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Mark Murphy, former CEO of the Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers underwent an underrated key change this offseason when former CEO and President, Mark Murphy, retired after eighteen years at the helm.
Although Murphy’s retirement was pre-planned; the Packers’ bylaws stipulate that Team Presidents must retire at age 70 – and a successor was chosen in advance of said retirement – it is nonetheless somewhat of a transition year for the top brass of the organization.
Especially considering it seems like the new appointee – Ed Policy – could be making some changes of his own, according to reports.
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman revealed that the jobs of both general manager, Brian Gutekunst, and head coach, Matt LaFleur, could be in jeopardy if results don’t go the team’s way in 2025.
Packers GM and Head Coach’s Future Reportedly In The Balance
After being asked by Ty Schmit whether this forthcoming season might have to be a “prove it” year for Green Bay’s operational leadership, Schneidman gave an interesting response.
“So we sat down with Ed Policy a couple of weeks ago,” Schneidman said to McAfee and co., “And he said that he is not extending LaFleur and Gutekunst now. LaFleur and Gutekunst both have two years left on their contracts; this is Gutey’s eighth year, LaFleur’s seventh. He said he also doesn’t want them in contract years: so basically he would like to make a decision one way or the other after this season.”
Schenidman recalls that coming out of the meeting, it seemed as if Policy was “leaning towards” extending them: whilst the new President did not directly hire both, he was instrumental in the hirings and extensions of the pair.
Yet, the The Athletic writer also believes that now in his new position, Policy could well choose to hire his own directly chosen guys to “make his stamp” on the franchise with.
“I spoke to someone recently, Schneidman continued, “And was told that he is truly up in the air about the futures of Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst…If the Packers don’t make the playoffs this year…I could certainly see Matt LaFleur and Brian Gutekunst, and I don’t think this is hyperbole, both getting fired after this year.”
Are Gutekunst And LaFleur On The Way Out?
The short answer is – no one is quite sure. Under normal circumstances, both of Gutekunst and LaFleur’s jobs would be considered fairly safe.
LaFleur has become one of the better coaches in all of football since his appointment back in 2019. Equally, Gutekunst has spent shrewdly in free agency, drafted reasonably well (albeit with a few key misses), and most importantly found a good succession plan for future Hall of Fame quarterback and four-time MVP, Aaron Rodgers, in new franchise QB, Jordan Love.
A good season in which the team has a standout playoff win – or two – will almost certainly secure their future. Whilst a sub-500 playoff-missing year, even in the now ultra-competitive NFC North, could spell the end of the LaFleur-Gutekunst reign.
Even a bad year in 2025 is by no means a death sentence for either party; and the dismissal of either – particularly LaFleur – wold likely not go down well with the fan base. But if Policy comes in and feels like he wants his guy – it is not out of the question that Green Bay could have a new GM and head coach this time next year.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
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