The 2011 season was the Green Bay Packers' 91st in the National Football League (NFL), their 93rd overall and their sixth under head coach Mike McCarthy. The team not only improved on their 10–6 record from a season earlier, they became just the sixth team in NFL history to win 15 games during the regular season. As of 2025, the 15–1 record stands as the best in team history, as well as the best record for a defending Super Bowl champion. The Packers won their first 13 games of the season to extend their winning streak from the previous season to 19, the second-longest in NFL history behind the 21-game winning streak of the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004. It also tied the record for the best start to a season in NFC history that the New Orleans Saints had set in 2009 (although this would be surpassed by the 2015 Carolina Panthers). The only loss for the Packers during the regular season was a Week 15 defeat in Arrowhead Stadium against the Kansas City Chiefs. They also became the first NFC North team to go undefeated in the division since the 1987 Chicago Bears.
Statistics site Football Outsiders calculated that the Packers were, play for play, the best team in the NFL in 2011 (though they received the second-lowest rating for a number 1 team since the 1993 San Francisco 49ers). According to the site, the Packers' offense was historically prolific, ranking as the second-best pass offense and third-best total offense since they began calculating. Furthermore, quarterback Aaron Rodgers had the fourth-most-prolific season, play by play, since calculations began and some have called it one of the most efficient seasons ever by a quarterback, Rodgers is on a pace to smash the single-season passer efficiency rating record. by setting the NFL record for highest passer rating in a season (122.5).Only Peyton Manning in 2004 and Tom Brady in 2007 and 2010 ranked above Rodgers's 2011 season.Football Outsiders: Final 2011 DVOA Ratings The 2011 Packers are one of only five teams in NFL history to score 35 points or more nine times in a single seasonPro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, requiring Points For >= 35, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.The other two are the 1948 San Francisco 49ers and the 2000 St. Louis Rams and one of only two teams to score 42 points or more in at least six games, the other being the 2013 Denver Broncos. The Packers' 70 total touchdowns is currently tied with the 1984 Miami Dolphins for the fourth-most touchdowns scored in a season, and their 51 total touchdown passes are tied with the 2004 Indianapolis Colts for second-most touchdown passes in a season. Conversely, the defense was ranked last (32nd) in the league in yards allowed and surrendered an NFL record 4,796 passing yards despite leading the league in interceptions, with 31.
With their offense, their 15–1 record, and their having home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl XXXI win 15 years earlier, the Packers were aiming to repeat as Super Bowl champions and become the first team to win back to back titles since the New England Patriots in 2003 and 2004 and the first NFC team to win back to back since their rival, the Dallas Cowboys, in 1992 and 1993. However, the Packers instead became the first team to finish with at least 15 victories and not win a playoff game (a feat that was later matched by their divisional rival, the Detroit Lions, in 2024), as they were beaten in a shocking upset by the eventual Super Bowl champion, the New York Giants (who comparatively had a record of 9–7) by a score of 37–20 at Lambeau Field during the Divisional round of the playoffs. The Packers became just the sixth team to win 15 games in the regular season, joining the 1984 San Francisco 49ers, 1985 Chicago Bears, 1998 Minnesota Vikings, 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers and the 2007 New England Patriots, who finished the regular season undefeated at 16–0. The Packers became the fourth consecutive team with at least fifteen victories to fail to win the Super Bowl.
The 2011 Packers were ranked as the 67th greatest NFL team of all time by the NFL on its 100 Greatest Teams list in 2019.
Offseason Free agents PositionPlayerFree agencytagDate signed2011 teamRBBrandon JacksonUFA28 JulyCleveland BrownsFBKorey HallUFA29 JulyNew Orleans SaintsFBJohn KuhnUFA31 JulyGreen Bay PackersWRJames JonesUFA31 JulyGreen Bay PackersWRBrett SwainERFA30 JulyGreen Bay PackersGDaryn ColledgeUFA28 JulyArizona CardinalsGJason SpitzUFA28 JulyJacksonville JaguarsDECullen JenkinsUFA30 JulyPhiladelphia EaglesSSCharlie PeprahUFA5 MarchGreen Bay PackersSSAtari BigbyUFA16 AugustSeattle SeahawksKMason CrosbyUFA27 JulyGreen Bay PackersRFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent, FT: Franchise Tag
Additions On July 29, LB Elijah Joseph and NT Chris Donaldson were signed to contract as undrafted free agents. On August 3, LB K.C. Asiodu was signed to a contract. On September 4, QB Graham Harrell, RB Brandon Saine, WR Diondre Borel, WR Chastin West, G Ray Dominguez, CB Brandian Ross, C Sampson Genus and WR Tori Gurley were signed to the practice squad a day after they were all cut from the active roster and cleared waivers.
Departures On March 2, ILB A. J. Hawk, TE Donald Lee and S Derrick Martin were released. Hawk was re-signed the following day. On July 27, ILB Nick Barnett, ILB Brandon Chillar, DE Justin Harrell, OLB Brady Poppinga and OT Mark Tauscher were released. S Michael Greco and OLB Curtis Young were waived. On August 15, OLB Diyral Briggs was released. On August 28, TE Spencer Havner, WR Brett Swain, and T Theo Sherman were released. On August 30, WR Antonio Robinson, ILB KC Asiodu, and G Adrian Battles were released. On September 3, WR Diondre Borel, S Anthony Bratton, OT Chris Campbell, G Ray Dominguez, NT Chris Donaldson, WR Tori Gurley, S Anthony Levine, LB Ricky Elmore, C Sampson Genus, CB Josh Gordy, QB Graham Harrell, FB Jon Hoese, ILB Cardia Jackson, DE Eli Joseph, ILB Elijah Joseph, C Nick McDonald, RB Dimitri Nance, CB Brandian Ross, NT Jay Ross, RB Brandon Saine, WR Kerry Taylor, WR Chastin West, and CB Brandon Underwood were released. On September 3, FB Quinn Johnson was traded to the Tennessee Titans for an undisclosed draft pick. On September 3, G Caleb Schlauderaff was traded to the New York Jets for an undisclosed draft pick.
Training camp and preseason injuries On September 3, DE Lawrence Guy and WR Shaky Smithson were placed on injured reserve.
Coaching changes On February 11, Wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson was signed by the Dallas Cowboys to become their Assistant head coach and wide receivers coach. On February 21, Assistant strength and conditioning coach Dave Redding retired. On February 22, Zac Woodfin was named Assistant strength and conditioning coach. On February 25, Running backs coach Edgar Bennett was moved to Wide receiver coach, Offensive line assistant Jerry Fontenot was promoted to Running backs coach, offensive quality control coach John Rushing was promoted to a combined role of assistant wide receivers coach-special teams coach and hired Joel Hilgenberg as offensive quality control coach.Green Bay Packers fill coaching vacancies from inside with surprise moves
2011 NFL draft
After finishing the 2010 regular season with a 10–6 record, the Packers went 4–0 in the postseason en route to winning Super Bowl XLV. As a result, the Packers received the final selection (32nd) in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.
Undrafted free agents Name Position College Diondre Borel Wide receiver Utah State Anthony Bratton Safety Delaware Ray Dominguez Guard Arkansas Sampson Genus Center South Florida Tori Gurley Wide receiver South Carolina Jon Hoese Fullback Minnesota M.D. Jennings Safety Arkansas State Elijah Joseph Linebacker Temple Jamari Lattimore Linebacker Middle Tennessee Brandian Ross Cornerback Youngstown State Brandon Saine Running back Ohio State Theo Sherman Tackle James Madison Shaky Smithson Wide receiver Utah Vic So'oto Linebacker BYU Kerry Taylor Wide receiver Arizona State
Coaching staff Green Bay Packers 2011 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 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 – Jerry Fontenot Wide receivers – Edgar Bennett Assistant wide receivers/special teams – John Rushing Tight ends – Ben McAdoo Offensive line – James Campen Offensive quality control – Joel Hilgenberg 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 Strength and conditioning assistant – Thadeus Jackson Strength and conditioning assistant – Zac Woodfin
Final roster
Regular season
Regular season transactions On September 20, WR Chastin West was signed off the practice squad by the Jacksonville Jaguars. On September 21, DE Johnny Jones was signed to the practice squad. On October 12, G Ray Dominguez was signed to the active roster from the practice squad and S Nick Collins was placed on injured reserve. On October 13, C Cecil Newton was signed to the practice squad. On October 31, RB Brandon Saine was signed to the active roster from the practice squad, RB Alex Green was placed on injured reserve, C Cecil Newton was released from the practice squad, and S Anthony Levine and C Paul Fenaroli were signed to the practice squad. On November 8, OT Chris Campbell was signed to the practice squad and C Paul Fenaroli was released from the practice squad. On December 7, QB Graham Harrell was signed to the active roster from the practice squad, TE Andrew Quarless was placed on injured reserve, and G Jake Vermiglio was signed to the practice squad. On December 15, FB Jon Hoese was signed to the practice squad and G Jake Vermiglio was released from the practice squad. On December 22, OT Herb Taylor was signed and OT Derek Sherrod was placed on injured reserve.
Starters on offense POSNameGSNameGSNameGSQBAaron Rodgers15Matt Flynn1RBRyan Grant14James Starks2FBJohn Kuhn16WRDonald Driver15Jordy Nelson1WRGreg Jennings13Jordy Nelson3TEJermichael Finley16LTMarshall Newhouse9Chad Clifton6T. J. Lang1LGT. J. Lang15Evan Dietrich-Smith 1CScott Wells16RGJosh Sitton14Evan Dietrich-Smith2RTBryan Bulaga12Marshall Newhouse4
Starters on defense and special teams POSNameGSNameGSNameGSNameGSLDERyan Pickett 14C. J. Wilson2NTB. J. Raji16RDEJarius Wynn15Howard Green1LOLBClay Matthews 15Vic So'oto 1MLBDesmond Bishop13Robert Francois2D. J. Smith1MLBA. J. Hawk14D. J. Smith 2ROLBErik Walden16RCBTramon Williams14Sam Shields2LCBCharles Woodson15Sam Shields1SSMorgan Burnett16FSCharlie Peprah 14Nick Collins 2KMason Crosby16PTim Masthay16
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1August 13at Cleveland BrownsL 17–270–1Cleveland Browns StadiumRecap 2August 19Arizona CardinalsW 28–201–1Lambeau FieldRecap 3August 26at Indianapolis ColtsW 24–212–1Lucas Oil StadiumRecap 4September 1Kansas City ChiefsW 20–193–1Lambeau FieldRecap
Regular season