Brian Gutekunst reveals the Green Bay Packers' missing piece isn't talent, but a championship mindset. Grit, toughness, and closing out games are key to Super Bowl contention.
Brian Gutekunst knows the Green Bay Packers aren't "there" yet. Obviously, he wishes that wasn't the case in 2025, but the end of this last season of football was proof positive that the Packers aren't yet Super Bowl contenders.
That doesn't mean they can't get there, and Gutekunst has the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft as well as the free agency period to try to make the moves that will get the Packers over the hump.
That's all personnel, though. And yes, personnel is important, but Gutekunst revealed on Wednesday at the 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Combine that he believes Green Bay also needs to make a mindset shift.
"We've talked a lot about this. Our ability to be more consistent in situational football and finishing off games," Gutekunst said when asked what the Packers have to do to go from being a playoff team to a true Super Bowl contender. "A number of our games the past couple of years, we've been up in the games and have just not been able to close them out. Our group...we've got to get to that point."
What Gutekunst is talking about here is more than just talent on the field. The Packers have that in spades. They've got one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Jordan Love, and once he's back and healthy, they've got one of the best pass-rushers of his generation in Micah Parsons.
That's not even to mention star players Tucker Kraft, Josh Jacobs, Christian Watson, Zach Tom, Devonte Wyatt, Edgerrin Cooper, Xavier McKinney and Evan Williams.
This team has talent, there's no doubt about it. The exciting thing is that Gutekunst also has a chance to add talent to the locker room this offseason.
What it needs, though, is grit and toughness. Some of that will come with experience. These guys are still young, remember. Love is one of the veterans on the team, and he's only 27 years old.
A lot of it comes down to coaching as well, though, and that's an area the Packers need to see some major improvement in.
It's not about X's and O's either. Matt LaFleur is a great X's and O's playcaller and head coach.
Can he get this team to dig down deep and find the grit they need to become a true contender, though? At this point, and despite his recent contract extension, that's an open question.
For his part, Gutekunst likes the talent the Packers have.
"I think we're on our way there," he said. "I really like the guys in our locker room. I like the makeup of our team."
He believes in the group that he's assembled. Now, it comes down to locking in the mental part of NFL football, and that's easier said than done. That's also squarely on the shoulders of the head coach.
"That's an area that we have to fix," Gutekunst said.
PackersRoundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Packers. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.