The Green Bay Packers will have eyes firmly focused on the weekend’s Wild Card playoff game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The team split their divisional games, with Saturday’s bout fittingly providing a chance for the winner to not only advance in the postseason but win the put-together three-game ‘series’.
Alongside that, bubbling in the background has been noise surrounding the futures of both head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager, Brian Gutekunst.
Gutekunst originally hired LaFleur back in 2019, having been internally promoted to the role himself the year prior, and the two have since had substantial success in the regular season. LaFleur has had winning seasons in 6 of the 7 years he has been with the Packers – the one other posting an 8-9 record back in 2022; Aaron Rodgers‘ final season with the organization.
But this has not translated well to the playoffs: despite receiving first round byes in each of his three first seasons, LaFleur has a disappointing 3-5 record in the postseason.
Son this projection, the team look to a veteran, Super Bowl-winning head coach to replace LaFleur in Green Bay and help them find legitimate success in the postseason: recently-fired Baltimore Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh.
Why Green Bay Might Part Ways With Matt LaFleur
Former team president and CEO, Mark Murphy stepped down at the end of last season having turned 75 years old, in accordance with the Packers’ by-laws, and was replaced by Ed Policy.
Policy declined to extend both LaFleur and Gutekunst earlier this season, but noted that he did not want either his head coach or GM – both of whose deals expire at the end of the 2026 season – to be coaching/managing in contract years.
Over the summer, there was some rumors floating that Policy could look to find his guys at both roles, giving the organization a new start and ushering in the new CEO’s era at the helm.
And in the wake of the Packers failing to win the division, once again, in 2025, it was noted that the team could face a “tough decision” on whether to keep LaFleur and Gutekunst around in 2026 if they lose in the first round of the playoffs this coming weekend.
John Harbaugh Would Be A Great Fit For The Packers
It may seem far-fetched at first, but the logic makes sense: if the job came on the market, there is no question that it would be the most appetizing job for any head-coaching candidate, bar none.
John Harbaugh has experience dealing with and nurturing young quarterbacks into successful franchise leaders. Joe Flacco won Super Bowl XLVIII with the Ravens.
The Packers defense has been an elite unit when they are not missing their two best defensive linemen, Devonte Wyatt and Micah Parsons, and all but one starter in the unit – linebacker, Quay Walker – is signed through 2026.
Offensive coordinator, Adam Stenavich, could quietly be a name thrown around in head coaching searches later this month, and is very well regarded around the league. Even if Harbaugh and upper-management do not believe he is ready to take over play-calling duties from LaFleur, the team would have their pick of the hottest OC candidates around the league.
It is hardly anything near a “hot rumor” at this point. But if the Packers lose on Saturday, the wheels could start turning on a coaching change – and Harbaugh would almost certainly be the strongest candidate for every franchise.
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