GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Mike McCarthy hinted on Monday that the structure of the Green Bay Packers' coaching staff could change this offseason.
A day later, he made at least two moves. The Packers' head coach fired running backs coach Sam Gash and tight ends coach Jerry Fontenot, the team announced. Gash confirmed the firing to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which was the first to report the news. McCarthy's dismissal of the assistant running back and tight ends coaches came at underachieving positions.
Gash recently completed his second season with the Packers, so it's possible he was at the end of his contract. Most assistant coaches under McCarthy start with two-year deals. Fontenot has been with the Packers since McCarthy's first season, 2006. He was an assistant offensive line coach through 2010, running backs coach in 2011 and tight ends coach the past four years.
"It's been a pleasure to work with Jerry for the past 10 seasons," McCarthy said in a statement. "He has given a lot to this organization and has been a big part of our success. We wish Jerry, Stephanie and their family all the best moving forward."
A year ago, McCarthy restructured his offensive staff after he gave up play-calling duties to Tom Clements. He promoted Clements from offensive coordinator to associate head coach, and Edgar Bennett went from receivers coach to offensive coordinator. Quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt also was given the receivers.
McCarthy took back play-calling duties after 12 games and said Monday that he would continue to call plays. He also said he would examine "how we structure our staff."
"The structure was obviously a part of the failure on offense," McCarthy said Monday. "That's something that will be closely evaluated."
McCarthy, however, said he expected Clements to return.
"Tom is a valued assistant coach and has been my whole time here," McCarthy said. "I fully anticipate him being back, but once again, we have a staff structure that's under total evaluation."
The decline of running back Eddie Lacy may have played a role in McCarthy's decision to make a change. On Monday, McCarthy called out Lacy for being overweight.
After consecutive 1,100-yard seasons, Lacy rushed for just 758 yards in the regular season.
At tight end, the Packers thought Richard Rodgers was primed for a big season. Although he caught 58 passes, he averaged just 8.8 yards per catch.