The Green Bay Packers are now facing a potentially future-altering decision in the very near future. Should the team extend the contract of, or fire head coach Matt LaFleur.
Ahead of the Packers’ Wild Card game, there were thoughts being thrown out that Green Bay’s seven-year HC could be in danger of losing his job if the team were one-and-done in the playoffs. And the spectacular way in which the team and LaFleur mismanaged an 18-point halftime lead will surely add fire to the flames.
Very notably, two of the most veteran and respected voices covering the Green Bay Packers over the past decade, Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein, have come out and urged Green Bay to part ways with LaFleur.
Packers Veteran Writers Urge Team To Fire Matt LaFleur
“The logical thing is to part ways.” Silverstein wrote on Sunday. “Both the Packers and LaFleur need a fresh start. LaFleur probably would have a job in Miami or Tennessee within a week and Policy would have his choice of candidates given Green Bay is a garden spot because of Love, Parsons, Jacobs, Watson, Kraft, Tom, Xavier McKinney, Evan Williams, Matthew Golden, Edgerrin Cooper and others.”
Silverstein also noted that given the potential alternative choice of John Harbaugh to become the team’s next head coach, the Packers could do well to make a change.
“Policy could lure former Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh. He’d have to pay a lot of money, but Harbaugh is from the Midwest and has won a Super Bowl. It might be the best option for him given the talent in place.”
Huber also came to a similar opinion the morning after the disastrous loss to Chicago.
“Firing a coach is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly.” Huber posted on X in captioning his article. “After sleeping on it, I’ve come to the same conclusion that many of you did last night. Matt LaFleur has won a lot of games as Packers coach, but it’s time for a change”
“Matt LaFleur is a good coach.” Huber summed up in the article. “If Policy, following a short flight back from Chicago following a too-short playoff run, comes up with the logical conclusion that the coach who can’t finish off the Bears will be unable to finish off a season, a difficult decision will be the obvious decision.”
Matt LaFleur’s Job On ‘Thin Ice’
Most head coaches that have made the postseason six out of seven years, including two finishes at the top of the NFC conference, would not be on the hot seat.
But given that LaFleur has a pitiful 3-6 record (0.333) in the single-elimination tournament, and has won just one playoff game since the 2020 NFC Championship Game loss to the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers, many have started to question his ability to deliver in the most high pressure moments.
Given the change in Packers Team President and CEO this past offseason, with Ed Policy assuming the role, there was speculation that he could look to choose his own, new head coach to mark the start of his tenure. Particularly since he declined to extend LaFleur’s contract, which expires after the 2026 season, last summer.
And now, after this, Huber reports that LaFleur’s job is on “thin ice”. In all honesty, it feels like moving on is the Packers’ only viable option after the embarrassment on Saturday night.
Packers’ Longest-Tenured Beat Writers Call For Matt LaFleur’s Job