Yesterday, we had a tough discussion about how the Green Bay Packers’ chances as a Super Bowl contender have changed with the Micah Parsons injury. Now, I want to bring up one of the bigger questions about the franchise moving forward: What do you think happens with Matt LaFleur’s contract situation?
If you need a refresher, here’s what’s happened this year. New president/CEO Ed Policy replaced Mark Murphy as the de facto owner of the Packers and made the decision not to extend LaFleur, despite his 67-33
record as a head coach entering 2025. To say the least, this was an uncommon decision within the overall NFL landscape for a coach with LaFleur’s track record.
At the time of the Parsons injury, which will almost certainly be a pivotal point in how this decision is discussed this offseason, the Packers were the second seed in the NFC. So, will LaFleur receive a multi-year extension this offseason based on how the team performed in 2025 before the Parsons injury, or does Policy still need to see more?
It seems highly unlikely that LaFleur, repped by super agent Trace Armstrong, will accept even a short-term extension after this year. He’s likely to want a multi-year extension.
For perspective, Armstrong is the top coach representative for Athletes First, one of the largest agencies that represent players, too. Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love, Clay Matthews, Xavier McKinney and other Packers have been Athletes First players, along with former Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy. To say the least, there’s some history between the agency and the franchise.
There are two situations I’m keeping an eye on at the college level that could give LaFleur (and Armstrong) some leverage at the negotiation table.
First, Michigan is open, a school that is roughly two hours from where LaFleur grew up. Do I think that LaFleur will leave for a major college job? No. Do I think Armstrong will get a number from a school to push the Packers in a certain direction if those jobs are still open when Green Bay’s season ends? Yes, that’s his job.
Coaches made north of $300 million in extensions off the Penn State opening this year. This is how this industry works, and that’s why coaches pay these agencies. Remember McCarthy’s camp threatening to leave for Texas just to ultimately get a raise in Green Bay?
I’m not sure if Michigan will still be open in a couple of weeks, but the fact that the university is doing a full investigation of the athletic program means that athletic director Warde Manuel is likely in the crosshairs. A second search for a new head coach might have to begin if he’s ousted, which will only drag this out longer.
The second potential vacancy that would be a point of leverage for LaFleur would be Notre Dame, the program where he last coached at the college level. Marcus Freeman is going to be a hot name in the NFL cycle this year, and he’s already gaining steam in the New York Giants rumor mill. That’s another option for Armstrong to get a number from.
Again, I don’t think LaFleur leaves for a college job, but this is simply how the business works (I cannot stress how much an industry standard this is). To talk to NFL teams, Armstrong and LaFleur would need to get the Packers to approve the request for contract discussions, and the second team would need to agree to trade compensation going back to Green Bay. There are no limitations on LaFleur’s camp getting a number from college teams, though, which is why that’s relevant.
So if you had to commit to LaFleur for a three-year extension (minimum) on top of the year he has remaining in 2026, would you do it or let him walk? Remember, if LaFleur leaves, he might not take his assistants with him, which means that the Packers would need to pay those staffers in full if a new head coach wanted to build his own staff from the ground floor, too. This is going to be the decision that Policy will ultimately have to make, and it might be the most important choice he’ll have in his time in Green Bay.
