Everything was placed under the microscope after the Green Bay Packers went into free fall and lost their final five games last season. That even included Matt LaFleur's job security.
LaFleur is back on a new deal, and he met with reporters at the NFL Annual Meeting on Monday.
Somewhat surprisingly, LaFleur opened up about the frustrations some players had with their roles and the impact it had on the team.
"If I'm being honest about it, I think there were some guys that were upset about roles last year. I think that took a toll on our football team," said LaFleur, via Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
"You need guys that bring great energy every day. I think from a coaching standpoint, role clarity is key. So we've got to obviously do a better job communicating with our players, 'Hey, here's your role. And if you're unhappy about your role, it's on you to do something about that, to carve out a bigger role on this football team.'"
Matt LaFleur gets brutally honest about players' frustrations over roles last season
LaFleur said he's "sure" those frustrations played a part in the low grade he received from Packers players in the NFLPA's annual player survey.
He, unsurprisingly, wouldn't name individual players who shared those frustrations, but it has only fueled speculation among Packers fans.
Was Quay Walker among them? He bolted in free agency, signing a massive $40.5 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. Shortly after, Walker said he believes he will be "used the right way" in Las Vegas, a potential subtle shot at the Packers.
What about Colby Wooden, whom the Packers traded to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for linebacker Zaire Franklin?
Wooden said he "played out of position" in Jeff Hafley's defense last season, which required him to predominantly line up as the nose tackle.
Romeo Doubs? In 2024, he received a one-game suspension from the Packers "for conduct detrimental to the team," with Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated reporting that Doubs had skipped practice because he was "upset with his opportunities in the passing game."
Walker, Wooden, and Doubs were among the players to depart this offseason. Again, it's unclear if LaFleur was referring to any of them.
Even more interesting is that LaFleur chose to bring it up publicly. He didn't need to make those comments. It was an open and honest answer, and one that highlights just how much reflection LaFleur and his team require after such a disastrous end to last season.
Are the players "upset" about their roles still on the team? Your guess is as good as mine. But LaFleur's comments offer some promise that the coaching staff is taking a true look in the mirror to identify where they must improve in 2026.