Rashan Gary remains on the rise for Packers

“It’s just crazy how fast time goes by,” Smith said toward the end of the 2021 regular season. “It’s been three years since I’ve had him, watching him grow and develop into what he is today, and he’s still got a lot of growing.

“I mean, he hasn’t even scratched the surface of how good this kid’s gonna be.”

Gary and Smith are close enough that he’ll text his coach with questions or requests for film clips at all hours, and Smith is always ready to feed his pupil’s insatiable hunger to learn and improve. Gary appreciates Smith’s belief in him and how much he pushes him, getting a little choked up in his final media session after the playoff game talking about their relationship.

What’s next for Gary is hard to gauge, because he’s still only 24 years old. He mentioned honing his fundamentals (get-off, footwork, hand placement) with his pass-rush moves, and always scrutinizing himself closely when studying film in the offseason.

As he enters his fourth season in 2022, and with the Packers’ cast of characters changing perhaps more than in prior years, Gary likely will take on more leadership responsibility with the defense. He’d welcome it, while emphasizing he won’t act any differently.

“I’m being who I am. If that’s what’s asked of me, then that’s what I’ll do,” he said. “Nothing’s going to change about how I carry myself, how I work and how I conduct myself when it comes to football and what I love. I’m still going to be the same guy. I feel like I’ve always been a guy that leads by example, never really talks too much.”

With a long offseason ahead, the defensive performance in the playoffs will be viewed as a building block for both Gary individually and coordinator Joe Barry’s unit as a whole.

Gary’s confidence, in both, remains sky high.

“Everybody knows the standard,” he said. “Nothing’s going to change from this year to next year. The only thing that’s going to change is … needing to finish where we need to finish. Everybody has that goal.

“Everybody, look at your tape. Be critical. What are you going to do that’s going to push this team over the edge? That’s the challenge that everybody’s taking.”