Two months ago, the Green Bay Packers looked like they were on a clear path to Super Bowl contention. A budding young offense and a dangerous defense led by superstar edge-rusher Micah Parsons had them set up for a triumphant return to the top of the NFL hierarchy. After a crushing Wild Card loss to their NFC North foes, the Packers are stuck on the outside looking in, watching the playoffs that could have been theirs unfold.
But the disappointment of a failed season might come with a shocking cost. Head coach Matt LaFleur finds himself on the hot seat, even after three consecutive playoff appearances.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Packers could be looking to make a move that would shake the NFL to its core.
Adam Schefter stirs Packers' John Harbaugh pot with wild link
After the Packers' loss to the Chicago Bears, Schefter took to Postseason NFL Countdown to draw some intriguing connections between Green Bay and John Harbaugh.
Schefter said: "A lot of people around the league have been wondering if the Packers decide to go in a different direction, if all of a sudden the Green Bay Packers might fall to the top of John Harbaugh's list as the top available choice for him. This has been a wild and crazy coaching cycle, and we may just be scratching the surface."
The former Baltimore Ravens head coach was fired this week after failing to lead his team to the playoffs. He has immediately become the hottest name on the market, drawing interest from several teams around the league. The Packers haven't indicated a willingness to move on from LaFleur yet, but Schefter sees plenty of connections between them and Harbaugh if they do.
The insider noted that former Packers president Bob Harlan is the father of Harbaugh's current representative, Bryan Harlan. He also pointed out that the former Ravens coach is from the Midwest and could be looking to return closer to home.
It would still come as a shock if the Packers decide to fire LaFleur. He's become one of the top playcallers in football and consistently has Green Bay competing for titles in one of the NFL's toughest divisions. But if they do go in a different direction, you can't do much better than Harbaugh. It's just speculation at this point, but this move would take the rest of the league by storm.