Has a history with Mike Pettine
There is already a key connection between Christian Kirksey and the Packers’ coaching staff. During Kirksey’s first two seasons in the NFL, Green Bay’s current defensive coordinator, Mike Pettine, was the head coach for the Browns.
The Pettine era got off to a strong start but the momentum they built quickly winded down. The Browns managed to post a 7-4 record through their initial 11 games of the season in 2014. However, finishing with a five game losing streak resulted in a 7-9 record. They then went 3-13 in 2015.
It wasn’t until 2016 that Kirskey managed to become a full-time starter, which was after Pettine was fired. However, playing a rotational role and serving as a starter at times should provide more than enough familiarity with Pettine for Kirksey.