Matt LaFleur has been the Green Bay Packers‘ head coach for seven seasons. He’s led the Packers to the playoffs in six of seven seasons. Yet, there’s reportedly a possibility he won’t be asked to return for an eighth, but of course, Green Bay’s postseason success will be a factor.
Recently, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk highlighted several reasons why the Packers may not only move on from coach LaFleur but also possibly general manager Brian Gutekunst. Even more fascinating is the coach Florio mentions as a potential replacement for LaFleur.
“Without expansion of the postseason field in 2020, the Packers would be on a four-year streak of no playoff appearances. That could make the wild-card round critical for coach Matt LaFleur and G.M. Brian Gutekunst. New team president Ed Policy, who grew up a Browns fan, made it clear in June 2024 that neither LaFleur nor Gutekunst would get contract extensions before the end of the 2025 season. And with both signed through 2026, Policy added that he’s not a fan of lame-duck arrangements. Which means it’ll likely be new contracts or pink slips for the Packers coach and G.M. once the 2025 campaign ends.”
PFT’s Mike Florio on Matt LaFleur
While he hinted at it in the text above, Florio made the case for why the Packers could wind up ousting LaFleur, only to turn to two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski.
“As noted on Saturday, the signs in Cleveland were pointing to the team moving on from coach Kevin Stefanski, after six seasons and two coach of the year awards. The indications are now becoming stronger and stronger that Stefanski will be out. Depending on how the postseason goes, Stefanski could land on his feet with one of the teams the Browns upset this year.
Florio, continued
The situation will hit a full boil next weekend, when the Packers go to either Chicago or Philadelphia. A loss could prompt Policy to explore his options. And Stefanski, who spent all of his career in the NFC North with the Vikings before getting the Cleveland job in 2020, could end up being the guy when the dust settles on what could be the first Green Bay coaching search since 2019.”
Going from LaFleur, who ranks 16th on the NFL’s all-time win-percentage list (65.9%) as a head coach, to Stefanski, who has a sub-.500 win rate at 44% would seemingly be a significant downgrade. It’s hard to imagine Packers fans getting on board with this move.
Plus, if Stefanski isn’t good enough for the Cleveland Browns, who’s to say he’s the right man to bring more success to the Green Bay Packers? It would be arguably the wildest move of the offseason, and one that will surely rile up a fanbase that should otherwise have a lot to look forward to.
Related: Speculation Suggests Cleveland Browns Could Fire Kevin Stefanski Soon
