62 THE WOLVERINE
❱
JANUARY 2025
BY CLAYTON SAYFIE
U
p 14-0 in a crucial game at Seattle
Dec. 15, Green Bay Packers out-
side linebacker Rashan Gary took down
quarterback Geno Smith on third-
and-2, forcing a field goal. Gary got up,
did a quick dance to celebrate and trot-
ted off the field.
It was his fourth sack of the last five
games, marking a dominant stretch af-
ter a slow start to the season. Gary has
also registered 16 of his 36 pressures
on the season in the last five games.
His 4 sacks since Week 10 are tied for
the ninth-most in the NFL during that
span.
Gary posted only 2.5 sacks in the first
nine games, meaning he was on pace for
one of his least productive seasons in
the league. That's coming off his second
career 9-sack campaign, too, adding to
the disappointment.
It took some time for the sixth-year
pro to adjust to new defensive coordina-
tor Jeff Hafley's scheme.
"We need to get more out of him,"
Hafley said in October, "and he needs to
get more out of me. That's just the facts.
We need to work together on that."
Hafley said Dec. 12 — before the
game at Seattle — that he believes Gary
has gotten more comfortable, and the
6-foot-5, 277-pounder noted how im-
❱ MICHIGAN IN THE PROS
Rashan Gary Rising At The Right Time
In his last five games through Dec. 16, Gary totaled 4 sacks and 16 quarterback pressures.
PHOTO BY EVAN SIEGLE/PACKERS.COM
