The Packers’ coaching saga ends with a surprising twist as Matt LaFleur’s future proves straightforward.QQ
Head coach is under contract through 2026, but hasn’t received an extension this offseason under Ed Policy.
NIt’s been quite some time since we made our last Packers mailbag, so the “Monday Night Football” game offered us the perfect timing to do one during the season.
The Green Bay Packers are 5-2-1, so things are much better than the vibes would indicate, but there are obvious aspects to correct and improve. Let’s discuss the present and the future of the team.
The New England Patriots should be eyeing the number one seed in the AFC after an 8-2 startThe New England Patriots should be eyeing the number one seed in the AFC after an 8-2 start
No, it’s just a matter of how much Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst will get. They have had great results and work well together. Yes, there are some mistakes and fans want them fired, but that happens to everyone — after any loss, fans want to find who’s responsible for it.
LaFleur and Gutey are under contract through 2026, and just like they do with players, the Packers don’t typically extend their contracts so far ahead of time. Now, next offseason is the perfect time to do it, and they will negotiate a number that makes sense for everyone.
LaFleur has some problems with decision-making, and the play-calling isn’t always perfect. However, he rebuilt the organizational culture, and most metrics show that he is, in fact, a great offensive mind. Teams would line up to hire him if the Packers let him go — by the way, Green Bay could find another team to trade LaFleur to if they wanted to part ways with him.
Nobody is perfect, but LaFleur has been highly successful with two completely different versions of the roster. I know he hasn’t won the Super Bowl, but that’s not the only way to measure good work.
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The overreaction is what bases our ways of living these days around the world. Often, I find myself arguing with both sides — those who think everything is perfect and those who want everyone fired.
Back in the offseason, I was critical of the decision to sign Aaron Banks, and the prevailing argument was that I had to wait and see him play. No, we had an extensive background to form an opinion and analyze the process. Eventually, bad processes have good results, but that’s an outlier.
Now, during the season, some people only want to say that they lost to the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers; therefore, LaFleur is bad, and his offense doesn’t work. There are people suggesting the return of Mike McCarthy on social media, guys.
What I like to do in those moments is to think about what’s sustainable. Even after the wins, what did I think was bad about the team? And even after the losses, what did I think was good? Those tend to be the real bones, good or bad, of the roster.
Yes, cornerback and defensive tackle are obvious needs — CB is even more, and I wouldn’t be surprised with that approach where Gutekunst takes multiple players at the same position to solve a need.
Defensive tackle is also huge because Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, and Colby Wooden will all be entering the final year of their deals. The offensive line is a low-key need, too, because Rasheed Walker, Sean Rhyan, and Darian Kinnard are all hitting free agency next offseason, so even if Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton are ready to become starters, depth will be necessary.
