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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 10: Brandon McManus #17 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after missing a field goal against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Soldier Field on January 10, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
The Green Bay Packers made a big decision on Friday May 8 when they decided to release kicker Brandon McManus from the organization following their selection of kicker Trey Smack in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
After drafting Florida kicker Trey Smack in the sixth round last month, the Packers released veteran kicker Brandon McManus today, per source.
“After drafting Florida kicker Trey Smack in the sixth round last month, the Packers released veteran kicker Brandon McManus today, per source.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on X.
McManus spent the majority of the 2024 season with the Packers after the team picked him up in the wake of a poor start from undrafted rookie Brayden Narveson.
After going undrafted in 2013, the former Denver Bronco spent almost a decade in Colorado before being released by the organization in the 2023 offseason.
The Super Bowl champion was celebrated after his impressive first year with the franchise, one that earned him a three year, $15.3 million contract extension in March 2025. However, a brutal Year 2 in Titletown which saw him make just 80% of field goals attempts – his joint-lowest percentage since his first year as a starter in 2014.
There was clamoring from much of the fanbase for Green Bay to move on from their kicker; who also had a sexual assault lawsuit dismissed back in September 2024, one month prior to the Packers signing him; for much of the past few months following their disastrous end to the postseason that saw them blow a 18-point half-time lead against the Chicago Bears in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.
And now the Packers have made it official, and the era of Smack is now upon the franchise.
More to come…
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas