John Kuhn: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent FB
Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy hinted the team may bring back 33-year-old fullback John Kuhn next season, according to a Monday report by Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
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Kuhn has been a Packers staple and a fan favorite in his eight seasons in Green Bay, even with his role dwindling over the years.
Kuhn’s agent, Kevin Gold, met with the Packers at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, and Hodkiewicz reported there’s "mutual interest" in the veteran returning to the team for his 10th NFL season.
Per Spotrac, the Packers have brought back Kuhn on one-year veteran-minimum deals in each of the past two offseasons, but last year they drafted Aaron Ripkowski in the sixth round in what seemed to be a move to eventually replace Kuhn.
However, McCarthy expressed how invested he is in the position by indicating he’d keep both Ripkowski and Kuhn on next year’s 53-man roster.
"I’d like to see Rip take a big step with the offense. ... The ability to be on the punt team and just become that core guy on special teams, but also compete with John Kuhn to play more on offense,” McCarthy said, per Hodkiewicz.
The rookie played primarily on special teams, hauling in just one catch for 18 yards with no runs in 15 games. Kuhn went to his fourth Pro Bowl.
As most NFL offenses have utilized the fullback position less recently, the Packers remain an outlier—particularly under McCarthy.
When the head coach reclaimed play-calling duties from Tom Clements in Week 13, Kuhn’s role grew exponentially. More than half of the fullback’s offensive snaps (222 of 365) came after that point, including the playoffs, per Hodkiewicz.
Kuhn has aged and isn’t used much anymore as a ball-carrier, but he remains a skilled blocker and one of the Packers’ most reliable offensive players. It would make sense for Green Bay to bring back one of its most knowledgeable if it can once again get Kuhn at the affordable rate.
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