited to get to work. I know he's going to get us right in the wide receiver room." Watson led the Bison in receiving for three straight seasons with Pauley as his position coach, including a career-best in receptions (43), yards (801), and touchdowns (7) in 2021.

With Watson headed into another contract year, the reunion with Pauley was more than welcome. "I'm super excited. He was a great coach for me. He was probably one of my favorite coaches I've had, if not the favorite," said Watson. "I think he's going to bring a different dynamic to the offense, a different mindset. I know he's going to be dialed in. He's gonna get us right at WR... We'll have a special group next year." Watson's father also gave a glowing review of Pauley. It's safe to say the Watson family is excited for this reunion. 

-Young and relatable
-Tactical Teacher
-Extremely Intelligent
-Resolute
-Demanding but fair
-Players play HARD for him https://t.co/FaZILHb09j

— Tazim Wajid Wajed (@NFLHitman33) February 5, 2026

What Pauley Brings to Green Bay

Noah Pauley's arrival in Green Bay marks a full-circle moment for the young coach after growing up as a Packers fan. Now the Packers are adding someone who is described as a young, up-and-coming coaching star. Penn State fans were ecstatic when they heard he was joining the Nittany Lions' staff; they were devastated when they heard he was leaving. Instead of rebuilding a wide receiver room in Happy Valley, Pauley will be tasked with helping a young but experienced wide receiver group take the next step in Green Bay.

Jaylin Noel, a 2025 third-round draft pick, spoke glowingly of his former position coach. “He’s a connector of people,” Noel said via PennLive. “He knows how to communicate with guys. He’s a competitor as a coach and always wants to see a competitive edge from his players. And my favorite part about his coaching style is the freedom he gives a receiver to grow. He gives you the base fundamentals. And from there, he wants to see you grow into your own player.”

Pauley comes to Green Bay with plenty of experience coaching wide receivers, something they haven't had in a while. Neither of Green Bay's last two wide receiver coaches (Ryan Mahaffey and Jason Vrable) had backgrounds or experience coaching the position. Between playing and coaching, almost all of Pauley's experience is with wide receivers, and he's helped develop some good ones.

“From the day he stepped in and watched film with me and talked over my game, there were so many tips he gave me," Noel also shared. "It started off with the simple things like footwork at the line of scrimmage, being able to have a multitude of releases, things like that. His football IQ, having played the position, and how smart he is, elevated how I watched film and studied."

"He’s a special coach. He’s going to shoot you straight," Noel added. "I appreciated his honesty because that elevates you as a player. He’s going to tell it like it is. And he’s not going to give you any bulls---."