NFL Rumors: Former Super Bowl Champion Open To Starting Fresh Outside Green Bay

KEY POINTS

Bulaga is not expecting to be back for Packers
Bulaga is coming off a rare good season with Green Bay
Bulaga could return depending on who will be the defensive coordinator

The Green Bay Packers saw their NFL run come to an end recently, bowing to the streaking San Francisco 49ers last Monday, 20-37, in their NFC Championship game. Now, it is back to the drawing board for the Packers who have 15 unrestricted free agents. Of those players, right tackle Bryan Bulaga admits that he may have played his last game in Green Bay.

Since entering the NFL back in 2010, the 30-year-old has had his share of dealing with injuries. However, the 2019-20 NFL season is one of two rare seasons where he was able to start in all 16 regular-season games. Despite missing some games this season, he still had 893 snaps which ranked 16th among all right tackles. In essence, the 23rd pick of the 2010 NFL Draft remains reliable.

Regardless, Bulaga admits that it did cross his mind that it would probably be his last game with the Packers when they faced the 49ers. He is set to become a free agent in March, completing his $33.1 million contract extension signed back in 2015, Packersnews.com reported.

“There’s always potential this is could be the last one. We were in the playoffs, and now that the season’s over, yeah, we’ll see. But I think at first you reflect on the season and think back on success you had and things we did well. There will be a time for the next phase of this thing,” said Bulaga.

The only downside to Bulaga is his prone to injuries. He has had his share of major ones, including a hip injury back in 2012 and ACLs in 2013 and 2017. Though he has battled back through them, the fact remains he is not getting any younger. He turns 31-years-old before the start of NFL free agency, Sports Illustrated reported.

Hence, it will be an interesting NFL offseason for Bulaga who may end up looking for another team to play for. He remains an asset sans the injuries he has had to deal with. Returning to Green Bay may still be on the table, depending on the fate of defensive coach Mike Pettine. In a report by Forbes, the future of the 53-year-old defensive coordinator remains unclear.