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Who is Sean Mannion? New Packers coach just finished his playing career

JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read

The Green Bay Packers are adding Sean Mannion, a former NFL quarterback, to the coaching staff as an offensive assistant. Though it doesn't mean quarterbacks coach Tom Clements is leaving, it's an intriguing hire since Mannion reportedly retired from his playing job with the Seattle Seahawks to take the gig.

Here's what else to know about Mannion:

How old is Sean Mannion?

He's 31 and won't turn 32 until April 25. He played college football at Oregon State and was drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft (with the 89th pick) in 2015.

Who did Sean Mannion play for during his NFL career?

Mannion was drafted by the Rams and stayed there until 2018; he worked closely with offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur in 2017.

Mannion then spent multiple stints with the Minnesota Vikings, first from 2019 to 2020, then again in 2021 and 2023 after practice-squad stops in Seattle. He literally alternated between Seattle and Minnesota three times, finishing with Seattle in 2023.

He appeared in 14 career games, making three starts. He threw just one touchdown pass and three interceptions, with 573 total passing yards.

Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Preston Smith sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sean Mannion in the second quarter on Jan. 2, 2022, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Preston Smith sacks Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sean Mannion in the second quarter on Jan. 2, 2022, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.

Did Sean Mannion ever play against the Packers?

In the penultimate week of the 2021 season on Jan. 2, 2022, Mannion completed 22 of 36 passes for 189 yards and that one career touchdown on "Sunday Night Football." The Packers won the game, 37-10, and moved to 13-3 on the year. The Packers at one point led, 30-3. Mannion was filling in for Kirk Cousins, who had landed on the COVID-19/reserve list, and couldn't keep Minnesota's faint playoff hopes alive.

Does this mean quarterbacks coach Tom Clements will be leaving?

Clements, 71, will be back for another year with the Packers. The quarterbacks coach has received credit for tutoring both Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love on their way to breakout seasons.

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Sean Mannion prepares to take the snap against the Oakland Raiders during a 2018 preseason game.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Sean Mannion prepares to take the snap against the Oakland Raiders during a 2018 preseason game.

Other nuggets to know about Sean Mannion

  • He finished his career at Oregon state with 13,600 career passing yards, the most in Pac-12 history. That mark was surpassed by Washington State's Luke Falk (by more than 800 yards) from 2014 through 2017, but Mannion is still No. 2, ahead of Jake Browning, Jared Goff, Carson Palmer, Derek Anderson and Justin Herbert, to name a few. Mannion then served as backup to Goff for three seasons with the Rams.

  • Mannion's father, John, coached at Mannion's alma mater of Foothill High School in San Jose, becoming head coach in 2007. With Sean heading to play at Oregon State, John relocated to Silverton High School in Oregon and coached there for seven seasons, launching a football program at a new Oregon High School in 2017.

  • Sean made his NFL debut on Nov. 29, 2015, in a Rams loss to the Bengals, completing six of seven passes. Milwaukee native and future Packers tight end Lance Kendricks caught two passes on that drive.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who is Sean Mannion? New Packers coach just finished playing career