Matt Lafleur ‘not Coaching for His Job’ vs. Bears Per Ian Rapoport

The Future of Matt LaFleur with the Packers

As the NFL enters its final weeks of the regular season, there’s been growing speculation around the future of Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, LaFleur is not “coaching for his job” in the upcoming NFC Wild Card matchup against the Bears. This statement suggests that while the game is important, it does not carry the same weight as previous years when LaFleur’s position was under scrutiny.

Timeline and Contract Details

Matt LaFleur’s current contract with the Packers is set to expire after the 2026 campaign. Rapoport explained that part of Green Bay’s plan was for LaFleur to have two years left on his deal when new president and CEO Ed Policy took over in 2019. This gave policy a full season to evaluate LaFleur’s performance before making an informed decision.

LaFleur’s Track Record

Since becoming head coach of the Packers in 2019, LaFleur has demonstrated exceptional leadership and results. He has compiled a remarkable record of 76-40-1, leading Green Bay to the postseason in all but one of his seven seasons as head coach. His team’s performance is only outmatched by two other teams with more regular season wins since he arrived: the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills.

While LaFleur has overseen significant success, his tenure has been marred by a lack of a Super Bowl appearance.

Despite this criticism from detractors, Green Bay has not made it to a Super Bowl in LaFleur’s time as head coach. The team’s last trip to the NFC Championship Game was in January 2021, where they lost to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.

Notably, after Aaron Rodgers left, LaFleur quickly turned around the roster. He led a young Packers team into the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, showcasing his ability to manage talent and build for the future. Additionally, he has nurtured Jordan Love into one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

Future Prospects and Contract Talks

The NFC Wild Card matchup against the Bears is not expected to impact LaFleur’s standing with Policy, who was involved in the process of hiring him back in 2019. Rapoport stated that “the team likes LaFleur, respects him and believes he’s a great fit both in the organization and in the community.” The expectation is that they hope he remains as head coach for a long time.

While there have been mixed results with the Packers not making it to a Super Bowl under LaFleur’s tenure, expert analysis suggests sensible thinking will prevail. Based on his excellent track record of getting Green Bay in the dance, it seems likely that LaFleur will be backed by Policy for a new long-term contract.

Despite this, the upcoming season and performance against the Bears could still play a critical role in determining the exact terms of any potential contract extension.

The Packers are currently positioned as NFC’s No. 7 seed after losing their final four games, finishing at 9-7-1.

The future of Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers is looking bright, and all signs point towards him staying in Titletown for many more years to come. Whether he can finally lead his team to a Super Bowl will be one of the biggest stories in NFL history.