NFL head coaches are hired to be fired. That’s a cliché because it’s true. Only a rare handful of coaches leave on their own terms. Even really good coaches have a shelf life, a point where whatever they’re doing just isn’t going to get the team any further than they’ve already come. Sadly, the Green Bay Packers playoff loss to the Bears showed exactly why it’s time for the Packers to move on from Matt LaFleur as their head coach.
Why It’s Time for the Packers to Move on From Matt LaFleur: The Record
It’s impossible to dispute that LaFleur has been successful as head coach of the Green Bay Packers. Since he took over in 2019, his record is an impressive 76-40-1, a winning percentage of .654. His teams have made the playoffs six times in his seven years in Green Bay. Twice they’ve reached the NFC Championship Game, and they won at least one playoff game in three of his six playoff campaigns.
LaFleur accomplished something difficult when the joined the Packers. He got Aaron Rodgers, long considered a difficult quarterback to work with, to raise his game after a late slump under Mike McCarthy. Rodgers had back-to-back MVP seasons in part because he worked well with LaFleur and bought into his new coach’s system. LaFleur, in turn, incorporated some of Rodgers’ favorite plays under McCarthy into the offense.
LaFleur proved he could win with a veteran quarterback like Rodgers and develop a younger quarterback in Jordan Love. The Packers made the playoffs in each of the three seasons that Love has been the starter. LaFleur is also considered an innovative play caller who does a good job of scheming receivers open.
The Problems On the Field
Despite the good record, there have been persistent problems for the Packers since LaFleur took over. After back-to-back NFC title game appearances in 2019 and 2020, the Packers playoff record is 1-4.
The team also has recurring issues that don’t seem to be improving. The Packers keep making unforced mental mistakes, often at critical times. How often in recent seasons have we seen this team be penalized for illegal formations, having 12 men on the field or just sloppy penalties like false starts or personal fouls. The team has also wasted time outs because they couldn’t get out of the huddle on time or make audible calls. The consistent lack of discipline has been an issue for a long time. The team never seems to improve in this area, and it has cost them many games over the course of LaFleur’s tenure.
Then there is LaFleur’s tendency to get conservative in his play calling in big games or in big situations. We saw it again in the playoff loss to the Bears Saturday night. After the team scored touchdowns on it’s first three drives of the game and managed to get into field goal range as the half expired, LaFleur stopped his innovative play calling. The pre-snap motion stopped. The scheming players open in the passing game stopped. The play calls got vanilla and the running game was ineffective. The Packers punted on each of their first four drives of the second half and gained just one first down in three third quarter-drives. They gave the Bears every chance to get back into the game. When you do that against quality opponents, you will end up losing games you should have won.
Why It’s Time for the Packers to Move on From Matt LaFleur: Other Issues
There is also the issue of in-game adjustments. We saw it against the Bears in the second half of the playoff game. The Bears defense changed their approach and started to stop the Green Bay offense. It took LaFleur a quarter and a half to finally respond. By that time, a seemingly comfortable 18-point lead was reduced, and the momentum had swung clearly to Chicago.
LaFleur has also been too loyal to the failing assistant coaches on his staff. The most glaring example is special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. The Packers made Bisaccia the highest paid special teams coordinator in the NFL to rescue the team’s faltering special teams unit. The improvement never really came. Blocked or missed kicks cost the Packers at least three games this season. Yet, Bisaccia not only still has a job, but he was also promoted a couple of years ago to assistant head coach.
This wasn’t the first time LaFleur’s was overly loyal to an assistant coach.There were similar issues with former defensive coordinator Joe Barry. LaFleur stuck with him too long out of loyalty despite continuing problems on the field.
Things aren’t improving but changes still aren’t made. Loyalty is a good trait in a head coach, but not when it negatively impacts the product on the field.
The Ultimate Question
New Packers president Ed Policy essentially has one question he needs to answer when determining LaFleur’s fate: Can the coach get this team past the level they are at right now? LaFleur is a good coach, and he’d get a new job almost immediately if the Packers decided to part ways with him. But is he capable of getting the team beyond being a good and talented team, to being a championship team?
Yes, injuries played a role in the 2025 Packers terrible finish. The team didn’t win a game after Micah Parsons suffered his season-ending ACL injury. But these issues were there before Parsons got hurt and Tucker Kraft and Devonte Wyatt.
The recurring problems that have persisted for several years without improvement is a big red flag. If LaFleur does stay, he will likely have to commit to changing some assistant coaches. He will also have to work hard to correct some of these issues that never seem to be improved.
Policy has to determine if the team can go any further under LaFleur. If the answer is no, then the coach has reached his expiration date. The decision must come soon. Right now, it looks like it’s time to move on.
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