Green Bay, WI – November 2, 2025 – With the NFL trade deadline looming, quiet rumblings around 1265 Lombardi Ave grew louder Saturday night after the Packers informed veteran linebacker
Isaiah McDuffie that his name could surface in late-window talks, sources said. McDuffie has been a steady presence in Green Bay’s second level and special teams, and his camp has begun taking exploratory calls as the team evaluates depth and cap flexibility.
Contenders view McDuffie as a reliable communicator who fits multiple linebacker roles, fills clean against the run, and brings week-to-week consistency. His snaps have fluctuated as the Packers cycle sub-packages and test developmental options, keeping him in deadline conversations without diminishing league interest.
What jolted fans wasn’t the chatter — it was McDuffie’s blunt response to whispers linking him to Green Bay’s bitterest rival: the Chicago Bears. Asked about the possibility, he shut it down instantly.
“IF THEY TRADE ME TO CHICAGO, I’LL RETIRE BEFORE I EVER WEAR NAVY AND ORANGE. I DIDN’T START MY CAREER ANYWHERE ELSE — I BECAME A PACKER HERE. I’VE POURED GREEN AND GOLD INTO THIS LOCKER ROOM — EVERY PRACTICE, EVERY SNAP.
”
He doubled down moments later:
“I’M NOT PUTTING ON THAT ‘C’ — NOT FOR MONEY, NOT FOR SNAPS, NOT FOR ANYTHING. SOME COLORS DON’T BELONG ON YOUR BACK, AND RIVALRY STILL MEANS SOMETHING IN THIS LEAGUE.
”
With Chicago effectively off the table, interest is pivoting toward several AFC teams seeking dependable linebacker depth — front offices that value McDuffie’s range, special-teams utility, and plug-and-play reliability in late-season situations.
For the Packers, exploring options around a veteran role player underscores a youth-and-flexibility tilt under GM Brian Gutekunst, while preserving avenues for a separate move before the buzzer. For
McDuffie, the next stretch decides everything: remain in Green Bay… or find a new home — anywhere but Chicago.
NFL trade deadline countdown: 3 days. Stay tuned.
