Report: Packers fire defensive coordinator Sanders

Jan 5, 2009 - 1:59 AM LA JOLLA, California (Ticker) -- The Green Bay Packers missed the playoffs one year after reaching the NFC Championship game, and someone had to be held accountable.

That someone appears to be defensive coordinator Bob Sanders, who reportedly was fired on Sunday after running a unit that had vastly underachieved.

The web site nationalfootballpost.com reported that Sanders has been let go after three seasons as the team's defensive coordinator.

The Packers went 13-3 in 2007 behind a defense that finished sixth in the NFL, but they tumbled to 6-10 this season.

Many thought the Packers' biggest Achilles' heel this season would be the quarterback position. Green Bay traded the legendary Brett Favre in the offseason and handed the keys to their offense to the inexperienced Aaron Rodgers.

However, Rodgers was more than serviceable, while Sanders' unit failed to live up to expectations and was the biggest reason Green Bay missed the postseason.

The Packers' defense finished 22nd in points allowed (23.8), 20th in yardage allowed (334.3 ypg) and 26th in rushing yards allowed (131.6).

Sanders joined the Green Bay staff in 2005 under then-defensive coordinator Jim Bates. When Mike Sherman was fired in 2006, Bates was not retained and Sanders assumed the role.