The 2010 season was the Green Bay Packers' 90th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 92nd overall, and their fifth under Mike McCarthy. Although they finished with only a respectable 10–6 record, good for a second place finish in the NFC North and a step back from their 11–5 record the previous season, the Packers never lost a game by more than four points, and never trailed by more than seven the entire season, becoming the only team since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to accomplish this. All six of their regular season losses were by a combined 20 points. Six of their ten wins were in multiple score games, giving them a record of 4-6 in one score games.
The Packers entered the playoffs as the NFC's sixth seed. After defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 21–16 in the wild card round, the NFC's top-seeded 13-3 Atlanta Falcons 48–21 in the Divisional round, and long time rivals Chicago Bears 21–14 in the NFC Championship, the team advanced to Super Bowl XLV in which they faced the AFC's 2nd seed Pittsburgh Steelers. The Packers defeated the Steelers 31–25 to win their fourth Super Bowl and 13th NFL championship. The Packers became the second overall team after the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers, and the first NFC team, to win the Super Bowl as a sixth seed, as well as becoming the second NFC team to win three straight road playoff games (the 2007 New York Giants won three straight road games as a fifth seed). This is the last season the Packers have advanced to the Super Bowl.
The Packers offense ranked ninth in yards per game, tenth in total points and fifth in passing yards. The defense ranked fifth in yards allowed and finished second in points allowed (240), sacks (47), and interceptions (24), while also limiting quarterbacks to a 67.2 passer rating, first in the league. The 2010 Packers were listed 87th on the NFL's 100 Greatest Teams list in 2019.
Offseason
Additions On March 9, former Indianapolis Colts WR Charles Dillon was signed to a contract. On March 16, former Australian Football League P Chris Bryan was signed to a contract. On April 26, S Charlie Peprah was signed to a contract.http://www.packers.com/news/releases/2010/04/26/3/ Packers Sign S Peprah, Release TE Frischknecht On May 20, QB Graham Harrell was signed to a contract. Packers Sign QB Harrell; Release QB Pizzotti On August 5, WR Jason Chery was signed to a contract. On August 10, LB Maurice Simpkins was signed to a contract. On September 6, QB Graham Harrell, RB James Johnson, ILB Robert Francois, WR Chastin West, OT Chris Campbell, LB Maurice Simpkins, S Anthony Levine and OT Breno Giacomini were signed to practice squad a day after they were all cut from the active roster and cleared waivers.
Departures On May 12, G Stanley Daniels was released. On March 5, S Matt Giordano and DE Michael Montgomery were released.Packers Release S Giordano And DE Montgomery On March 7, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed DE Aaron Kampman to a contract. On April 26, LB Jeremy Thompson was released.Packers Release LB Jeremy Thompson On April 26, TE Devin Frischknecht was released. On May 20, QB Chris Pizzotti was released. On June 18, CB Trevor Ford, S Khalil Jones, LB Tim Knicky and QB Noah Shepard were released. On July 30, LB John Russell was released. On August 28, WR Shawn Gore was released. On September 4, LB Maurice Simpkins, DE Ronald Talley, NT Anthony Toribio, WR Chastin West, WR Patrick Williams, DE Jarius Wynn, P Chris Bryan, OT Chris Campbell, WR Jason Chery, CB D. J. Clark, C Evan Dietrich-Smith, WR Charles Dillon, ILB Robert Francois, OT Breno Giacomini, QB Graham Harrell, TE Spencer Havner, ILB Alex Joseph, S Anthony Levine, RB Kregg Lumpkin and OLB Cyril Obiozor were all released.
Suspensions On July 16, The NFL indefinitely suspended DE Johnny Jolly due to his July 8, 2008 second degree felony charge for possession of at least 200 grams of codeine. He would eventually be reinstated on February 27, 2013, and go on to play another season for the Packers.
Training camp and preseason injuries On July 30, Aleric Mullins was placed on the reserve/did not report list. On August 5, WR Jeff Moturi was placed on injured reserve. On August 10, CB Josh Bell was placed on injured reserve. On August 31, S Atari Bigby, CB Al Harris and RB James Starks were all placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. RB Quinn Porter was placed on injured reserve. On September 4, RT Allen Barbre and S Will Blackmon were placed on injured reserve.
Free agents Position Player Free agencytag Date signed 2010 team RB Ahman Green UFA July 29, Omaha Nighthawks (UFL) RB DeShawn Wynn RFA/UFA August 23, New Orleans Saints FB John Kuhn RFA April 15, Green Bay Packers FB Spencer Havner ERFA April 2, Green Bay Packers G Daryn Colledge RFA May 10, Green Bay Packers OT Chad Clifton UFA March 6, Green Bay Packers OT Mark Tauscher UFA March 15, Green Bay Packers C Jason Spitz RFA April 5, Green Bay Packers DE Johnny Jolly RFA June 15, Green Bay Packers NT Ryan Pickett UFA (FT) March 12, Green Bay Packers OLB Aaron Kampman UFA March 7, Jacksonville Jaguars CB Will Blackmon RFA March 18, Green Bay Packers CB Tramon Williams RFA June 17, Green Bay Packers SS Atari Bigby RFA July 27, Green Bay Packers FS Nick Collins RFA March 12, Green Bay Packers FS Derrick Martin RFA February 22, Green Bay Packers P Jeremy Kapinos ERFA/UFA December 7, Pittsburgh SteelersRFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent, FT: Franchise Tag
Notes: : Did not receive an exclusive rights/restricted free agent qualifying offer from the Packers and became an unrestricted free agent.
Coaching changes On January 29, Mark Lovat was promoted to strength and conditioning coordinator, with Dave Redding being demoted to assistant strength and conditioning coach from a result of the departure of Mondray Gee.Lovat Promoted To Strength & Conditioning Coordinator Packers.com
2010 NFL draft
After finishing the 2009 season with an 11–5 record, the Packers held the 23rd selection in the 2010 NFL draft. With the pick they selected Offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga from Iowa.
On the second day of the draft, with pick 2–56 the Packers selected Defensive end Mike Neal from Purdue. The Packers then traded picks 3–86 and 4–122 to the Philadelphia Eagles for pick 3–71. With pick 3–71, the Packers selected Safety Morgan Burnett from Georgia Tech.
On the third and final day of the draft, with pick 5–154 the Packers selected Tight end Andrew Quarless from Penn State. With their compensatory selection pick 5–169, the Packers selected guard Marshall Newhouse from Texas Christian. In the sixth round with pick 6–193, the Packers selected Running back James Starks from Buffalo. Their final selection of the draft came when the Packers selected Defensive end C. J. Wilson of East Carolina with pick 7–230.
The Packers were awarded a 5th round pick (5–169) for their loss of DT Colin Cole in the 2009 free agency period.
Draft pick trades During the 2010 NFL draft, The Packers traded picks 3–86 and 4–122 to the Philadelphia Eagles for pick 3–71.
Undrafted free agents Following the 2010 NFL draft, the Packers signed 11 undrafted free agents. They were: Quarterback, Noah Shepard (South Dakota) Wide receiver, Chastin West (Fresno State) Cornerback, Sam Shields (Miami) Running back, Quinn Porter (Stillman) Linebacker, Frank Zombo (Central Michigan) Linebacker, Alex Joseph (Temple) Linebacker, Tim Knicky (Stephen F. Austin) Linebacker, John Russell (Wake Forest) Guard, Nick McDonald (Grand Valley State) Offensive Tackle, Chris Campbell (Eastern Illinois) Wide receiver, Jeff Moturi (UTEP)
On May 3, the Packers signed wide receiver Shawn Gore, safety Anthony Levine and nose tackle Aleric Mullins after they attended a minicamp on a tryout basis.Packers Sign Three Players
Coaching staff 2010 Green Bay Packers staff Front office Executive committee – Board of Directors President/CEO – Mark Murphy Executive vice president/general manager/director of football operations – Ted Thompson Vice president of football administration/player finance – Russ Ball Director of football operations – Reggie McKenzie Director of college scouting – John Dorsey Assistant director of college scouting – Shaun Herock Assistant director of pro personnel – Eliot Wolf Assistant director of pro personnel – Tim Terry
Head coaches Head coach – Mike McCarthy Assistant head coach/inside linebackers – Winston Moss
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Joe Philbin Quarterbacks – Tom Clements Running backs – Edgar Bennett Wide receivers – Jimmy Robinson Tight ends – Ben McAdoo Offensive line – James Campen Assistant offensive line – Jerry Fontenot Offensive quality control – John Rushing Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Dom Capers Defensive line – Mike Trgovac Outside linebackers – Kevin Greene Secondary – Cornerbacks – Joe Whitt Jr. Secondary – Safeties – Darren Perry Defensive quality control – Scott McCurley
Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Shawn Slocum Special teams assistant – Chad Morton
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning coordinator – Mark Lovat Assistant strength and conditioning – Dave Redding Strength and conditioning assistant – Thadeus Jackson
Final roster
Regular season
Regular season transactions On September 14, The Packers signed RB Dimitri Nance from the Atlanta Falcons practice squad and previously released DE Jarius Wynn. RB Ryan Grant and DE Justin Harrell were also placed on injured reserve. On September 15, The Packers signed CB Josh Gordy to their practice squad; LB Robert Francois released from practice squad. On September 23, The Packers signed LB Robert Francois to their practice squad; OT Chris Campbell released from practice squad. On September 29, The Packers signed OT Chris Campbell to practice squad. On October 7, The Packers signed LB Maurice Simpkins to the active roster from the practice squad, LB Johnny Williams was signed to the practice squad and S Morgan Burnett was placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury. On October 13, The Packers signed LB Robert Francois to the active roster from the practice squad, S Derrick Martin was placed on injured reserve, S Michaell Greco and LB Mike Rivera were both signed to the practice squad and LB Johnny Williams was released from the practice squad. On October 15, The Packers signed DE Michael Montgomery and placed LB Nick Barnett on injured reserve with a wrist injury. On October 18, The Packers traded a conditional draft pick in the 2011 NFL draft to the Jacksonville Jaguars for former 2009 preseason Packers safety Anthony Smith. TE Jermichael Finley was also placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. On October 20, The Packers signed NT Jay Ross to the practice squad and released RB James Johnson from the practice squad. On October 26, The Packers claimed ILB Diyral Briggs off waivers from the Denver Broncos, signed free agent LB Matt Wilhelm, placed DE Mike Neal and OLB Brady Poppinga on injured reserve and released ILB Maurice Simpkins. On October 27, The Packers signed OLB Erik Walden. On October 28, The Packers claimed NT Howard Green off waivers from the New York Jets and LB Brad Jones was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. On November 2, The Packers released DE Michael Montgomery. On November 6, The Packers activated S Atari Bigby from the physically unable to perform list. On November 7, The Packers released 2x Pro Bowl CB Al Harris after being on the physically unable to perform list for the season. On November 9, The Packers activated RB James Starks from the physically unable to perform list and released LB Robert Francois. On November 12, The Packers signed TE Spencer Havner and placed Mark Tauscher on injured reserve. On November 15, The Packers signed ILB Robert Francois to the practice squad.