Report: Packers Fire Rhodes, Staff

The Green Bay Packers fired first-year Coach Ray Rhodes and his entire staff after the team failed to make the playoffs for the first time in seven years, according to reports Sunday night. ESPN and WFRV-TV, the CBS affiliate in Green Bay, reported Rhodes’ firing.

Packer quarterback coach Mike McCarthy refused to confirm the reports late Sunday night, though McCarthy indicated he had spoken with his “coaching colleagues” about the matter. “We will be able to talk about this at a later date,” McCarthy said.

Offensive line coach Larry Beightol was seen removing materials from his office at Lambeau Field late Sunday. None of the coaches indicated they had any knowledge of their firings when they left the stadium after a season-ending 49-24 victory over Arizona.

“I’m sure they’ll sit down and evaluate the coaches and see if they can’t make some decisions,” offensive coordinator Sherman Lewis said before leaving the stadium. “We’ll just wait and see.”

Rhodes was hired almost exactly one year ago to replace Mike Holmgren, who led the Packers to two Super Bowls, winning one.

An official announcement is expected today.

Less than a month ago, Packer General Manager Ron Wolf dismissed as “ludicrous” the idea that he would fire Rhodes after his first season.