When the Green Bay Packers signed Brandon McManus halfway through the 2024 NFL season, it was a decision that was met with some controversy. McManus previously had been released by the Washington Commanders due to a lawsuit filed against him by female Jacksonville Jaguars employees.
The case was resolved, as he put it, out of court, though there is no public record of what that exactly meant.
In any case, McManus had a 95.2% field goal percentage in his first year with the Packers, and many viewed him as their special teams savior following woeful performances from Anders Carlson in 2023 and Brayden Narveson in the first half of 2024.
The Green Bay Packers have released Brandon McManus
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Last year, McManus struggled with a quad injury, but also struggled when healthy. He made 80.0% of his field goal attempts, and many of his misses came in games in which the Packers lost by three or fewer points.
In March, Green Bay paid McManus a $1 million roster bonus, but still used a sixth round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to take Trey Smack out of Florida.
On Friday, it was reported that they released McManus:
After drafting Florida kicker Trey Smack in the sixth round last month, the Packers released veteran kicker Brandon McManus today, per source. pic.twitter.com/mDWi0MqdWW
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2026
Smack made 82.8% of his kicks while at Florida, and was 100 for 101 on his career extra point attempts. Clearly, the Packers believe that he is going to be their guy going forward.
It is noteworthy, too, that the decision to change kickers came with the introduction of new special teams coordinator Cam Achord earlier this week. Achord was hired earlier this off-season following the sudden resignation of Rich Bissacia.
While Smack is now the favorite to be the Packers kicker in 2026, it should be noted that they still have Lucas Havrisik on their roster as well. While McManus was injured last season, Havrisik made a franchise record 63-yard field goal.
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