Matt

LaFleur

The owner of a .654 winning percentage since arriving in Green Bay in 2019, LaFleur never seemed to be on the way out, but the Pack’s Wild Card flameout definitely seemed to complicate the calculus. The Pack ultimately, unsurprisingly reached the unavoidable conclusion that LaFleur is a flawed coach, but not one worth firing. An elite play-caller, LaFleur could still afford to work on his sequencing and third- and fourth-down decision-making. He still seems like a coach who could one day win “the big one.”

Reporting among the top NFL news-breakers that Green Bay is expected to workout a contract extension with LaFleur has been consistent over the last week. The 46-year-old Packers coach has one year left on his contract, but Green Bay intends to extend LaFleur and avoid lame-duck status. The same appears to be true of Gutekunst, who Schefter reports is also more likely than not to receive a contract extension soon. The Packers are 76-40-1 and have made the playoffs six times in seven years under LaFleur, who was hired by Gutekunst in 2019. Gutekunst helped usher in a new era of Packers football by drafting Jordan Love, trading future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers and acquiring three-time All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons. Packers President Ed Policy was spotted with LaFleur and Gutekunst earlier this week, according to Schefter. While no deal is done yet, Green Bay continues to trend towards keeping the band together.

The Packers have made it known through various reports in the last week that they intend to discuss a new contract with LaFleur after the season. The tenor of those potential discussions likely hasn’t changed much, despite outside noise after the Packers lost in all-too-familiar fashion in the playoffs once again. Green Bay doesn’t want LaFleur, who has one year left on his contract, to enter next season as a lame-duck. The Packers can somewhat afford to play hardball with LaFleur in contract negotiations now. The organization isn’t known for paying coaches top tier money and LaFleur may not be in position to ask for that anymore, despite a 76-41-1 record. Upgrading from LaFleur to someone like John Harbaugh would be even less cost-effective for the Packers. Teams around the league with head coaching vacancies are keeping tabs on LaFleur in case these negotiations fall apart as he’d be a top candidate if he were to become available.

LaFleur told reporters that he will meet with Policy “either the night of Jan. 11 or sometime Jan. 12, indicating a decision on his future will come soon.” The Packers’ head coach has just one year remaining on his contract and it is Policy who faces the decision on whether to extend or fire him. Policy previously stated he prefers to avoid a “lame-duck situation” where LaFleur coaches the Packers in 2026 on an expiring contract. Despite the ridiculous blown lead on Saturday, it would be difficult to replace LaFleur on paper. Coaches like LaFleur, capable of guiding a franchise to a 76-41 record, are tough to replace.

The Packers haven’t decided on Matt LaFleur’s future yet, but another early playoff exit has many speculating that they will move on from him in the coming days. As Schefter notes, Harbaugh is from the Midwest and his agent, Bryan Harlan, is the son of a former Packers president. It’s admittedly a tenuous link, but the dots are there for someone to connect. More importantly, the Packers would, in this scenario, be the only playoff team with a head coaching vacancy. Harbaugh wouldn’t need to spend any time rebuilding a defunct roster and could instead focus on getting Green Bay out of the Wild Card Round. They already have an answer at quarterback with Jordan Love and just spent big on defensive superstar Micah Parsons. We would expect Harbaugh to prefer Green Bay to any other landing spot if the team fires LaFleur.

LaFleur’s current contract runs through the 2026 season, but the Packers aren’t going to have him coach next season on an expiring deal. Green Bay intends to extend the 46-year-old coach’s contract whenever the Packers’ season ends. LaFleur is 76-40-1 and has taken the Packers to the playoffs six times in seven years, though he’s yet to make it to the Super Bowl. Recent reports that LaFleur might not be safe in this round of the NFL coaching carousel never passed the smell test. Rapoport couldn’t be clearer in his reporting, explicitly stating that LaFleur isn’t coaching for his job in the first round of the playoffs, according to sources.

Among the nine, only six teams actually have head-coaching vacancies at this time. The six teams in reference are the Giants, Titans, Falcons, Raiders, Browns and Cardinals. Regarding the remaining three, according to Vacchiano, “speculation around the league seems to have centered” on the Dolphins, Packers and Panthers. Last we heard, “signs continue to point towards Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel returning next season.” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is preparing his team for their third straight trip to the postseason, but “there has been an eerie feeling around the league that he might need to win a first-round game to be completely safe.” The Panthers are widely viewed as this year’s weakest playoff team, and owner David Tepper “is always a threat to swing again.” The Buccaneers were also thought to be in the mix before it was made known that head coach Todd Bowles is keeping his job for 2026.

LaFleur then explained why the organization is not open to trading Doubs, saying, “Rome is out there competing” and has done “everything that we need to see from him.” The team suspended Doubs for one game last year, after the veteran receiver complained about his target rate. It sounds like the two sides are in a good spot. Doubs is set to continue operating as a Packers starter and profiles as a matchup-based flex option.

Saleh was spotted on the sidelines of Green Bay’s practice on Wednesday, prompting reporters to ask LaFLeur about the situation. He didn’t mention an official title for the former head coach of the New York Jets. According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, Saleh will help LaFleur on the offensive side of the ball by offering a defensive perspective. Saleh, in LaFleur’s own words, deserves some credit for LaFleur making it in the NFL. Saleh convinced Texans head coach Gary Kubiak to hire LaFleur all the way back in 2008. Per LaFleur, Saleh will be with the Packers through Thursday, so this may be a brief consulting gig. The former Jets boss may be able to land a defensive coordinator gig in the offseason if his stint in Green Bay goes off without a hitch.

It’s not the first time LaFleur has considered giving up play calling after the season. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky said LaFleur, whose Packers missed the playoffs, wants “to be more involved in other areas of the team -- such as the inconsistent defense and the lack of discipline that showed up at times during this year’s 8-9 season.” “If we feel like that is the best way for us to win games, then I would 100% hand that over,” LaFleur said the day after Green Bay lost to the Lions on Sunday Night Football, ending their playoff push. The Packers could bring back former Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett in some capacity this offseason. Hackett served as offensive coordinator before landing the Denver job.