Packers fire defensive coordinator Sanders

Jan 5, 2009 - 5:21 PM GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (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 was defensive coordinator Bob Sanders, who was fired Monday after running a unit that vastly underachieved this past season.

Sanders, who has overseen Green Bay's defense for the past three seasons, was let go along with the Packers' entire defensive staff.

The Packers also fired defensive ends coach Carl Hairston, defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn, secondary coach Kurt Schottenheimer, cornerbacks coach Lionel Washington and strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson.

"These are difficult decisions," Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. "I hold each of these men in high regard on a personal level, and I want thank them for their service to the Green Bay Packers."

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 reins over 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.