The last time the Green Bay Packers addressed the contract issue of coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst, it was done with relative discretion. This will not be the case this time.
And it could happen soon, following the Packers’ 31-27 loss to the Chicago Bears on Saturday in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
LaFleur and Gutekunst both received contract extensions at the start of the 2022 offseason, but the information didn’t leak until the eve of training camp in July of that year.
It was never clear why Mark Murphy, then team president, tried to keep it a secret, especially since it was obvious that their contracts needed to be extended. Gutekunst was hired as general manager in 2018, a year before LaFleur became head coach, and had helped build teams with a cumulative record of 45 wins, 19 losses and 1 tie until then. That record included 39 wins and 10 losses under LaFleur’s leadership. Both were entering the final year of their contracts.
The situation is now less predictable, especially where LaFleur is concerned. Their respective contracts expire after the 2026 season, but they now have a new leader, Ed Policy, who replaced Murphy as president in July.
Saturday’s playoff collapse could complicate the situation if Policy plans to bring back LaFleur. Or perhaps he could confirm his decision if he had already thought about a change of coach. The Packers squandered an 18-point halftime lead, gave up 25 points in the final quarter and were eliminated in the first round for the second straight season.
Although the Packers qualified for the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons under LaFleur’s leadership, their last three appearances came as a drafted team. They haven’t won the division title since 2021 and haven’t hosted a playoff game since losing to the San Francisco 49ers in 2022.
LaFleur was hired in 2019 in part to get quarterback Aaron Rodgers back to his Most Valuable Player level, and that’s exactly what happened. Rodgers won this title twice (2020 and 2021) under LaFleur. The latter also had the mission of developing Jordan Love, who, now after three seasons as a starter, has established himself as a star of the team.
How might things pan out for Gutekunst and LaFleur in Green Bay this offseason, and what could that mean for the team’s direction in the years to come?
Policy was Murphy’s right-hand man when Gutekunst and LaFleur were hired, and he attended interviews during the team’s search for a general manager and coach.
Shortly before taking office last summer, Policy held a lengthy meeting with reporters covering the Packers and outlined his vision for the general manager and coaching positions. He then declared that he preferred to avoid people occupying these key positions entering the last year of their contract.
“Generally speaking, I would avoid being in that situation,” Policy said. “It’s often difficult for everyone involved. But there are some situations that probably warrant it, so I wouldn’t say never. »
Policy did not offer a contract extension before the start of the season. Whether intentional or not, it intensified the pressure, especially on LaFleur. The question of his position first came up after back-to-back November losses to the Panthers and Eagles, which dropped the Packers’ record to 5-3-1.
“I leave that to others,” LaFleur said at the time. “I focus on everyday life. […] In this league, you always feel like you’re on edge, you know? That’s my way of thinking. It’s always been like this. We can never relax. You always have to surpass yourself. That’s my philosophy and it will stay that way until I’m told to stop coaching. »
During the season, Policy remained rather quiet. Aside from continuing Murphy’s monthly column on the team’s website, where he answered hand-picked questions from fans, Policy has revealed little about his thoughts.
In his most recent editor’s column, published on the eve of the final game of the regular season, Policy somewhat endorsed the Packers’ performance this season.
“I am extremely proud of how our team overcame many challenges,” Policy wrote. “Last season we struggled within our division, and this year we improved to 4-1 [avant de nous incliner face aux Vikings lors de la 18e semaine]. We persevered through a long list of injuries and a very difficult schedule, and put ourselves in a position to compete for our ultimate goal: winning the Super Bowl. »
Gutekunst and Lafleur are not inseparable. It is possible that Policy retains one without the other.
In this context, Gutekunst seems to have a stronger position. Although the team president doesn’t make football decisions, Policy backed Gutekunst in last August’s trade for star quarterback Micah Parsons. Two former Packers executives said at the time that the trade demonstrated the confidence Policy had in Gutekunst.
According to sources close to the team and the league, if Gutekunst returns, he could come back stronger.
When Murphy hired Gutekunst in 2018, he stripped the general manager of his authority over the coach and made both report directly to the president. This radical change in management philosophy dates back to the early 1990s, a period during which the general manager exercised control over the coach. Management should either renegotiate Gutekunst’s contract or offer him a new one to restore this power to the general manager.
If Policy does this, he could offload the decision regarding LaFleur’s future to Gutekunst. Either way, LaFleur’s situation could prove more urgent, and several outcomes are possible.
LaFleur could sign a lucrative, long-term contract extension. He may not reach the $18 million to $20 million per year that the league’s highest-paid coaches make, but he will no doubt want to earn more than he currently receives, which is less than $10 million.
If Policy is unwilling to go that far, several other outcomes are possible. LaFleur could agree to a short-term contract extension, adding a year or two to his deal, or Policy could do nothing and reverse his original stance on coaching at the end of his tenure. In the latter case, LaFleur could have enough leverage to force his departure, confident that he can find another head coaching position, especially since several positions are up for grabs in the NFL.
Other scenarios are possible regarding LaFleur’s return. Policy could fire him, the two sides could agree to an amicable separation, or the team could trade him. The latter option would allow the Packers to recoup a first-round pick after giving up this year’s and next year’s picks to the Cowboys in the Parsons trade.
In each of these situations, LaFleur would likely emerge as one of the leading head coaching candidates for vacancies across the league.
LaFleur’s regular season record (76 wins, 40 losses and 1 draw) could delight many teams. He has the fourth-best winning percentage (65.4%) among active NFL head coaches and shares the second-best regular season winning record for a coach through his first seven seasons in NFL history. However, LaFleur has a record of 37 wins, 30 losses and 1 tie over the last four regular seasons and has won only one of his five playoff games.
Team management could also consider the rash of injuries — 15 players were on the injured list at the start of the playoffs — that contributed to their poor finish to the season. The Packers lost their last four regular season games, although LaFleur spared most of his starters in the final game to preserve them for the playoffs.
As for LaFleur’s coaching staff, he could lose his defensive coordinator, Jeff Hafley, whose defense ranked fifth and then 12th in the NFL in his first two seasons. Hafley is expected to apply for several head coaching positions, possibly including the Packers if that one becomes available. Hafley is LaFleur’s third defensive coordinator, joining Mike Pettine and Joe Barry.
LaFleur is also on his third special teams coordinator, Rich Bisaccia, whose units have remained inconsistent, and his second offensive coordinator, Adam Stenavich, who succeeded Nathaniel Hackett.
Perhaps Policy would ask LaFleur to change his team or even give up on orchestrating offensive plays.
Asked after the game how it felt to be the Packers coach, LaFleur said: “It means a lot to me. It’s the best organization in the world, in my opinion. It’s a great honor. I’m obviously disappointed at the moment. »
“I am disappointed for everyone associated with the Green Bay Packers. I am disappointed for our players. I am disappointed for our fans. I’m disappointed for our leadership, all of our employees, everyone involved with the Packers right now. »
Whatever happens, sources close to the team expect a quick resolution and public announcement, unlike last time.
