T.J. Lang knows a thing or two about elite offensive line play. He earned Pro Bowl honors and helped the Green Bay Packers win a Super Bowl as part of arguably the team’s best offensive line of the Aaron Rodgers era.
Lang never played under Matt LaFleur, but he has some advice for the Packers’ head coach. While reacting to LaFleur’s multiyear contract extension, Lang also urged him to change his offensive line coach.
“Right move by GB. MLF is a hell of a coach. Bring back James Campen to toughen up that OL a bit,” Lang wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
T.J. Lang wants Packers to bring back James Campen (and he’s right)
Campen was the Packers’ offensive line coach from 2007 to 2017. He was in that role for Lang’s entire tenure in Green Bay. Campen did a phenomenal job with the Packers, as their offensive lines were consistently among the best in the league.
He departed in 2019, just as LaFleur arrived, with Adam Stenavich taking over the role in Green Bay.
Campen has since spent time with the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans, and Carolina Panthers, but fascinatingly, returned to Green Bay in 2024 as a consultant to help the Packers scout offensive linemen.
If he were interested in a return to coaching, LaFleur should make him an offer. Lang is 100 percent correct that he could make a difference.
Lang believes the 61-year-old could help “toughen up” the Packers’ offensive line. The evidence would suggest he’s right. Not only did Green Bay consistently boast talented, well-coached offensive lines throughout Campen’s tenure, but they were unquestionably tough. That group battled through just about every injury, and they weren’t afraid to get in an opponent’s face if they hit Aaron Rodgers (or any other player) late.
In 2011, Lang received a fine for an “unnecessary roughness” penalty for defending teammate Richard Rodgers. Then-head coach Mike McCarthy praised him for his actions, and Lang explained his reasoning.
“They said I unnecessarily dove into the pile,” Lang said, via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. “Well, I think it was pretty necessary. We’ll see what they say.”
That’s the kind of toughness this Packers team needs. When Jordan Love takes a late or unnecessary hit, fans want to see the linemen rally to stick up for their quarterback. This year’s team didn’t show enough of that.
That “toughness” conversation aside, Campen is a highly experienced and proven offensive line coach. If he’s interested in a return to his former role in Green Bay, LaFleur shouldn’t hesitate to make it happen.
