It is rare for a first-year head coach to inherit a future first-ballot Hall of Famer at quarterback. However, that is the exact situation Matt LaFleur stepped into when the Green Bay Packers hired him in 2019 to replace Mike McCarthy.
Throughout the 2019 offseason, much of the media buzz centered around doubts that LaFleur and Rodgers would be able to work together. The narrative was that their personalities and philosophies would clash. However, none of that ever came to fruition. Instead, the two quickly found common ground and led Green Bay to three straight 13-win seasons—including a dominant 2020 campaign in which Rodgers threw for 48 touchdowns and just five interceptions, earning NFL MVP honors for the third time in his career.
Recently, LaFleur appeared on the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast, where he reflected on his time with Aaron Rodgers and offered thoughtful praise for their partnership.
"I thought it was a great partnership," LaFleur said. "Certainly, there were some moments of struggle but in anything when you have people who are convicted about what they are doing and are passionate and care it’s usually for the betterment of the team. And we kind of helped each other in that regard."
During the conversation, Simms also asked the Packers head coach what he had learned from working with Rodgers.
"You learn so much going through it together," LaFleur noted. "You can’t discount a guy of his talent, his experiences and just the way he thinks about the game. There’s been a lot of things that, quite honestly, that he’s helped shape some of my beliefs in terms of how I look at offensive football as well."
Even though LaFleur and Rodgers ultimately fell short of reaching the Super Bowl during their four seasons together, they delivered several memorable and exciting years for Green Bay fans. The duo led the Packers to back-to-back NFC Championship Game appearances in 2019 and 2020, secured the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, and watched Rodgers claim consecutive NFL MVP honors during that dominant stretch.
It is possible the Packers could face Aaron Rodgers in 2025. The future Hall of Famer has yet to sign with a new team, with the Pittsburgh Steelers emerging as a likely destination. Both teams will meet on Sunday Night Football in Week 8, and if Rodgers suits up against his former team, it will undoubtedly draw plenty of attention from fans and media alike.
