Kenny Clark Opens Up About Emotional Return to Green Bay

Kenny Clark will have a special opportunity when the Dallas Cowboys visit the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. The veteran defensive tackle spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career in Green Bay before joining Dallas ahead of the 2025 season as part of the Micah Parsons trade.

Now preparing to face his former team at Lambeau Field, Clark is looking forward to returning to a place that played a significant role in his life and career. However, with Dallas sitting at 2-3, the defensive tackle knows the Cowboys have business to handle as they look to get their season back on track.

Clark’s return to Green Bay will bring back memories of the organization that drafted him when he was just 20 years old. During his nine seasons with the Packers, Clark developed into a veteran defensive presence while building a personal connection to the city.

Although he is now focused on helping Dallas win, Clark made it clear that Green Bay will always hold a special place in his heart.

“It’s going to be awesome,” Clark said. “Get to go back to Lambeau, play a game and go up there to get a win. I’m really excited. “

Clark also explained how much the experience of playing for the Packers shaped his life beyond football.

“I was there nine years. That’s one of my homes. I got drafted there at 20 years old, became a man there. I had my daughter when I was out there. So it definitely has a place in my heart, it’s a great spot.”

The reunion offers Clark a chance to revisit those memories while competing against the franchise where his professional career began. Still, the defensive tackle will be looking to leave Lambeau Field with a victory rather than simply enjoy the occasion.

Clark will also have the opportunity to reconnect with Mike Pettine, who recently joined Dallas as a senior defensive assistant. Pettine served as the Packers’ defensive coordinator from 2018 through 2020, overlapping with Clark during his time in Green Bay.

Clark welcomed the addition of a coach he knows well, particularly as Dallas works to improve a defense that has struggled during the opening weeks of the 2026 season.

“He’s a great coach.” Clark said. “He’s going to pressure guys, get us in different fronts. He does a lot of stuff manipulating with the coverage and all that kind of stuff. Excited to have Pettine back.”

Pettine’s familiarity with Clark and his experience coordinating NFL defenses could help Dallas as it attempts to correct its early-season problems. The Cowboys have struggled to consistently stop opposing offenses, making additional coaching experience valuable as they search for solutions.

Clark believes Dallas must establish itself at the line of scrimmage if it hopes to slow down Green Bay. The Packers have been productive through the air but have struggled to establish their running game, creating an opportunity for the Cowboys’ defense to dictate the matchup.

For Clark, the priorities are straightforward. Stop the run first, then take advantage of passing situations by putting pressure on the quarterback.

“I think it starts up front for sure,” Clark said. “We’ve got to get after the passer, stop the run. They haven’t been running the ball well this year. That’s the number one key, stopping the run. And when we get in pass rush situations, getting his on the quarterback, getting sacks on the quarterback.”

The Cowboys also recently held a players-only defensive meeting to address their disappointing start. Clark, one of Dallas’ four team captains, said the discussion helped the group get back on the same page.

“It was huge, just to get on the same page to iron some stuff out, everything’s ironed out,” Clark said. “Just get back on the same page.”

Clark’s return to Green Bay will be a meaningful moment, but the Cowboys need a complete defensive performance to leave with a win. For the veteran tackle, the challenge is balancing the emotions of returning to his former home with the responsibility of helping Dallas turn its season around.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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