The Green Bay Packers' latest postseason loss has really turned up the heat around head coach Matt LaFleur, as blowing a 21-3 lead against the Chicago Bears was simply a bridge too far for many of the fanbase to stomach.
For the first time in his career with the Packers, LaFleur may actually need to pay attention to his job security. The latest rumblings from NFL insiders don't paint an overly rosy picture, as Green Bay may be closer to making a change at head coach than ever before.
ESPN's Adam Schefter referred to LaFleur's security as the main man in Green Bay as "up in the air" despite the fact that he has made the playoffs six times in seven seasons with the team. Losing the way they did to Chicago, of all teams, rightly has fans irritated with their coach.
"I think both sides would like to make that happen, but it's now 7:37 CT on Wednesday, and they've been trying to do this for a little while and they still have not gotten it figured out. The longer it lingers out there, the more you wonder where it's going to go and how it's going to result. The way I would interpret it now is, it's up in the air," Schefter told ESPN Milwaukee.
"I believe firmly that most places would have a high level of interest in Matt LaFleur. I don't know whether they wouldn't hold him up and say, OK, Team X, you want him? Give us third-round pick or a second-round pick." he added. "The Packers once sent Mike Holmgren to the Seattle Seahawks, in 1999, for a second-round draft pick."
However, when looking at the state of what is admittedly a very thin coaching market and the improved NFC North around LaFleur, it seems unlikely that firing LaFleur would help the Packers bring in someone who can make an immediate positive impact.
Packers inching closer to grave Matt LaFleur mistake after playoff choke
For starters, Green Bay is way behind the 8-ball as coaching candidates around the league start to take interviews. The idea of a home run candidate riding in on a white horse and fixing everything is a fantasy world, and finding someone with LaFleur's level of offensive creativity is even less likely.
What about the possibility of promoting defensive coordinator and head coach candidate Jeff Hafley to replace LaFleur? One of two things will happen in that scenario. Either Hafley will replace all the offensive assistants and downgrade on that side of the ball, or leave most everyone in place. If the latter, why even can LaFleur?
Not every loss needs some large philosophical change as a result, as painful as the Bears loss is. The Packers' collapse this season may be as simple as not having Micah Parsons. They looked like a possible No. 1 seed when he was healthy, and they floundered without him.
LaFleur should be on the hot seat heading into next season, but to can him after this without an A+ replacement lined up to take this job would be a very short-sighted move that could cost Green Bay dearly in a very tough division.