The expected external interest played an important role in Maurice Drayton becoming the new coordinator of special teams for the Green Bay Packers.
Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Drayton, the team’s assistant on special teams for the past three years, will assume the role of coordinator after the Packers parted ways with Shawn Mennenga after two disappointing seasons.
On Monday, LaFleur said Drayton is an “excellent teacher” and “excellent communicator” who has “energy and enthusiasm” in the role, and the Packers coach entered the process believing that Drayton was about to become a special coordinator for teams, whether it was in Green Bay or elsewhere.
Instead of hiring outside, LaFleur promoted Drayton to keep him with the Packers.
“I really think he can raise our level of play in that area,” said LaFleur. “Man who’s been here for a while. I had the opportunity to interview him on the first attempt, I was super impressed with him, I just didn’t know much about him. After being with him two years ago, I think it was only a matter of time before he had one of those other opportunities that presented itself outside this building. I didn’t want to lose a guy like Mo Drayton. “
The promotion will give Drayton a chance to reverse a phase of the game that hasn’t been good or even competent in Green Bay for years.
Mike McCarthy originally hired Drayton as assistant to special teams under Ron Zook in 2018. LaFleur retained him after becoming the coach in 2019, but did not promote him, choosing to keep Drayton in Mennenga’s assistant role.
Two years working on the LaFleur team gave the Packers coach the confidence to promote him to coordinator.
Drayton has five years of experience as an assistant, having served two years with the Indianapolis Colts under Tom McMahon, who has coordinated special teams in the NFL throughout all seasons since 2009.
McMahon told Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated that he thinks Drayton will put the special Packers teams – ranked 26th and 29th in Rick Gosselin’s ranking for the past two years – back in the top five of the league.
“I think he will stand out. I think the nucleus, the experts, the building, I think they have become a special guy, ”said McMahon.
Drayton, a university cornerback at The Citadel, has 22 years of coaching experience.