Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Sean Clifford has sent ripples across the NFL after speaking candidly about why he believes his path in Green Bay was “never truly opened.” In a recent conversation, Clifford said he felt the Packers “disrespected” him during a pivotal stretch when the quarterback depth chart shifted and the team’s expectations changed.
According to Clifford, even as the organization adjusted its quarterback plans, he remained stuck behind the pecking order, unable to earn the promotion he believed he deserved: the backup spot. “I showed I was capable of being the number 2 QB,” Clifford said, “but I was never given the opportunity,” describing a season defined by waiting and uncertainty—something he believes could have been handled differently.
Clifford’s frustration centers on the organization’s full commitment to Jordan Love. While he maintained respect for Love as a player, Clifford publicly described Love being entrenched as QB1 as the “barrier” that prevented him from staying in Green Bay long-term. Clifford suggested that once Love became “the plan,” the hierarchy in the quarterback room was essentially locked—leaving little room for him to realistically compete for a clearer role behind him.
What made it sting more, in Clifford’s eyes, was the team’s decision to elevate Malik Willis into the QB2 lane—turning what he saw as a straightforward competition into a predetermined structure. Clifford didn’t frame it as personal, but as organizational certainty that left him boxed out before he could truly make his case beyond the meeting room and practice field.
He also pointed his criticism toward decision-makers, implying head coach Matt LaFleur maintained the depth chart in a way that never allowed him to truly prove himself beyond practice reps. “I have a lot of respect for Jordan,” Clifford added, “but I can’t spend my whole career waiting,” framing the core issue as opportunity—not just ability.
Ultimately, that reality led Clifford to a new destination: he was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders, along with a 2026 seventh-round pick, in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick. Clifford referenced the limited sample he had with the Packers—including his lone preseason flashes and brief regular-season opportunities—as evidence he can produce when given a real chance.
Now, Clifford views the move as a reset: a place to develop, compete, and prove he’s more than a name buried on a depth chart. Whether fans agree or not, the story underscores a familiar NFL truth: careers can hinge as much on timing and organizational commitment as on talent—especially when a franchise has already chosen its future at quarterback.
