As we all know, Green Bay Packers Jordan Love left the game this past weekend with a concussion, and Malik Willis sustained an injury late in the same game. I know those bits of information, and then I saw 44-year-old, just-off-the-couch Philip Rivers go for 277 yards and 2 TDs on Monday Night Football, so my brain started wondering. If Matt LaFleur didn’t have a healthy QB he liked going into this weekend, who would he call?
So I went combing through Matt LaFleur’s stops as a coach to find a candidate.
(Quick note: when I say “LaFleur coached this player for X number of years,” that’s the number of years the player took a regular-season snap under LaFleur.)
Rex Grossman: 45
LaFleur coached Grossman for a year in Washington (2011). Did you know that Rex Grossman is only 1 year older than Philip Rivers? It’s true! That was Grossman’s last year in the league. He completed 57.9% of his passes, threw for 3,151 yards, 16 TDs and 20 INTs.
Ol’ Sexy Rexy is currently the CEO of Florida Medical Staffing, a staffing agency for RNs, LPNs, Respiratory & Physical Therapists.
Robert Griffin III: 35
LaFleur coached RGIII for 2 years in Washington (2012-2013). You’ve likely heard him in the booth while watching college football. I know I heard him recently paired with the GOAT, Jason Benetti.
2012 was Griffin’s rookie season, and he was tremendous before his knee injury, but he was never quite the same. We last saw him in NFL action in 2020, going 8/14 for 42 yards and 2 INTs for the Ravens.
Matt Ryan: 40
Younger than Rivers by a solid 4 years. LaFleur coached Ryan for 2 years in Atlanta (2015-2016). Ryan won the MVP in 2016, completing 69.9% of his passes for 4,944 yards, 38 TDs and 7 INTs.
We last saw him starting for the Colts in 2022, completing 67% of his passes for 3,057 yards, 14 TDs and 13 INTs.
Matt Schaub: 44
He’s the same age as Rivers! That’s wild! LaFleur coached Schaub for 1 year in Atlanta (2016). In that season, Schaub went 1/3 for 16 yards.
Schaub is, perhaps, best known as the player who holds the record for most consecutive games throwing a pick 6 (4). Maybe that’s not what he’s best known for, but it’s the first thing I think of, which is kind of a shame. He was a solid player for several years in Houston.
Sean Mannion: 33
This is an easy one. Mannion is currently the QB Coach in Green Bay. LaFleur coached Mannion in 2017 with the Rams. In that season, Mannion went 22/37 for 185 yards, 0 TDs and 0 INTs. For his career, he was 67/110, 573 yards, 1 TD and 0 INTs. Real game manager.
You don’t even have to get this man off the couch. Just bring him a uniform and have him step between the lines of the field he is already standing on.
Blaine Gabbert: 36
LaFleur coached Gabbert for 1 year with the Titans (2018). Gabbert played in 8 games (starting 3) and went 61/101 for 626 yards, 4 TDs and 4 INTs. He was last in the league in 2023, winning a Super Bowl with the Chiefs at the ripe old age of 34. As near as I can tell, he is currently just enjoying retirement. Good for him.
Tim Boyle: 31
LaFleur coached Boyle for 2 years in Green Bay (2019-2020). Across both seasons, he went 3/4 for 15 yards. He was waived by the Titans this past summer.
My favorite Boyle moment was him throwing a pick-6 off a Hail Mary with the Jets. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen that before.
Kurt Benkert: 30
LaFleur coached Benkert for 1 year (2021). In that year, Benkert appeared in 1 game and did not attempt a pass. He is currently a streamer and has a company (The Dime Lab) where he sells footballs and books.
Sean Clifford: 27
The youngest member of the group. LaFleur coached Clifford for 1 year (2023). Clifford did not attempt a pass in 2 games. He is currently on the Bengals practice squad.
If given your choice, who are you calling?
Albums listened to: Father John Misty – Mahashmashana; Fortitude Valley – Part of the Problem, Baby
