Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers were embarrassed in their Lambeau Field opener on Thursday night, falling to 1-2 after their 35-14 Week 3 blowout loss to Falcons. That comes on the heels of dropping to the Vikings 39-22 in Week 1 and escaping the Jets in overtime in Week 2.
Read more Atlanta Falcons
The Packers’ overall play has been disappointing, already losing two games by double-digits. Although they have been to the playoffs in five of the previous six seasons under Matt LaFleur, that’s bringing up questions about whether they need a head-coaching change soon.
Although LaFleur still has a stellar regular-season record after 120 games (77-42-1, 646), he also has the specter of leading Green Bay to a 3-6 playoff mark — and has lost six of his last seven games dating to last season. The team is now in real danger of his second time missing the playoffs with LaFleur.
Those Packers fans looking for a imminent firing of LaFleur, are out of luck. Here’s why they are stuck with him as head coach for at least two more seasons.
MORE NFL WEEK 3 NEWS:
- SN’s latest NFL power rankings
- NFL Week 3 picks straight up
- NFL Week 3 picks against the spread
Why Packers won’t fire Matt LaFleur
For now, the reason is simple: Money. The Packers just gave LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst extensions and raises in January 2026. That decision by Packers CEO Ed Policy means LaFleur is making a reported $15 million per season through a new contract that goes through the 2029 season.
Otherwise, LaFleur and Gutekunst would have been working for the Packers on expiring deals. But with the bump early this year, the team would be on the hook for a massive buyout of his LaFleur’s entire contract.
That kind of financial damage might be acceptable over a year or two, but firing LaFleur in the middle of this season or anytime next season would be a very expensive reversal for Policy.
Starting 1-2 is new territory for LaFleur. His leadership has been more tied to 3-0 and 2-1 beginnings. There’s also real concern about the one-dimensional nature of the offense for which he’s calling plays. That’s put quarterback Jordan Love under siege while reliable veteran Josh Jacobs is on the Commissioner’s Exempt List and cannot help a struggling rushing attack.
Read more Kenya Gaming Operators Raise Alarm Over Regulator’s Paybill Threats
Green Bay is not used to adversity with LaFleur so early in the season. It has a chance to rebound at struggling Tampa Bay in Week 4 before revving up the schedule again with Chicago and Dalals in back-to-back home games and then at Detroit.
The Packers will practice patience with LaFleur because of his track record on top of the costliness of not doing so. He also can’t fix a porous run defense with his coaching, which is more on Gutekunst.
MORE: Packers fan emerges as perfect meme for start to 2026 season
Packers’ potential replacements for Matt LaFleur
Given the timeline of this, the Packers’ next coaching change won’t happen until at least after the 2027 season. By that time, better candidaates can emerge.
One coach to watch is Jim Harbaugh, whose Chargers are 0-2. There’s a chance the former rival Bears quarterback looks to move on from Los Angeles as it becomes more apparent he can’t win big there in the NFL like he did in San Francisco.
The Packers did lose their former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, once the head coach of Boston College, to that same position with the Dolphins. Should they not get jobs before then, the best defensive-minded options are David Shula (Rams) and Anthony Campanile (Jaguars)
On the younger offensive side, and Nathan Scheelhaase (Rams, 35) Grant Udinski (Jaguars, 30) should develop into stronger candidates by then. After 10 teams hired new coaches in 2026, the well needs to be refilled. That’s another reason for the Packers to keep seeing it through with LaFleur, still only 46 but now with a lot of experience.
Read more Kenya Gaming Operators Raise Alarm Over Regulator’s Paybill Threats
MORE: Tucker Kraft calls out Packers fans for booing during Falcons loss
Comments