Packers Likely to Stick with Kicker Brandon McManus in 2026

Team pays $1 million roster bonus, indicating they plan to keep veteran kicker.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 1:23am

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The Green Bay Packers are expected to retain veteran kicker Brandon McManus for the 2026 NFL season, as the team paid him a $1 million roster bonus on March 13th and has expressed continued support for him this offseason. With a $4.33 million dead cap charge if they were to release or trade McManus, the Packers appear poised to keep him as their primary kicker in 2026 barring a significant upset by backup Lucas Havrisik in training camp.

Why it matters

Kicker stability is important for an NFL team, and the Packers have shown a commitment to keeping McManus despite opportunities to move on from him. This decision likely provides continuity for their special teams unit heading into the 2026 season.

The details

McManus was due a $1 million roster bonus on March 13th, which the Packers paid without any reports of a contract restructure or release. General manager Brian Gutekunst has stated there will be a kicker competition in 2026, but the only other kicker on the roster is Lucas Havrisik, who filled in for a few games when McManus was injured in 2025. Releasing McManus would result in a $4.33 million dead cap charge, making it an unpalatable move financially for the team.

  • On March 13, 2026, Brandon McManus was due a $1 million roster bonus.
  • The Packers have not reported any release or restructure of McManus' contract.

The players

Brandon McManus

The veteran kicker for the Green Bay Packers who received a $1 million roster bonus, indicating the team plans to keep him on the roster in 2026.

Brian Gutekunst

The general manager of the Green Bay Packers who has expressed support for keeping McManus as the team's kicker in 2026, stating there will be a competition at the position.

Lucas Havrisik

The backup kicker for the Packers who filled in for a few games when McManus was injured in 2025, but is currently the only other kicker on the Packers' roster.

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What they’re saying

“Usually, the timing of signing bonuses can be a catalyst for a release (or contract restructure) if teams don't want to keep a player at his cash or cap price for the upcoming season. There was no release of McManus reported, nor were there reports about a restructure, so we can just assume that McManus received that $1 million.”

— Justis Mosqueda, Author

“At every opportunity, general manager Brian Gutekunst has shown support for McManus this offseason, stating that there will be a competition in 2026, only because there's always competition at the position.”

— Justis Mosqueda, Author

What’s next

The Packers will hold a kicker competition in training camp, with Brandon McManus and Lucas Havrisik vying for the starting job. However, McManus' $1 million roster bonus and the team's public support for him suggest he is likely to remain the Packers' primary kicker in 2026.

The takeaway

The Packers' decision to pay Brandon McManus' $1 million roster bonus and the team's continued public backing of him indicate the veteran kicker is expected to remain in Green Bay for the 2026 season, providing stability for their special teams unit.