Packers Rumors on Matt LaFleur's Future amid Firing, Contract Buzz

With the dust still settling on the Green Bay Packers' 31-27 playoff loss to the rival Chicago Bears, attention now turns to head coach Matt LaFleur's future since the 2026 campaign is set to be the final one on his contract.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday that the Packers and LaFleur are expected to discuss a contract extension this week:

ESPN's Rob Demovsky reported Sunday "a speedy resolution and a public announcement" are expected regardless of which direction the coach and Packers go this offseason.

Demosky also outlined a few different possibilities, including LaFleur signing "a lucrative, long-term extension" that would increase the less than $10 million per year he is currently making even though "he might not draw top money like the $18 million to $20 million per year that the highest-paid coaches" make.

If not that, Green Bay could trade him in an effort to get a first-round pick back it lost in the Micah Parsons trade, it could fire him, it could agree to a mutual parting of ways, he could agree to a short-term extension or he could just play out the final year on his deal.

"In the latter situation, LaFleur might have enough leverage to force his way out, believing he could get another head coaching job," Demovsky explained.

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LaFleur playing out the final year on his deal would make him a lame-duck coach in 2026, which team president Ed Policy surely wouldn't like given his previous comments.

"Generally speaking, I would avoid lame-duck status," Policy said. "It's oftentimes difficult on everybody involved. But there are certain situations that probably call for it, so I would not say never."

The head coach isn't the only one with contract uncertainty, as general manager Brian Gutekunst is also set to enter the final year of his deal if no changes are made this offseason.

Demovsky reported the GM and coach "are not a package deal," adding "Gutekunst would appear to stand on firmer ground" after Policy supported his high-profile decision to trade for Parsons.

The report also noted Gutekunst may return "with more power" if the Packers do sign him to an extension.

As for LaFleur, it is hard to ask for more consistency than what he has provided Green Bay. The team has made the playoffs in six of his seven seasons and is 76-40-1 overall. Its worst season during his tenure was still just 8-9, and he has won double-digit games in four of his seven years at the helm.

However, the Packers also failed to win the NFC North in each of the last four years and haven't advanced past the Divisional Round since the 2020 campaign. For an organization that expects to realistically compete for Super Bowls every season, there may be some building frustration at the early postseason exits.

Saturday's shocking playoff loss isn't going to help.

Green Bay took a 21-3 lead into halftime and a 21-6 lead into the fourth quarter and appeared to be in full control. And then it gave up 25 points in the fourth quarter alone while managing just six points itself in the entire second half.

It was a game that both sides of the rivalry will remember for some time, and it may even be LaFleur's last game as the head coach of the Packers depending on how the offseason unfolds.