Everything is on the table for the Green Bay Packers following one of their worst postseason losses of all time.
Jeff Hafley may have coached his final snap in Green Bay as he potentially embarks on a head coaching journey of his own. Then there's Matt LaFleur, who, before the game, looked on track for a new contract. By halftime, the Packers had everything in control. It wasn't if they'd eliminate the Chicago Bears, but by how much.
But it's impossible not to rethink that after such a nightmarish playoff collapse. It's embarrassing. Brutal. Painful. For LaFleur, inexcusable. He immediately faced questions about his future in his postgame press conference, but his non-answer only added more fuel to the uncertainty.
"With all due respect to your question, Pete, now's not the time for that," LaFleur said about his future. "I'm just hurting for these guys. I can only think about what just happened and there'll be time for that."
Matt LaFleur refuses to comment on his Packers future after sickening loss
It shouldn't even be a conversation. We should be rewatching Matthew Golden's legendary first NFL TD, or any of Jordan Love's four scores. Or maybe LaFleur's fired-up victory celebration with his players. Yet somehow, some way, this team isn't preparing for the Seattle Seahawks, but wondering how they threw it all away.
LaFleur called it humbling. That's an understatement. After seven years, this loss throws his future into a world of uncertainty. There's no doubt he wants to return — LaFleur explained what it means for him to coach the Packers.
"It means everything to me. This is the greatest organization in the world, in my opinion. It's very humbling. I'm disappointed for everybody that's associated with the Green Bay Packers. I'm disappointed for our locker room. I'm disappointed for our fans. I'm disappointed for our leadership, just all our employees, everybody involved with the Green Bay Packers."
It hurts because it's clear how much this means to him. LaFleur loves the Packers and is desperate to win here. You could feel the emotion in his voice. He wears his heart on his sleeve.
But the questions will remain. How do you bounce back from this loss? The Packers were up 21-3 with a chance to kick a field goal before halftime (albeit a tough chance from 55 yards in windy conditions) and would receive the ball after the break.
The Packers had possession late in the fourth quarter with a three-point lead. A touchdown would seal it.
Packers fans are no strangers to heartbreak. It's in this team's DNA. But this loss to the Bears, of all teams? It's hard to come back from this one.
President Ed Policy now has the weight of the world on his shoulders. LaFleur's future is a serious question mark, and it sure sounded like he has no idea what's next.