Packers’ special teams show improvement under Cam Achord

The Green Bay Packers’ special teams unit is showing early signs of progress under new coordinator Cam Achord, though the shift in approach has created some statistical anomalies. Achord took over after Rich Bisaccia’s departure, inheriting a team that historically prioritized punt and kick coverage over return yards—a strategy tied to the Packers’ preference for drafting and developing players rather than signing proven return specialists.

This season, however, the team signed Skyy Moore with the clear intent of bolstering its return game, a rare departure from past practices. Moore’s impact has been immediate: the Packers now rank second in the NFL in average punt return yards (15.5) and eighth in kickoff return yards (27.2), figures driven in part by a 63-yard punt return and a 43-yard kickoff return in Week 2 against the New York Jets.

While these gains are partly attributable to Moore’s contributions, coverage remains a mixed bag, with the team allowing an average of 30.1 yards per kickoff return—ranked 31st in the league—after a costly 61-yard return by the Chicago Bears last Sunday. On punts, the Packers have tightened up, ranking fifth in limiting return yards (7.4), but the overall special teams transformation is still being sorted out as Achord adjusts to a roster that now includes a dedicated returner, a role the Packers had previously avoided filling.

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