NFL insider reveals how close Packers were to moving on from LaFleur

Green Bay Packers' Matt Lafleur talks to an official against the Baltimore Ravens during their football game Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

NFL insider reveals how close Packers were to moving on from Matt LaFleur

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Jan 20, 2026 10:07 AM ET

The Green Bay Packers, unlike 10 other NFL teams, have committed to their head coach despite a disappointing end to the 2025 NFL season. As fans recall all too well, Matt LaFleur and the Packers were eliminated from the NFL playoffs by the Chicago Bears in the wild-card round, blowing a 21-6 fourth quarter lead and losing 31-27.

Indeed, many fans and media members were calling on Green Bay to fire LaFleur after the loss to Chicago. And as coaches around the NFL have been fired for their teams coming up short in the postseason, many have wondered why the Packers didn't do the same.

But while there were serious doubts regarding LaFleur’s future outside of 1265 Lombardi Avenue, apparently there were none inside the building.

Green Bay Packers never considered moving on from Matt LaFleur

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur looks on from the sidelines against the Chicago Bears during the first half of an NFC wild-card-round game at Soldier Field. Matt Marton-Imagn Images

When Green Bay’s season ended following its loss to Chicago, both LaFleur and the Packers organization told the media/fans that they wanted to work out a contract extension. They expected it to be done in a matter of days.

However, negotiations took much longer than expected, and many wondered if talks had broken down to the point that Green Bay might decided to move on from LaFleur as head coach.

After the deal was announced, though, Dianna Russini of The Athletic revealed that firing LaFleur was never part of the discussion:

“In the week since the Packers’ season ended, Policy didn’t spend much time considering whether to offer LaFleur an extension — his mind appeared to have already been made up — and instead worked with LaFleur, Gutekunst and vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball individually and collectively to ensure everyone was aligned and wanted to be in Green Bay.”

As one can see from the excerpt above, the talks did not take long because of any disagreements, but rather because new Packers CEO and President Ed Policy was talking about contract extensions for general manager Brian Gutekunst and vice president Russ Ball as well.

Fortunately, the trio that has helped lead Green Bay to six trips to the NFL playoffs in seven years all want to move forward together. Now, the next step, aside from cementing the details of extensions for Gutekunst and Ball, is breaking through in the postseason and winning the Super Bowl.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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