As the anxiety and excitement ramp up for the Green Bay Packers' playoff matchup against the Chicago Bears on Saturday, the bigger plot behind the scenes has thickened considerably.
The Miami Dolphins have just hired former Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan as their newest general manager, and one thing we know about people in positions of power around the NFL: It's all about who you know. With Sullivan taking the general manager position in Miami, is it possible that we could see the unthinkable happen if the Packers lose in Chicago?
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has been considered to be somewhat on the hot seat as of late, and the presence of Sullivan in the Dolphins' front office could give LaFleur an intriguing fail-safe if things don't go well on Saturday.
Dolphins could come calling for Matt LaFleur quickly if Packers move on after playoffs
There are actually some really interesting layers to this discussion that may give the idea more credence than anyone in the Packers' fan base wants to deal with before a playoff game. But it has to be discussed, because these things looming behind the scenes could be a massive distraction in the playoffs.
Next year will be LaFleur's last under contract. If the Packers are not willing to extend him at the price he is asking for, the first question you would have to ask is, "Why not?" To follow that one up, you would also have to ask the very difficult question of whether or not the Packers would be willing to give up on LaFleur and trade him to a team like the Dolphins, or just fire him for failing to come through in the postseason.
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald) that it may take "$12-15 million per year to lure him into signing an extension."
Even with the injuries this Packers team has had to deal with in the 2025 season, the pressure is squarely on LaFleur's shoulders to come through in this playoff run. The Packers might not be overly inclined to make this move, although the availability of a coach like John Harbaugh could change their thinking.
Even though Harbaugh is going to be in significant demand, could we see Green Bay pivot to someone like him and move away from LaFleur?
Regardless of what the fallout and long-term plan would be, the idea of Jon-Eric Sullivan wanting to bring LaFleur with him to be the head coach of the Dolphins should be considered extremely realistic. Why wouldn't he want LaFleur to help jumpstart that franchise? It would arguably be the most significant head coach hire of the cycle if it happened.
And a lot hinges on Saturday's playoff game against the Bears. If LaFleur and the Packers can't come through, it could set off a chain reaction that would send shockwaves through the entire NFL.