Packers: Matt LaFleur, Brian Gutekunst reportedly land contract extensions

According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the Green Bay Packers have given contract extensions to head coach Matt LaFleur, general manager Brian Gutekunst, and executive vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball.

And it’s well deserved for all three.

Together, they have helped lift the Packers from going playoff-less in 2017 and 2018, to winning three straight NFC North titles and wrapping up the NFC’s top seed twice.

Gutekunst and Ball were promoted in 2018. Gutekunst was named the general manager, while Ball plays a vital role in managing the salary cap.

Together, they had a huge job ahead of them to get the Packers back where they belonged.

Since then, Green Bay has drafted players like Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, Elgton Jenkins, and Eric Stokes, while signing veterans like Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and De’Vondre Campbell.

In 2019, LaFleur was hired as head coach to replace Mike McCarthy.

To say that decision has paid off would be a huge understatement.

In the regular season, the Packers have gone 39-9 under LaFleur. No head coach in NFL history has more victories in their first three seasons than LaFleur.

He fixed an offense that needed a spark. He has formed a great relationship with Aaron Rodgers.

Under LaFleur, Rodgers has played some of the best football of his career and has been named NFL MVP two years running.

Gutekunst deserves a ton of credit for the roster he has built. Ball, too, for maintaining a healthy salary cap. And LaFleur has made it all work on the field. Under LaFleur, the Packers have won a lot of football games.

A contract extension for all three is well deserved. The next challenge for them is to help guide the Packers back to the Super Bowl. They have come close in recent years.

Will this finally be their season?