Packers granted permission to interview Steelers OL coach Mike Munchak

-- If they can manage, the Green Bay Packers will have to squeeze another interview into their crowded schedule sometime soon.

The team was granted permission to interview with Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak, according to PackersNews.com's Tom Silverstein. No date or location has been set, however, there won't be as much urgency to interview Munchak considering his team is out of the playoffs.

With candidates such as New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and New Orleans Saints tight ends coach Dan Campbell, two assistants whose respective teams have the luxury of first-round bye weeks in this year's playoffs, the Packers will have to wait until their seasons are over if they want a second interview.

The Packers are scheduled to meet with McDaniels on Friday morning and interview Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores in the afternoon while they're in town. They'll be in New Orleans on Saturday for an interview with Campbell, and presumably, they'll also cross offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. off of their list.

Carmichael was requested on Wednesday to be interviewed by the Packers. His offensive prowess and pedigree in helping create some of the most explosive offenses in the last decade behind quarterback Drew Brees makes him a worthwhile candidate and someone who the Packers could have legitimate interest in.

On Sunday, the Packers will interview Tennesee Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, who would essentially follow the blueprint that was set by the Los Angeles Rams when they hired Sean McVay two years ago. Teams now have a need for young, offensive-minded head coaches; a concept that could potentially intrigue the Packers when considering LaFleur.

According to Silverstein, the Packers' interim head coach, Joe Philbin, had his interview on Wednesday. He coached the team through four games after his predecessor, Mike McCarthy, was fired on Dec. 2.

The Packers may wait until next week to have their interview with Munchak.

Munchak, 58, was a former first-round pick by the Houston Oilers in 1982. He was a Pro Bowl offensive lineman for nine out of his 12 seasons playing in the league and a First-team All-Pro in four of them.

Munchak immediately transitioned from player to coach in 1994, rising through the ranks with the Oilers and Titans as a quality control coach and an offensive line coach for 14 seasons. He became the Titans' head coach in 2011 and lasted three seasons before reverting back to coaching the offensive line in Pittsburgh in 2014.

There have been nine coaches involved in the Packers' coaching search to this point. Jim Caldwell, Chuck Pagano and Philbin are the only ones who have undergone confirmed interviews. After this weekend, the Packers will have interviewed nine candidates.

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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (31)

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NickPerry's picture

January 03, 2019 at 05:23 am

I'll pass on Munchak. I think he's an excellent "Administrator" type but he'd need a strong OC and DC.

I'm still hoping for McDaniels, Gase, or Fangio which might prove difficult since they only have McDaniels lined up for an interview.

Side note...For those who are concerned McDaniels would leave GB at the alter like he did the Colts last season, I think the chances of that are close to winning the lotto. Why?? Because another stunt like that would virtually RUIN any credibility McDaniels has. I'd also imagine it would scare any quality assistants away from McDaniels IF a team were crazy enough to even interview him after screwing over teams in 2 consecutive seasons. Nope I think this time around when McDaniels commits he'll honor that and be the HC..Hopefully it's the Packers. I also believe Rodgers would WANT to do whatever it is McDaniels suggests.

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Lare's picture

January 03, 2019 at 05:31 am

I think Murphy & Gutekunst want to find out if Tom Brady was right.

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Packers0808's picture

January 03, 2019 at 07:16 am

My distrust of McDaniels would be what coaches would want to put themselves on the line to coach for him after coaches before agreed to work for him and then he backed out and found themselves unemployed. I guess my doubt what as to what abilities his assistant coach or quality would be that would chance it> Maybe misplaced thoughts but is I think a legit concern! Any thoughts?

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dobber's picture

January 03, 2019 at 08:00 am

Could be a lot of coaches out there who want to try to get a piece of the Belichick mystique...even if it's second-hand. Kinda like rubbing Buddha's belly for good luck.

Still, for many of these guys, they're looking for a move up. Position coaches looking to become coordinators, or guys who see that they're in a tough spot with a HC who might be on the chopping block soon. There are plenty of good assistants out there on crap teams. It's a roll of the dice: a good run in GB could easily vault them up the pecking order toward better things.

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NickPerry's picture

January 04, 2019 at 04:43 am

There was actually an article by Yahoo Sports that suggested Asst. Coaches were already trying to position themselves to work with McDaniels should he be hired by the Packers. Not hard to find, believe what you want after reading the article.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

January 03, 2019 at 08:30 am

I'm neutral on McDaniels. I tend to agree he's not the monster he's been made out to be. I would love to see what him amd Rodgers would do. But, I also wonder how he can command integrity from players and assistants with his history.

I'm on the Campbell boat. I've grown tired of the Packers Players shinanagans I want a strong leader who was heavily involved in planning a high powered offense. He was also an NFL TE so he knows both the passing and running game inside and out. He's universally respected. Maybe McDaniels has he previous attributes, but he's not widely respected.

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dobber's picture

January 03, 2019 at 08:43 am

I think many would argue that winning breeds respect. McDaniels might very well be the apple falling near the tree in that regard.

I wish I knew more about Campbell. He doesn't seem to be an exciting selection, and I have no idea how broadly he's integrated into the larger coaching community (for the purpose of putting together a staff). His experience seems fairly narrow. Still, by all accounts he brings more of a no-nonsense demeanor to the table and was reportedly well-supported by the Dolphins players when he was a candidate to have 'interim' lifted from his label, there.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

January 03, 2019 at 09:38 am

sportingnews.com "A matter of when: Dan Campbell on deck for real shot at NFL head"

Is a good read.

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GVPacker's picture

January 03, 2019 at 09:03 am

Did the Packers even ask the Bears for permission to talk to Vic Fangio? I'm hoping he would get the gig!

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Packers0808's picture

January 03, 2019 at 09:56 am

If Fangio got the job, wonder what would happen to Pettine who most people seem to want to keep on board?

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albert999's picture

January 03, 2019 at 10:16 am

MCDANIELS IS OVERATED
and once a prick always a prick

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HankScorpio's picture

January 03, 2019 at 08:05 pm

"I'll pass on Munchak. I think he's an excellent "Administrator" type but he'd need a strong OC and DC."

They all do. The HC that doesn't need a good coordinator on both sides is probably doing at least part of the work for one of them. HC is a leadership position. He's leading the staff and the players. That's enough work. He doesn't need to play part-time coordinator, too.

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RCPackerFan's picture

January 03, 2019 at 06:18 am

Well... If they hired Mike Munchak they could save some money for the coaches show. Just changed McCarthy to Munchak.
Outside of the 1 year of Ray Rhodes they would have Mike Holmgren, Sherman, McCarthy and then Munchak.

So there's that.

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dobber's picture

January 03, 2019 at 07:25 am

Is there a more 'Packers name' than Munchak?

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GVPacker's picture

January 03, 2019 at 09:05 am

Only if it ended with Ski!

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dobber's picture

January 03, 2019 at 12:38 pm

...or "-owicz"?

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PAPackerbacker's picture

January 03, 2019 at 06:25 am

I am sure the Packers organization know what they are looking for in a candidate and glad they are interviewing so many for the HC job. There are many qualified to fill a HC job, but they have to be the right fit in Green Bay to be successful and put the Packers in line to be contenders again. I have preferences as well, but really don't care who they hire as long as it is a coach who will command respect and be a strong leader. So far the list that the Packers have lined up for interviews is a pretty impressive bunch. I think the Packers organization know what they are looking for in a HC. It will be fun to see who is willing to come to Green Bay and lead the team into the future and how the interviewing process unfolds and who the leading candidates will be after the interviewing is complete. Hopefully, who they choose for HC will still be in Green Bay many years from now and still have the Packers as favorites for Super Bowl contenders every season.

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John Kirk's picture

January 03, 2019 at 08:09 am

"Be the right fit"...what does that mean to you?

To me, that means unimpressive and passive.

Wanting the HC to fit with Magic Mark and Brian is really selling this on field product short.

I'd like a revolutionary type at HC. Not some church mouse who'll quietly fit in.

All for "right fit" when there's a Bob Harlan and Ron Wolf here. Not so much with a Murphy and Gutekunst.

Mark Murphy and Brian Gutekunst aren't the right fit for winning Super Bowls so why are they here?

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Since'61's picture

January 03, 2019 at 07:01 am

It's good to see that the Packers are interviewing as many candidates as possible. I'm hoping that Gute is allowed to make the final call. Thanks, Since '61

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PAPackerbacker's picture

January 03, 2019 at 07:42 am

I agree that it's good to see so many being interviewed. It's not who they hire, but what the new coach can offer to make the Packers successful again.

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dobber's picture

January 03, 2019 at 08:04 am

I can't help but wonder if the Packers are drawing names into the mix to try to muddy the waters a little for other teams. Seeing if they can get other teams to shuffle their feet by seeing what the Packers see in 'this guy'. Who knows?

What I do know is that several of the more coveted assistants are on teams that are likely to play deep into January or even February...and that's when they could even think about a second interview (if they wanted one). If you see yourself potentially waiting that long and then getting into a bidding war with 3 or 4 other teams, why not keep looking? Maybe you'll find something you like better.

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HankScorpio's picture

January 03, 2019 at 08:23 pm

Lots of fish in the ocean. I doubt one of them is the next Bill Belichick. I think it is more likely that not much separates them. So why wait on one of them?

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Guam's picture

January 03, 2019 at 08:23 am

Murphy only has a few months left on his contract and I have heard nothing about the Board renewing his contract yet. Murphy pretty much has to have Gute make/confirm the HC choice. What good HC candidate is going to sign on with a boss who might be gone in a few months? That is a very precarious position for a new HC unless the new HC also believes Gute will be there long term and is a strong supporter/advocate.

If Murphy is half the administrator he thinks he has, he is aware of this issue and you will get your wish Since '61, he has to let Gute have a major say in this hiring (unless there is already a deal in place to extend Murphy).

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stockholder's picture

January 03, 2019 at 08:23 am

Why???? Let's just get Jeff Tedford in here too.

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LeotisHarris's picture

January 03, 2019 at 09:02 am

We're all frustrated, stockholder. Still, there's no reason for question mark abuse. Try to show some restraint, please.

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Bert's picture

January 03, 2019 at 09:06 am

I'm just for hiring the best HC they can find. Young, older, offensive guru, defensive guru, exciting, boring.....I really don't care. Just win baby!!

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fastmoving's picture

January 03, 2019 at 10:34 am

just right. and of course there is no way to know witch one is working out the best. you use your facts combined with your feelings to choose one and than you hope for the best. like always, are luck and coincidence the biggest factors.

We all just human beings who dont know future, even when some act like the opposite, and maybe thats the exciting part about it.

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PAPackerbacker's picture

January 03, 2019 at 09:56 pm

Couldn't agree more Bert.

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Doug Niemczynski's picture

January 03, 2019 at 10:07 am

eanie, meanie, minie, moe?

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ILPackerBacker's picture

January 03, 2019 at 02:58 pm

"the packer organization knows what it is looking for"

why is that true now? What changed since the spring when the organization totally flip flopped in a matter of days about the GM, HC and president and who was where?

Knows what its looking for? How about special teams coach? Or a punt returner who understands the fair catch rule.

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4zone's picture

January 04, 2019 at 11:03 am

Can't see Bears allowing Fangio to interview with any other team in the NFC North.

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