Matt LaFleur is still viewed as one of the premier head coaches across the NFL, but the Packers might need to make some big strides towards winning a Lombardi if he’s going to cement that reputation in 2025.
After all, the Packers took a step back in 2024, and this season could prove critical both for LaFleur, and quarterback Jordan Love’s reputation as one of the top young quarterbacks in the sport.
Given the hyper-competitive state of the NFC North, which sent three teams to the playoffs in 2024 and could be even deeper thanks to the offseason overhaul by the Chicago Bears, LaFleur and the Packers could face an uphill climb towards a lengthy playoff run, but pulling one off would bolster both of their reputations.
Packers’ Matt LaFleur Falls in Preseason NFL Coaches Rankings
After falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card round, taking a step back from the 2024 campaign, LaFleur fell out of the top-five in CBS Sports’ annual preseason ranking of head coaches.
“Some tried to write him off as a pawn of the Rodgers show when he first got to Green Bay,” Cody Benjamin writes of LaFleur, ranking him No. 8 in CBS’ list. “He’s only led back-to-back playoff bids with Jordan Love since then, despite half of the supporting cast breaking down in 2024. He could stand to bring a little more bite in the playoffs, but five postseason entries in six tries? The Packers’ youth hasn’t been an issue but an asset under his lead.”
The Packers have put one of the youngest rosters, loaded with homegrown talent at LaFleur’s disposal, led by a 26-year-old quarterback, which could set LaFleur up to have a strong season in 2025.
If LaFleur and Green Bay prove that 2024 was a setback rather than a trend, there’s a real possibility that the 45-year-old head coach climbs these rankings next summer.
