Lindy Infante, offensive coordinator of the Cleveland...

Lindy Infante, offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, accepted a five-year contract to coach the Green Bay Packers, and John Mackovic, former coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, accepted a similar contract to coach the University of Illinois football team.

Infante, 47, succeeds Forrest Gregg, who resigned in December to accept the head coaching position at Southern Methodist University, his alma mater. Michigan State Coach George Perles had been offered the Green Bay job first, but turned it down.

Infante said he was disappointed that he hadn’t been the first choice, but added:

“I have been a second choice in other jobs and it’s not going to have any effect on my dedication to the job at hand. It certainly is not going to make me feel I am second-best to anybody. I have great faith and confidence in myself. If I can’t get it done here, then quite frankly, it’s time to get into something else.”