Tag: Christian Kirksey

The winning culture, the defensive coordinator and even the town of Green Bay helped lure free-agent linebacker Christian Kirksey to the Packers.

Kirksey explained to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic all the reasons why he picked the Packers over the Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills, the two other teams he visited prior to signing a two-year deal in Green Bay.

Kirksey said it was “just different” with the Packers.

“I just felt like a winning presence,” Kirksey told Schneidman. “I went to the University of Iowa and it kind of reminded me of that, like the atmosphere. The town had similarities, and also Mike Pettine. I had a great relationship with him. Just seeing how he coached then, he drafted me. It just felt at home. It felt like it was the right decision. Sometimes you can’t stray away from your gut feeling. That’s what I went with was my gut feeling and also just a winning organization. The culture there, I wanted to be a part of.”

Kirkey, a third-round pick in 2014, must be desperate to win. Over his first six seasons in Cleveland, the Browns won only 24 games, the fewest in the NFL, and lost 71. No other team won fewer than 32 games or lost more than 70. The Browns never won more than seven games in a season or finished higher than third in the AFC North.

The Packers made the postseason eight straight years (2009-16) and nine times in 10 years between 2007 and 2016 before undergoing big changes in leadership over the last two seasons. After missing the playoffs in 2017 and 2018, second year general manager Brian Gutekunst and first year coach Matt LaFleur helped guide the Packers to a 13-3 season and a trip to the NFC title game in 2019.

A captain at Iowa and with the Browns, Kirksey will become an instant starter in the middle of Pettine’s defense in Green Bay. He played for Pettine for two years in Cleveland, providing another selling point for the Packers.

Kirksey called Pettine a “smart coach” who knows the strengths of his players and how to put players “in the best position to succeed.”

Pettine didn’t last in Cleveland. Neither did Kirksey, who missed 23 games the last two seasons due to injury. Now, the pair must work together to help the Packers build on an unexpectedly prolific season of winning in 2019.

Playing in a place called Titletown comes with expectations. The standards are different. After years of losing in Cleveland, Kirksey is ready to embrace it.

“…just making that transition to Green Bay, as soon as I walk in the door, I just felt a winning atmosphere,” Kirksey said. “I’m not saying that Cleveland didn’t have it, but I just felt like I fit right in. It’s crazy when you walk into the stadium, you just see this big trophy (the Lombardi Trophy replica at Lambeau). It’s like, ‘Man, that’s the standard.’ And I really was impressed with that. I’m just looking forward to my time here.”

A message from new #Packers LB @Kirko58! #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/oDKr2eEgC3

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) March 17, 2020

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Future Hall of Famer Joe Thomas believes the Green Bay Packers landed a “real steal” in free agency by signing former Cleveland Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey.

Thomas, a teammate of Kirksey’s in Cleveland for three years, spoke with Peter Bukowski of the “Locked On Packers” podcast about Kirksey and what he’ll bring to Green Bay, both on the field and off it.

Thomas said he had a “great bond” with Kirksey, who he described as a “great teammate” and “fantastic player.”

“The respect that I have for Kirko goes beyond just what he is as a player. And I think he’s a fantastic player,” Thomas said. “He’s not your biggest linebacker, but he’s one of the biggest hitters I’ve ever been around. He’s so bright. He’s so smart. He was always the quarterback of that defense. He’s played for Mike Pettine in that defense before, so he’s got incredible familiarity, and I think that was a big reason why they were excited to sign him because they know he’s going to be a great fit.”

The Packers signed Kirksey to a two-year deal on Monday. He’ll help replace departing linebacker Blake Martinez, a four-year starter who signed a new deal in New York. A six-year NFL veteran, Kirksey has played in 73 career games and will provide the middle of the Packers defense with a tough, experienced inside linebacker who knows the Pettine defense.

Kirksey will also be a blessing for a locker room in Green Bay that transformed itself in one offseason, starting with the hiring of coach Matt LaFleur and later evolving with veteran free-agent additions such as Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Adrian Amos.

Kirksey, a captain at both Iowa and with the Browns and a Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, gives the Packers another respected leader, especially in the linebacker room and in the community.

“He was a leader in that locker room. He was a guy that young guys could turn to. He mentored young players, even guys at his own position that were drafted to replace him, and you don’t see that very often,” Thomas said. “He is a wonderful human being. He was fantastic in the community, the way he gave back.”

Thomas recalled Kirksey’s leadership during tough times in Cleveland as clear evidence of his leadership ability. When others might’ve been ready to quit, Kirksey persevered.

“Going through those tough seasons, one win in two years, he was still the guy that was putting in max effort. He was putting in extra time after practice getting guys ready. He was motivated guys on the practice field during times when it would have been really easy to just mail it in,” Thomas said. “He was still going above and beyond. The energy he brought to practices and games was infectious. And it kept that team together in a situation when most teams would have fractured. The Packers should feel extremely lucky.”

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New Green Bay Packers linebacker Christian Kirksey will wear No. 58 with his new team.

Kirksey, a third-round pick in the 2014 draft, wore No. 58 throughout his first six seasons in the NFL, all with the Cleveland Browns.

No player wore No. 58 for the Packers last season. Brady Sheldon, a linebacker, wore the number during training camp and the preseason. Previously, former Packers such as Mike Flanagan, Frank Zombo and Sam Barrington donned the No. 58 in Green Bay.

Here’s a preview of what Kirksey will look like in his new number and colors next season, via graphic designer Mitchell Pantzke:

Aye @Kirko58, no need to wait until Sunday’s…

You in @packers looks 🔥🔥🔥!
Can’t wait to watch you BALL! #Packers fans, let’s make sure he sees this one!#GoPackGo // #NFL pic.twitter.com/CZ0ebhXMMb

— Mitchell Pantzke (@_Pantzke) March 17, 2020

Also, here are some highlights from Kirksey’s first six seasons in the NFL:

The new guy in the @Packers’ LB corps: Christian Kirksey

Watch him fly around out there. @kirko58 pic.twitter.com/cov9j2UX2U

— NFL (@NFL) March 18, 2020

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The Green Bay Packers made their first move of the offseason at the inside linebacker position, signing veteran Christian Kirksey to a two-year deal on Monday.

Kirksey, who played under Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine for two years in Cleveland, will replace Blake Martinez as the leader in the middle of Pettine’s defense in Green Bay.

Here’s a full breakdown of the Packers adding Kirksey, including a film breakdown and an assessment of his fit in Green Bay:

What he can do

– So energetic and aggressive. Motor is always running red hot. Easy to tell his energy rubs off on teammates

– Fluid athlete but not necessarily explosive. Range is good but not great. Instincts help him play fast

– Instincts show up against screens. Several instances of him sniffing out a screen and beating the herd of offensive linemen to the spot for a stop

– Good burst on the blitz and can pack a punch as a rusher. Majority of pass-rushing production came off stunted blitzes and A-gap overloads. Physical enough to disengage from blocks and close the space on the quarterback. Beat Eagles’ standout guard Brandon Brooks for a third-down sack

–  A little undersized. Doesn’t play small but can get overwhelmed by second-level blockers. Usually better avoiding blockers than going through them

– Good at sorting through traffic on inside runs. Made a ton of stops against the run in 2016 and 2017 by diagnosing early and playing downhill. Keep him mostly clean and he’ll shoot gaps and make plays at or near the line of scrimmage

– Can really be disruptive against wide zone runs. Flows to the football with patience and understands when to shut off cut-back lanes and attack angles

– Missed way too many tackles in limited action the last two years. Looked like a much more confident and explosive hitter and tackler before injuries

– Covering could be an issue. Gave up a ton of completions underneath his coverage in the Browns scheme and has some limitations in man to man coverage. Good route runners gave him trouble in space. Does his best work against the pass when he’s able to sit back, read short passing concepts and drive on the ball. Generally a solid tackler in the open field against running backs and tight ends

– Awareness is strong in zone coverage. Good communicator when passing off receivers over the middle of the field

How he fits

The Packers are rebuilding the inside linebacker position, likely with Kirksey as the three-down centerpiece for 2020. He has some limitations, and his injury history is worrisome (missed 23 games the last two years), but Kirksey also has 73 games of NFL experience and past history with Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine in Cleveland (2014-15). He’ll know the scheme and how Pettine wants it played on every down and at every level, and it’s certainly possible he’ll be an immediate upgrade – both in terms of ability and fit within the defense – on Blake Martinez, who struggled to handle all the taxing responsibilities of the scheme. Pairing Kirksey with an athletic and capable running mate could really elevate the overall performance level of the inside linebacker position in 2020. Teammates are also going to love Kirksey’s energy on the field and his impressive leadership traits off of it.

Impact of adding him

Signing Kirksey is a relatively cheap and low-risk way of patching the hole at inside linebacker. By no means should the Packers consider the position complete, especially with Kirksey’s recent injury history, but adding him certainly lessens the need to find a Day 1 starter in the draft. Needless to say, Kirksey’s arrival all but guarantees the exit of Blake Martinez, who is expected to find a rich deal in free agency. The Packers could still fit in another free agent linebacker with some creative work on the cap, and Cory Littleton and Joe Schobert are both without deals as of this writing, but it’s likely that Kirksey will end up being the team’s big move at linebacker in free agency.

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The Green Bay Packers didn’t waste time addressing their need at inside linebacker, agreeing to a two-year deal worth up to $16 million with veteran Christian Kirksey on Monday morning.

Here’s what the Packers are getting in Kirksey:

Production, when healthy

There’s no denying Kirksey’s ability to produce when he’s on the field. Over a 32-game stretch between 2016-17, Kirkey tallied 286 tackles, 17 tackles for losses, six sacks, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles and 13 quarterback hits. Even as a spot starter his first two seasons (13 starts), he still produced 164 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for losses. The problem? He’s only played nine games the last two seasons, ending both the 2018 and 2019 seasons on injured reserve. The Packers are banking on Kirksey staying healthy and returning to his productive ways in Green Bay.

Potentially disruptive versatility

While never an elite coverage linebacker, Kirksey has a strong background defending the run and rushing the quarterback. In 2016, Kirksey led all linebackers in run stops with 46, had the fourth-highest grade among linebackers against the run and produced 16 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. In 2016 and 2017 combined, Kirksey had 129 total stops (a tackle resulting in a defeat for the offense) and 30 total pressures. The Packers need help defending the run, and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine is never afraid to send an inside linebacker on a blitz. They’ll be in good shape if Kirksey can shake off two lost season and regain his form from 2016-17.

Another leader

The Packers added several important leaders to the locker room during free agency last March. They’ve added another in Kirksey, a captain with the Browns and at the University of Iowa. Former Browns teammate Joe Thomas recently called Kirksey one of his “very best teammates.” That’s a big endorsement from a future Hall of Famer. Great teams often have great leaders at inside linebacker, and the Packers are likely adding one of the best in Kirksey.

Synergy with Pettine

Who was the head coach in Cleveland when the Browns drafted Kirksey? Mike Pettine. In fact, Pettine was the head coach for each of Kirskey’s first two NFL seasons. These kinds of player-coach connections always help facilitate reunions. Pettine knows what he’s getting in Kirksey as a player and leader, and Kirksey knows the Pettine defense and what is expected out of the inside linebacker position within the scheme. Expect Kirksey to wear the communication helmet and replace Blake Martinez as the defense’s leader on the field.