The Green Bay Packers not only retained head coach Matt LaFleur this offseason, but they also signed him to a multi-year contract extension. Yet, somehow, the grip on his job feels looser.
LaFleur is widely touted as one of the brightest minds in football and a respected leader. However, virtually no binding language is enough to overlook Green Bay's seemingly perpetual shortcomings in the playoffs under his watch. Failing to get over the hump, let alone regressing, could run him out of town.
Alas, LaFleur must face his Packers mortality if the club misses the postseason — as FanSided's Wynston Wilcox predicts will happen.
Matt LaFleur era could come to a screeching halt if Packers miss playoffs in 2026
Wilcox highlighted the Packers as one of five teams that played past Week 18 last season that he believes won't make the cut this year. And frankly, the logic is sound, which puts LaFleur in a less-than-enviable spot.
Green Bay's an "odd" squad that has the makings of "one of the NFL's best [rosters]" in theory. In practice, though, we've seen them constantly shrivel under the bright lights for closer to a decade. That's a direct reflection of LaFleur, who's running out of bites at the apple.
A highly competitive NFC North race also works against LaFleur. The Detroit Lions remain favored to win the division despite coming off a disappointing campaign, and the reigning champion Chicago Bears are trending up. No one should discount the Minnesota Vikings either, albeit at Green Bay's expense, like Wilcox touches on.
"I just simply think the Chicago Bears aren't going anywhere and the Lions and Vikings are going to bounce back in 2026 after lackluster 2025 seasons," Wilcox wrote.
Something(s) went terribly wrong if the Packers aren't among the final 14 franchises jostling for Super LXI in Inglewood, California. You can argue time is on their side, considering they boast one of the league's youngest lineups. Nevertheless, this is a group that's built to win now, putting immense pressure on LaFleur and leaving him zero margin for error.
Even with his new deal, LaFleur's far from secure. He'll have to learn from past mistakes, adapt, and find a way to propel the Packers forward. If not, the noise surrounding his future will only grow louder.
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