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Former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Count Aaron Rodgers among those who consider it an “absolute joke” that there are any questions about Matt LaFleur’s future with the Green Bay Packers.
Questions about LaFleur’s job security as head coach of the Packers have arisen over the past few days following his team’s first-round playoff loss to the Chicago Bears, the culmination of a five-game losing streak that derailed their once-promising campaign.
The Packers won three division titles and made the NFC Championship Game twice in LaFleur’s first three seasons as head coach, but they have since gone 1-4 in their last five postseason appearances, losing in the wild-card round in the 2024 and 2025 playoffs.
There is also the fact that the Packers have a new team president and CEO in Ed Policy, who will have a decision to make about LaFleur’s long-term status with the team in the coming days if he wants to avoid sending him into 2026 on the final year of his deal.
From Rodgers’ perspective, though, the conversations about firing LaFleur are foolish.
“This league has changed a lot in my 21 years,” Rodgers said in January 12’s postgame after the Steelers’ loss. “When you hear conversations about the Mike Tomlins of the world, Matt LaFleurs of the world, those are just two I played for. When I first got in the league, there wouldn’t be conversations about whether those guys were on the hot seat.
“To me, that’s an absolute joke. For either of those two guys to be on the hot seat is really apropos of where we are as a society or league.”
Packers ‘Expected’ to Retain Matt LaFleur as Head Coach
The deflating nature of the Packers’ season-ending loss — another first-round exit, this time at the hands of their oldest and most bitter NFC North rival — seemed to enflame speculation that the team could replace LaFleur as its head coach heading into 2026.
Over the past few weeks, though, most signs have indicated that LaFleur would remain at his post for not only 2026 but also the long-term future regardless of 2025’s results.
Before the wild-card game, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that his impression was that LaFleur would not need to coach for his job in the playoffs in the eyes of Policy. ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reinforced that notion on X early on Monday, January 12.
“Packers now are expected to try to work out a deal in the coming days to keep head coach Matt LaFleur in Green Bay, per sources,” Schefter wrote on X.
As likely as it seems that LaFleur will return, though, Schefter’s phrasing is interesting. The Packers may “try to work out a deal” with LaFleur, but it depends on whether the team is willing to meet his sticker price, possibly between $12 million and $15 million. If they are unwilling to meet his financial demands, then a split could still happen.
Will Packers Lose Jeff Hafley to Head-Coaching Job?
Even if LaFleur stays, the Packers seem likely to lose one critical coach from his staff.
According to multiple insiders, the Packers have received requests from five teams to interview second-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley for their head-coaching jobs, including the Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans and Atlanta Falcons. LaFleur seems prepared to lose him to one of those posts, too.
“I think Hafley is going to do a great job on the interview, and I fully anticipate him getting one of these,” LaFleur said during January 11’s season-ending press conference. And I would be so happy for him because he deserves it. He’s a great friend, he’s a great man, he’s a great coach. I’d hate to see him leave for us, but at the same time that’s what this business is all about.”
Teams can now schedule interviews with Hafley, as the Packers’ season is over.
Jordan J. Wilson is a sports reporter who covers the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers. He has previously covered all levels of sports — high school, college and pro — for a variety of publications including The Indianapolis Star, The News-Gazette, Springfield State-Journal Register and Peoria Journal Star. More about Jordan J. Wilson
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