Matt LaFleur is one of the best offensive minds in the NFL, and his win-loss record speaks for itself. LaFleur has coached exactly 100 regular-season games in six seasons, winning an outstanding 67.
He has led the Green Bay Packers to five playoff berths in six years, winning three NFC North titles and three playoff games.
However, it's hard to blame you if you're still skeptical about his decision-making when hiring assistant coaches. The Jeff Hafley hire looks like a home run, but before that, LaFleur's best move was to bring in Tom Clements, which was an Aaron Rodgers recommendation. LaFleur chose Joe Barry to run his defense and then waited two years too long to part ways.
Then there is Rich Bisaccia.
The veteran coach was supposed to be the Packers' special teams savior after their embarrassing playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. The Niners had a blocked-punt touchdown and blocked a field goal to upset the No. 1-seeded Packers at Lambeau Field, capping off a nightmarish season for Green Bay's special teams unit under Maurice Drayton.
Yet Bisaccia's unit has experienced many of the same issues. After being fooled on a punt-return touchdown in Week 18 and then experiencing further embarrassment in the wild-card loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, it felt like the final straw. Surely, LaFleur was going to move on from Bisaccia.
Nope. The opposite, in fact.
Matt LaFleur hands Rich Bisaccia an extension despite Packers' special teams issues
According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, LaFleur has signed Bisaccia to an extension. Silverstein notes that Bisaccia will "return as special teams coordinator and LaFleur's game management adviser."
In addition to his special teams duties, Bisaccia is LaFleur's assistant head coach. Yes, he is an excellent leader with previous head coaching experience, but what else does he bring to the table?
It's certainly not an improved special teams performance. Pro Football Focus handed the Packers an awful special teams grade of 58.5, the worst in the NFL.
From penalties to fumbles to missed kicks, the Packers' special teams unit endured a catalog of errors all season.
Silverstein noted that Bisaccia is LaFleur's "game management adviser." But are we sure he is the best voice to help with game management? Wendell Ferreira of A to Z Sports made a great observation from Bisaccia's brief time as interim head coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. Based on RBSDM data, Bisaccia's Raiders were 29th when ranking each team on how often they go for it when they should.
Translation: He was far too conservative when opting to go for it, which was a major issue for the Packers this season.
LaFleur clearly values Bisaccia's contributions, but at the very least, he should've considered a change on special teams. Even if that meant retaining Bisaccia as his assistant.
Brian Gutekunst has used resources to strengthen the special teams unit, including bringing in Keisean Nixon and Eric Wilson. It hasn't worked.
The Packers' special teams remain an issue. Based on LaFleur's decision, we shouldn't expect change anytime soon.