Love it or hate it, Matt LaFleur is returning to the Green Bay Packers.
He has reportedly signed a multiyear deal to stay in Green Bay. While there was some uncertainty throughout the week, this always felt like the most realistic outcome. LaFleur has to immediately get to work on building his 2026 coaching staff, likely without defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.
LaFleur's return will split opinion in the fanbase, but who are the biggest winners (and losers) from his extension?
3 winners (and 2 losers) after Packers and Matt LaFleur agree to contract extension
Winner: Matt LaFleur
OK, we'll get the obvious one out of the way. LaFleur is undoubtedly a massive winner here, not just because he will earn more money, but also because of the added job security. According to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, this contract is a "real commitment" from the Packers and not a short-term extension that would have the team hedging its bets.
We may never see the full contract terms, but based on the reporting, Green Bay has gone all-in to retain LaFleur long term.
Winner: Jordan Love
Say what you want about LaFleur's coaching, whether the team can win the big one, or their inability to close out games, but there's no denying his work with quarterbacks.
It's a superpower.
At the end of the Mike McCarthy era, many wondered if Aaron Rodgers' best days were behind him. Then LaFleur arrived, and Rodgers won back-to-back MVPs and played arguably the best football of his career.
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Rodgers leaves, Love replaces him, and now he has become one of the best quarterbacks in football. Rodgers threw 137 touchdown passes to just 25 interceptions in four years with LaFleur, earning a 104.7 rating. In three seasons, Love has 80 touchdowns and 28 interceptions, good for a 97.8 rating.
Then there is Malik Willis. The Packers only had to give up a seventh-round pick to trade for him. Now, he's about to land a big deal in free agency and likely net Green Bay a third-round compensatory pick. It's the LaFleur effect.
Winner: The Packers locker room
Packers fans have understandably voiced their frustrations, but there's no doubting how much the locker room was behind LaFleur.
Love made it clear he wanted LaFleur back.
So did Micah Parsons. And Tucker Kraft. And just about anyone who spoke to reporters in the locker room. It's clear that, no matter how much adversity this team faced, they never stopped fighting for their head coach. Their opinion likely carried a lot of weight, and they now don't have to worry about the uncertainty of a new coach replacing LaFleur.
Loser: Every team with a head coach vacancy
At one stage, nine teams had head-coach vacancies. Every single one of them would love to have LaFleur.
Had the Packers moved on, LaFleur would've walked into any job he wanted. Miami would've made sense, where he could reunite with Jon-Eric Sullivan, whom the Dolphins hired as their new general manager. Instead, that job is likely reserved for Jeff Hafley.
Firing LaFleur might've started a bidding war. Too bad. He isn't going anywhere.
Loser: Ben Johnson
Oh, Ben Johnson thought this was over? Steal two victories, and then watch LaFleur leave?
Not so fast. Let's be honest here: If the Packers didn't botch an onside kick and Brandon McManus didn't miss three kicks, LaFleur would be 3-0 against Johnson. We won't get into the ifs and buts, because all that matters is LaFleur's team didn't win those games. But he will get a chance for revenge.
Get Micah Parsons back. And Tucker Kraft. And Zach Tom. Then we'll see who gets the last laugh.