Mike

LaFleur

Stefanski certainly couldn’t be blamed for wanting to exit Cleveland after another season spent coordinating a dead-on-arrival offense hamstrung by Deshaun Watson’s contract. Especially after he didn’t appear to be on Andrew Berry’s page about giving up Joe Flacco to the Bengals in a midseason trade. As we hit silly season, Stefanski’s status will be one of the more important dominoes to watch. Hughes also mentions as names to watch for the job: Packers DC Jeff Hafley, Rams OC Mike LaFleur, Eagles OC Kevin Patullo (??), Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo, Vikings DC Brian Flores, Former Raiders HC Antonio Pierce, and Texans DC Matt Burke.

LaFleur was fired by the Jets this month after a 2022 season in which New York did not a viable starting quarterback. A creative play caller and schemer, LaFleur was a favorite to land the Rams job. LaFleur will work under head coach Sean McVay, who will likely maintain a heavy hand in offensive decision making. Under LaFleur, the Jets were 30th in EPA per play, ahead of only the Texans and Colts.

Breer writes that “my sense is that’s still the direction this is going in.” Breer also notes that the Rams have interviewed former Colts OC Marcus Brady and Eagles QBs coach Brian Johnson for the job as well. This is the first real mention we’ve seen about the Rams candidates for this job after Sean McVay finally opted in to returning next season. LaFleur could restore some luster for his future prospects under McVay, though it’s unlikely he’d get quite as much credit if things went right under McVay’s watch.

This was first reported by KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson earlier in the day, but the team didn’t confirm it until later in the evening. LaFleur’s dismissal was inevitable after the Jets finished the 2022 season with one of the worst offenses in the league. In addition to having the third lowest EPA per play, the Jets also finished 29th in the league in points per game (17.4) and 25th in yards per game. Whoever takes over as the next offensive coordinator will have their hands full figuring out the team’s quarterback position, but enough offensive weapons are in place to make for a potentially less painful turnaround.

Reports of LaFleur’s firing surfaced Wednesday morning but were quickly knocked down by Jets beat writers. That doesn’t mean LaFleur is locked in to return as the team’s coordinator in 2023. Without a viable quarterback, the otherwise-talented New York offense was hideously ineffective for most of the 2022 season, posting the league’s third lowest EPA per play (only the Colts and Texans were worse). LaFleur’s creative play designs would probably work better with a major QB upgrade in 2023.

He added that offensive assistant John Beck will be let go, though he is expected to continue working with Zach Wilson through his private quarterback coaching practice. Cavanaugh has nearly 20 years of experience as an offensive coordinator and position coach. Hughes outlined a too many cooks scenario where Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur felt they needed to trim down their staff to be more effective. Quarterbacks coach Rob Calabrese will take on a larger role with Cavanaugh and Beck out of the picture. Hughes added that Calabrese would be next in line for offensive coordinator duties if LaFleur is eventually hired away.

New Jets coach Robert Saleh is also poaching 49ers OL coach John Benton and making him running-game coordinator. Saleh attempted another Niners hire or two, and was not shy about raiding former boss Kyle Shanahan’s staff. Different teams have different feelings on that. Matt’s brother, this will be a big step up for LaFleur, as Shanahan runs his own show. LaFleur has been working with Shanahan since 2014 in Cleveland. Learning from his brother and Shanahan provides an excellent foundation for a young (33) coordinator inheriting a broken, quarterback-less offense. LaFleur does have a world-class building block in LT Mekhi Becton, answering his second most vexing question.

Saleh apparently doesn’t have qualms about raiding now ex-boss Kyle Shanahan’s cupboard. Matt’s brother, this will be a big step up for LaFleur, as Shanahan ultimately runs his own show on offense. Only 33 (or 34, depending on the source) years old, LaFleur has been working with Shanahan since 2014 in Cleveland. Learning from his brother and Shanahan will be an excellent prep school for a young coordinator inheriting a broken offense. Aside from a world-class building block in LT Mekhi Becton, the Jets have questions at nearly every position on LaFleur’s side of the ball.

This will keep LaFleur in San Francisco after receiving interest from several teams. It’s a blow for the Eagles, who were rumored to be targeting LaFleur. Philly may now turn its attention to 49ers run-game coordinator Mike McDaniel for their OC job.

As is run-game coordinator Mike McDaniel. Clearly the Browns are infatuated with the 49ers—they interviewed Robert Saleh during their head-coaching search and are now pursuing LaFleur, McDaniel and passing-game coordinator/DBs coach Joe Woods for coordinating roles—and for good reason with San Francisco a win away from securing its first conference title in seven years. The younger brother of current Packers coach Matt LaFleur (who he’ll oppose in Sunday’s NFC title bout), Mike got his coaching start as an intern for the Browns in 2014.