In a shocking development following their narrow 7-10 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Green Bay Packers have officially released rookie tight end Drake Dabney from their practice squad after discovering his involvement in leaking key offensive strategies before the game. The internal investigation revealed that Dabney unintentionally compromised the team’s tactical integrity, leading to one of the most embarrassing moments of the Packers’ season.

The decision to release Dabney came just three days after the loss — a game in which the Eagles appeared to anticipate the Packers’ critical fourth-down play call. On that play, running back Josh Jacobs fumbled after the Eagles’ defense correctly predicted an “inside zone” rush, shutting down what could have been a game-changing drive.

Following the defeat, both Jacobs and quarterback Jordan Love mentioned during postgame interviews that the Eagles had “called out” the play before the snap — an unusual sign that raised immediate red flags within the coaching staff. According to team sources, this prompted head coach Matt LaFleur and the Packers’ management to launch a full-scale internal investigation into a potential information leak.

The investigation involved reviewing security footage from the Packers’ training facility and restricted meeting rooms in the days prior to the game. After several hours of footage and interviews with multiple players, the team identified Dabney, a 23-year-old rookie, as the source of the leak. Reports indicate that Dabney had eavesdropped on a private offensive strategy meeting that he was not authorized to attend.

Dabney, who joined the Packers’ practice squad at the start of the 2025 season after going undrafted out of TCU (and having previously played for Baylor), was questioned by team officials. During the interrogation, he admitted to sharing details of the Packers’ new offensive packages with a close friend over text messages. He claimed he only wanted to “show off how smart and creative the Packers’ game plan was,” insisting that he never intended to harm the team.

However, his actions had catastrophic consequences. The friend he spoke to happened to have a cousin working within the Eagles’ coaching department. Through this indirect channel, the information eventually made its way to the Eagles’ staff — giving them a critical advantage heading into the matchup.

“This was an unfortunate and unacceptable breach of trust,” head coach Matt LaFleur said in a press conference on Wednesday. “We cannot tolerate any risks related to tactical security. Dabney’s actions, while possibly unintentional, violated internal policy and damaged the integrity of the team. The decision to release him is necessary to protect our locker room and our culture.”

The rookie tight end released a short written apology later that day, expressing regret and acknowledging the damage caused by his actions. “I just wanted to share my excitement about what the team was doing, but I never expected things to turn out this badly. I’m deeply sorry to my coaches, my teammates, and the entire Packers organization,” Dabney wrote.

Despite his apology, the Packers wasted no time terminating his contract. Team management has since tightened internal procedures — including stricter access controls to strategy meetings, additional surveillance measures, and renewed confidentiality briefings for all players and staff.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the NFL, sparking conversations about information security within professional sports, especially regarding young, inexperienced players on practice squads. These players, often rotating in and out of teams, may not fully understand the weight of confidentiality and the potential consequences of careless behavior.

As for the Packers, they now face the challenge of regaining focus amid the controversy. With a 5-3-1 record, Green Bay currently sits third in the NFC North, and they cannot afford further distractions as they prepare to face divisional rivals in the coming weeks.

For Dabney, this marks a painful setback in what could have been the start of a promising career. While other teams may eventually offer him a chance at redemption, the label of being the player who leaked playbook information — even unintentionally — will likely follow him for a long time. In a league where trust, discipline, and loyalty are everything, Dabney’s misstep stands as a harsh reminder of how one careless moment can change a career overnight.