The Green Bay Packers’ decision to retain head coach Matt LaFleur following a crushing playoff defeat was never truly in doubt, according to a top NFL insider. Despite a wave of coaching changes across the league and the sting of a season-ending loss to the Chicago Bears, the organization’s support for LaFleur remained unwavering and full-throated.
Speaking from Radio Row at Super Bowl 60 in San Francisco, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport told the “Locked On Packers” podcast that the internal discourse never seriously considered a change. “I reported the Saturday before their playoff game they’re going to work out an extension with him,” Rapoport said. “And it seems like… people were still like, ‘We’ll see what happens,’ and I’m like, he’s coming back.”
This conviction held firm even after the Packers’ playoff exit. Rapoport emphasized that the loss did not alter the franchise’s perspective or trigger a reactive scramble. “No, not at all,” he stated when asked if the nature of the defeat changed the calculus. “I just never… no one ever gave me any indication that there was anything but full-throated support of Matt LaFleur.”
The insider’s analysis points to a fundamental belief within the Packers’ front office that LaFleur remains the right leader to guide a young, ascending roster. In a cycle that saw ten teams change coaches—including shocking moves by Baltimore and Miami—Green Bay viewed continuity as a strategic asset. Rapoport framed the decision around a simple, critical question franchises must ask: “Do we have a guy who can get us to where we need to go?”
For the Packers, the answer was a resounding yes. Rapoport suggested that identifying a superior alternative would have been a significant challenge, reinforcing the decision to stay the course. “In the case of Matt LaFleur, that would have been really, really tough,” he noted.
The report underscores the Packers’ long-term vision under LaFleur, who has overseen the transition from legendary quarterback Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. The team’s late-season surge and playoff appearance, fueled by the youngest roster in the NFL, solidified the belief that the foundation is strong and the leadership is correct.
This stance comes amid reflections from players on the season’s abrupt end. Wide receiver Romeo Doubs, an upcoming free agent who spoke on the same broadcast, described the playoff loss as a “tough” experience but emphasized the growth it represented. “Win, lose, or draw there’s growth all over,” Doubs said, highlighting the resilience of the young squad.
As the NFL world descends on San Francisco for the Super Bowl, the Packers’ plans are set. The organization has sent a clear signal that stability and faith in their head coach are the cornerstones of their blueprint for returning to the league’s biggest stage. The dramatic coaching carousel of the past month will spin without Green Bay’s involvement, a testament to their unwavering commitment to the path laid out by Matt LaFleur.
