All signs point to Matt LaFleur staying in Green Bay long-term, and there were more signs Saturday that the Packers head coach is on the verge of a contract extension.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that LaFleur was not “coaching for the job” in the NFC wild-card game against the Bears and that the team and head coach will meet after the season with a “mutual goal of extending his contract.”
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LaFleur’s current contract expires after the 2026 season, and Rapoport explained that’s part of Green Bay’s plan to have two years left on the coach’s contract when new president and CEO Ed Policy takes over, giving him a full season to evaluate and then make an informed decision.
Since becoming the Packers head coach in 2019, LaFleur has compiled a 76-40-1 record and led the team to the playoffs in all seven seasons he coached, except for one, when they lost to the Lions during Aaron Rodgers’ final season in Green Bay.
Only two teams have had more regular-season wins since LaFleur arrived in Green Bay; the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.
However, the Packers have yet to reach the Super Bowl during LaFleur’s tenure, a major criticism from his detractors. Their last appearance in the NFC Championship Game was in January 2021, losing to Tom Brady and the Buccaneers.
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LaFleur oversaw a rapid roster turnaround after Rodgers left and led the NFL’s youngest team to the playoffs each of the past three seasons. He also helped develop Jordan Love into one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Trading Micah Parsons made Green Bay one of the favorites heading into the 2025 Super Bowl, but a series of injuries including Parsons’ torn ACL caused the Packers to lose their final four games late in the regular season and finish with a 9-7-1 record and the seventh seed in the NFC.
Despite a disappointing end to the regular season, Saturday night’s poor result doesn’t appear to affect LaFleur’s standing among the teams that are part of the process of hiring a head coach in 2019.
Rapoport said Saturday that the team “likes LaFleur, respects him and believes he’s a great fit for the team and the community” and if all goes well, they want him to be their head coach “long-term.”
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LaFleur’s reign wasn’t perfect, nor did it achieve its ultimate goal of bringing a championship to Titletown.
But it appears that smart thinking will prevail, and based on his stellar performance in Green Bay, LaFleur will have the backing of policy, a new long-term contract, and a chance to finally help the Packers turn the corner.
More from Rapoport:
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Matt LaFleur ‘didn’t coach for his job’ against Bears, by Ian Rapoport