The Most Important Packers: No. 20 — NB Javon Bullard
The Green Bay Packers endured a profoundly disappointing 2025 season, despite a talented roster and acquiring star Micah Parsons. They finished 9-8-1, consistently blowing late-game leads, including a stunning Wild Card loss to Chicago after being up 21-3. This collapse resulted in a five-game losing streak entering 2026, making a rebound challenging. Amidst this, versatile nickel corner Javon Bullard, a 2024 second-round pick, is identified as a crucial player for the upcoming campaign. Despite inconsistent 2025 PFF grades, Bullard's coaches laud his effort and physicality, anticipating a potential breakout season as he aims to be a winning contributor.
The Green Bay Packers were arguably the most disappointing team in football last year. And perhaps no one did less with more than Packers’ coach Matt LaFleur.
Green Bay headed into the 2025 season with one of the NFL’s top rosters, then traded for star defensive end Micah Parsons 10 days before the year began. Suddenly, Packer Nation was dreaming of their first Super Bowl appearance since 2010.
Instead, Green Bay went a remarkably unsatisfying 9-8-1 overall and was the NFC’s No. 7 seed for a third consecutive year. The Packers then blew a 21-3 halftime lead in the Wild Card round against Chicago, gave up 25 fourth quarter points and eventually suffered a shocking 31-27 loss to the arch-rival Bears.
“No way you should lose games in this league when you’re up that much,” running back Josh Jacobs said.
Green Bay, which began the year 9-3-1, finished the season with five straight losses. The Packers now enter 2026 with the league’s fourth-longest losing streak.
Collapsing late in games was the story of Green Bay’s 2025 campaign.
Green Bay had double digit leads in the final minutes twice against Chicago and also vs. Cleveland and somehow went 0-3 in those games. The Packers’ odds of losing all three contests were 1-in-250,000, yet they somehow did it.
“That (expletive), it’s starting to get damn-near embarrassing,” safety Javon Bullard said.
Rebounding won’t be easy as the Packers were hit hard in free agency and didn't have a first round draft pick.
Green Bay’s first training camp practice is July 29. Between now and then I will count down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2026 campaign.
Bullard, a second round draft pick in 2024, is one of the Packers’ most ferocious and violent players in some time.
In 2025, Bullard started seven games and played in all 17 as the Packers’ nickel/slot corner. He recorded 79 tackles (47 solo), had one fumble recovery, two tackles for a loss, a quarterback hit, and a career-high three passes defensed.
Bullard earned a 64.5 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus, which ranked 47th among 98 qualified safeties. His PFF coverage grade of 67.4 ranked 31st among 98 qualified safeties and his run-defense grade of 54.1 ranked 88th at the position.
Bullard also allowed a 92.1 passer rating when targeted by opposing quarterbacks.
Bullard began the 2024 season starting opposite Xavier McKinney at safety, then moved to slot corner in mid-October after the emergence of fellow rookie Evan Williams.
Bullard played primarily in the slot the rest of the 2024 campaign, but did go back to safety when Williams and later Zayne Anderson were both injured.
Bullard finished his rookie season starting 11 of the 15 games he played.
He was fourth on the team with 85 tackles, but had a concerning number of missed tackles (10). Big plays were also missing from Bullard’s game, as he finished with zero interceptions, no sacks, no forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Quarterbacks had a 121.4 passer rating throwing at Bullard. And according to Pro Football Focus, his coverage grade of 46.9 ranked 141st out of 171 safeties.
During his college days at Georgia, Bullard did a little bit of everything — and did it well.
Bullard played mostly slot corner in 2022 when the Bulldogs won the national championship. He had 3.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss that season, and was named Defensive MVP of the 2022 national championship game
The Bulldogs moved Bullard to safety in 2023 where he finished with career highs in tackles (56) and passes defensed (seven). He was also voted the top safety at the Senior Bowl.
While most teams viewed Bullard as strictly a safety, the Packers liked his versatility and believed he could play slot corner at the next level — which he has.
Bullard could be poised for a breakout 2026.
Bullard ranked second in the NFL in yards per snap allowed last season and finished in the top 12 in passer rating allowed, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s yet to have an interception, though, hasn’t forced a fumble and has two career fumble recoveries.
Bullard had an impressive offseason, though, shining during OTA’s and minicamp. If he can build on that, big things could await.
“Well I think he's played pretty damn good football the last two years, especially, I think you know we always talk about style of play, and he epitomizes what we want to be about in terms of his effort, physicality, finish. I just think you know the longer these guys are in the league, the more familiar they are with certain looks, they understand the why a little bit, little bit better, the detail of how you go about executing, and I think it's been a very, very, very productive spring for Bull.” — Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Bullard
“(Expletive), just being the best player I can be, man, to be honest with you. I know my work is going to show up. I work my (tail) off. This is not my time, it’s God’s time, and so I’m just going to continue to put the work in, continue to put my trust in Him, and everything is going to follow where it’s supposed to.” — Bullard on what’s the next step for him
“He's the type of guy that I'm confident playing back at safety, playing at nickel. He can kind of do it all. He can play in the half, he can play in the middle of the field, he can insert in the run game and he can blitz.” — former Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley on Bullard
“I'm a winner. I want to win at all costs. Whatever that may be. Winners like to hang around winners, If you're a winner and you want to hang around losers than sooner or later you can possibly become a loser. I like to hang around winners and I feel like this organization is all about winning.” — Bullard on his mentality