As LaFleur transitions from the 2021 season to the beyond, there are wounds to heal, transitions to navigate and redemption to be won. Four years ago, LaFleur was hired to get Aaron Rodgers back to an elite level after a sharp decline in production. They give credit to worse-looking guys, guys with terrible eyebrows and terrible hairlines, and hes blessed. Something went wrong. Thats artwork to me., His success, said Bengals coach Zac Taylor, who was on the 2017 Rams staff with LaFleur, it is so hard to do in this league. The depth of this draft class at receiver and particularly at tight end could push the Packers toward using the 15th overall pick to address other needs, such as adding a safety or a pass rusher. Then when passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Luke Getsy resigned to become offensive coordinator of the Bears, LaFleur told Rodgers he wanted to talk to Clements. Each guy wants to talk shit about the one I spoke to previously. He explained that he should not have expected Love to use the same tools to deal with blitzes that Rodgers could, given the difference in their experience levels. "It's hard to lead when you're not the guy, and he knows he's the guy now. The Packers drafted a third receiver Samori Toure in the seventh round last year. When LaFleur was in Los Angeles for the NFL Honors, he met Clements, who lives in the area. He didnt care how it affected him, he just wanted to do what he thought was right., In the beginning, there was Bill Walsh College Football. In the IFL, teams traveled to games via 15- or 20-hour bus rides, and afterward, Ragsdale said, bruised and bloodied players would pile onto the bus and beg the driver to stop for beer and some sandwiches for the long postgame drive. So, too, is the quarterback-coach relationship. A good relationshipone where each person erases the others mistakes and both make each other bettercan win you a Super Bowl. Those in the building remain impressed with LaFleurs ability to never let anything affect the locker room, no matter the media firestorm. 1: Team first. Hourly. And at that stage, 99 percent of coaches wouldnt have had that security. That move could lead to the exit of free agent Mason Crosby, who has a franchise-record 1,918 career points over 17 seasons. You dont always see the superstars do that, LaFleur says. Someone else would be Maryland's wide receivers coach. Five months after that, hes back making fun of his coachs hair. History suggests they wont add any in the first round of next weeks NFL draft. I really sit back and think, here we are, with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. Whatever is going to help them be their best, thats what we want. Arguably one of the best receivers of all time, especially when it comes to route running, Packers receiver Allen Lazard said of Adams. video. Josiah Deguara, who had 13 catches for 114 yards last season, is the top tight end under contract. (As I talked to Campbell in a Lambeau hallway, LaFleur happened to walk by, and when he heard Campbell saying nice things about him, he stuck his fingers in his ears and gave a loud la-la-la to drown out the compliments.). I hope my kids want toif this is what they want to do. He found a way to relate to godlike Aaron Rodgers.. But neither season ended the way they wanted. John Madden had them. I like practical coaching that makes sense and honest, direct conversation. Its because when youve played for 16 years and saved your money, as Lewis has, its a matter of just wanting to continue. LaFleur draws a line from those experiences to now, when he has to drown out noise on a weekly basis. When LaFleur realized how perturbed Rodgers was last offseason, Rodgers said his coach was on the next flight to visit him in Malibu, Calif. That was definitely meaningful to me, Rodgers says. He mentions Tom Clementswho just returned as the Packers quarterbacks coach and who coached him earlier in his careerand former quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt, now the offensive coordinator in Cleveland, as people whove given him extremely granular tasks to improve on each day. Kyle and Matt were huge mentors of mine. There should be many more opportunities for the 42-year-old LaFleur, with or without the 38-year-old Rodgers. Green Bay Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy spoke with Larry McCarren at the NFL Annual Meetings in Phoenix. After GM Howie Roseman made seven trades, Philadelphia finished the weekend with seven picks and more 2024 ammo. There is something to accepting responsibility, and I think there is a trickle-down effect. Theres also one more evolution thats taken place. In 2013, he received the Bill Nunn Award from the Pro Football Writers of America for long and distinguished reporting. I want him to hear why I like something or why he might not like something, because if hes not comfortable Im not going to call it., Matt Ryan, who LaFleur worked with as quarterbacks coach in Atlanta in 2015 and during Ryans MVP season in 2016, remembers how much translating went into learning the offense, how different the terminology was and how much trust it took. I Want To Believe: Matt's Story | Matt Lafleur - Sick Pilgrim And quite frankly, I thought hed be great for myself as well. When team leaders Rodgers, Adams, Kenny Clark, Adrian Amos, Marcedes Lewis, DeVondre Campbell, Preston Smith and others had something to say, LaFleur stopped talking. Highly possible, Rodgers said with a sly grin, one that youve probably seen hundreds of times on crisp autumn afternoons while hes throwing some overwhelmed NFC defense in a trash can. I didnt understand exactly how to talk to him, and he didnt exactly understand how to talk to me, Rodgers says. LaFleur gave that same freedom to Rodgers after last season, when the quarterback was unsure whether he wanted to keep playing. Franklin, who has known LaFleur since they were graduate assistants at Central Michigan in 2005, says he perceived a decrease in LaFleurs anxiety last season. Assuming the Packers stay at 15, this would be just their second top-15 overall pick in the past 14 drafts. A relationship that falters, even for one series in one game, can alter the course of the franchise forever. He creates an environment where he gets all the fluff out of the way and all that matters is studying the tape and getting the most out of players every single day.. Its going to be more of a group effort.. He asked Rodgers about him again this January. As a coach, you have to be careful of having too many rules because you can paint yourself into a corner. He has not won or made a Super Bowlsomething we talk about at lengthbut he is without a doubt one of the top coaches in the sport. LaFleur, barring a Bengals dynasty for Taylor or a surprising uptick for Kliff Kingsbury in Arizona, is almost certainly going to end up being the best hire of the group. When Rodgers used the hashtag boycottLafleursBrows on Twitter, LaFleur responded with a text: Boycott COVID toe.. With more help at the tight end spot coming in the form of Tucker Kraft, an extra edge rusher in Colby Wooden and Virginia's Dontayvion Wicks for receiver depth, the Packers pretty much hit on all of their picksoutside of the Sean Clifford pick. Go to where you feel you can get a big pass play. Theres a lot of unknowns that need to be answered, and until we figure out all of that, I dont really know. LaFleurs commitment to the Packers and Rodgers led to a spirit of cooperation from the quarterback. Everybody knows coaches are almost inept about everyday activities like dressing themselves, doing laundry or self-grooming, Rodgers says. LaFleurs beginnings have been more successful than the beginnings of his Packers predecessor, who also inherited a Hall of Fame quarterback. We live in this. The Truth About Matt LaFleur's Wife - NickiSwift.com Matt LaFleur, the new head coach for the Green Bay Packers, is married to wife BreAnne, is the father of two boys, and has a brother who is also involved in the National Football League. Packers enter draft needing to find more playmakers for Love Matt LaFleur - Wikipedia It goes back to his communication and the relationships he built., After playing at Saginaw Valley State in University Center, Michigan, where he rewrote SVSU record books and led them to the Division II playoffs, LaFleur went to the Indoor Football Leaguea league for people who say, You keep playing until you cant, said Dan Ragsdale, who was both a quarterback and offensive coordinator for the IFLs Billings Outlaws in 2004. In LaFleur's first three seasons, they had 13, 11 and 13 turnovers. And he is so damn good at it, man. The week after the Saturday Christmas Day game, the Packers had an extra practice scheduled. If all their interactions were about throwing a football, their relationship would have been restricted. He has been the force that keeps the team a team. Matt LaFleur: 'We did not take advantage of certain opportunities' How Matt LaFleur will get Jordan Love ready for Packers' starting job I said, You know how I feel, but I was going to let him have his space and make whatever decision he thought was best for him. Congratulations, LaFleur. The NFL announced Friday that LaFleur will be the NFC coach for the 2022 Pro Bowl, while Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel will coach the AFC.. LaFleur's Packers and Vrabel's Titans were both the No. The Eagles entered the draft with six selections, including the tenth and 30th overall pick and a second and third-rounder. The Packers never got the ball back and lost the game. On the special teams side, LaFleur curiously chose to promote internally from Mennenga's staff and gave Maurice Drayton the job. Knowing that we both come to it just wanting to do whats best for the team and with love and respect for each other.. Despite some good speeches and agreeable philosophies, Drayton wasn't the answer. Hes getting all this credibility for being a handsome, good-looking coach. He ran a basic pro-style offense there that was successful, if not wildly creative. But I feel like I have to get him on the record: Why doesnt he get enough credit? The Packers must find a quarterback to back up Love. GREEN BAY Matt LaFleur knew he bombed the interview. 0 Comments. I really like it now, Rodgers said. I want them to be happy, I want them to enjoy being here. GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Aaron Rodgers might not be the only longtime Packer heading out of Green Bay. LaFleur takes his hat and starts to sign the bill before the man asks him to sign the front. I liked to be coached. And why the Packers are 39-10 under LaFleur. LaFleur has become more than a head coach for the Packers. LaFleur showed up with a bottle of scotch, the kind stores keep in a case behind the counter. I Want To Believe: . That can create conflict in a lot of situations, but not for them. Youre exactly right., So, its a dance of, how do we show up for each other? Now hes all swaggy. No, he said. Sign up and stay up to date with our daily newsletter. And we need to make sure that were manifesting through our words the reality we want to achieve. LaFleur is fine with the cold now. Whats so exciting about this league is when there is a situation like this, it seems to me guys will always step up and assume the role. Its like religion and politics. While boarding the team plane to Minneapolis, he wore a shirt with LaFleurs likeness that read, OUR COACH IS HOTTER THAN YOURS., He frequently jokes about LaFleurs lush eyebrows. "I don't really anticipate a whole . LaFleur took over for the Green Bay Packers' former head coach, Mike McCarthy, in . All logic points to the Packers signing him to an extension in the coming months that would lock him into Green Bay for years and make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NFL. I always felt like it was a belief that you could really lock in an advantage, Rodgers says now of that interaction. What are you just going to bang your head against the wall? Transfer exodus at Colorado unprecedented in portal era - Yahoo News In fact, its the best in NFL history. LaFleur has already broken former 49ers coach George Seiferts record for most wins in his first three seasons with 39. Though I . Glenn Erby. I dont need to sit there and babysit them. The Packers played in Green Bay last Christmas Day. The Packers drafted Auburn kicker Anders Carlson in the sixth round on Saturday. This week's guest DL Jarran Reed. I mean, he is so efficient at it, LaFleur said. Rodgers asked if he could speak with Clements first, and he subsequently began the recruiting process. The Green Bay Packers announced running back Kylin Hill and punter Amari Rodgers, both 2021 draft picks, were released this week following Sunday's overtime victory over the Cowboys. Packers' Matt LaFleur Mocks Vikings Tradition Ahead of Opener - Heavy.com We always thought hed be a perfect fit for the scheme. The partnership between LaFleur and Rodgers now is 53 games old. This, a handful of Packers told me, is the backbone of the team. But he also took the blame for the loss, saying he failed to tell Rodgers he wouldnt have a fourth down to try to convert. And the onus will be on coaches to figure out how to help these players find success. Good old Matty, he showed up and ate a bowl and a half of everything, Rodgers says. On March 5, the world was still awaiting confirmation that the NFLs reigning most valuable player planned to return to Green Bay. He gets reflective. Despite all that was lost that day, more trust was won. The Packers Miss Super Bowl Thanks to Terrible 4th Down Decision - Insider He has such a calm, cool demeanor that I think anybody would gravitate towards him.. It was clear he was a different cat, his Ashland quarterback, Bill Cundiff, says now, mentioning the level of detail in the offense and the instant success the team experiencedeven if that pro-style, dropback system bore little resemblance to what LaFleur runs now. 15 and then get a safety, tight end and receiver later. So this story Im asking the QB to confirmthat he and other guests at David Bakhtiaris wedding in March made jokes to LaFleur about Rodgers retiring, before Rodgers had actually made a decisionjust flows with all the rest. "We're going to have to add some bodies to that room," coach Matt LaFleur said last month at the NFL's owners meetings. Its a mindset. LaFleurs approach was to lock arms with Rodgers, as much as Rodgers was willing, and he set out to blend the Shanahan system he had been a part of for eight of the previous nine years with the plays and concepts Rodgers favored. Serving as the officiant of the marriage for teammate David Bakhtiari and Frankie Shebby at the Rosewood Miramar Hotel in Montecito, Calif., Rodgers undoubtedly was having thoughts beyond the everyday variety. But the results are good., LaFleur has blended this offense with the best plays from McCarthys playbook, at Rodgerss request, the result of an exhaustive and collaborative effort to make the quarterback feel as comfortable as possible. While playing in Kalamazoo, LaFleur was the backup to Tim Lester, who would eventually become Western Michigan's head coach from 2017 to 2022. Tight end Marcedes Lewis said if he didnt have LaFleur as his coach, he might not be in the leagueand not necessarily because LaFleur uses his skill set perfectly (though he does, letting Lewis be a dominant blocker and catch passes off those blocks). People have to make the best decision for themselves. LaFleur acknowledges it took a minute for him and Rodgers to get on the same page. Hes ready. The league reflects their image now and they are having a great time with it. The likelihood that free-agent safety Adrian Amos plays elsewhere this upcoming season means the Packers must restock the position. Ultimately, we were there to support David and Frankie, and I didnt want to take away from that experience.. "I think he definitely understands that he's the guy in charge. But ahead of an all-important season, the fourth-year Packers . I want them to feel part of a team. Rodgers was messing around with me quite a bit, LaFleur says. Im going through that with my own kids right now., As a kid, LaFleurs mom took him to Central Michigan practices, but he said he didnt soak it in as much as he could have. Trailing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by eight with just two minutes remaining, LaFleur sent out the field goal team, cutting the Packers deficit to 31-26. The Shanahan-McVay origins are what drew the Packers interest in LaFleur after firing McCarthy, knowing that maximizing the quarterback was going to be the most important piece of the puzzle. Under Shanahan, Matt LaFleur learned about the illusion of complexity. This was drilled into him further by McVay, who taught him the nuances of knowing how teams study tape and using it against them: Plays that start out looking the same that arent. But he loves the eye discipline that LaFleurs motions and shifts demand. He will choose integrity over outcome or a game. His players paint him as sort of a Gregg Popovich or Steve Kerrtype personality manager, if either man had an unbelievable skin care regimen. He has chilled to the point that he is comfortable dealing with failures. It might be the storywhy this all works. Lets have an open dialogue and conversation and get better. Trust from the locker room will be crucial as he tries to fill the crater in his offense left by the trade of Adams, whose desire was to play for the Raiders. I get hired by the Texans, Im 28 years old, our offensive coordinator was my age and I was thinking, This kid cant know that much more than me. And I was blown away. When asked about defensive coordinator Joe Barry, LaFleur revealed that he didn't anticipate making any changes to the coaching staff for the 2023 season. July 30, 2018 by Matt Lafleur. Its not easy. A year later, after a play-calling stint with the Titans, LaFleur popped up on the Packers radar. [Adding] another young coach on staff, he wasnt threatened by me joining the party. I told him Im here for him and I support him, LaFleur says. Once he hits 50 total games coached, which will happen Week 1 of this season, he can take his rightful place atop the all-time winning percentage list for coaches, a spot currently occupied by Guy Chamberlin, last seen coaching the 1927 Chicago Cardinals and retiring in his mid-30s to become a farmer. He watched Ryan Tannehill throw it as well as anyone in the league. He had no problem running on two hours of sleep. Serving mainly as Rodgers' backup for the past two seasons, Love has had some chances to showcase what Green Bay fans can expect from him after logging three total touchdowns and 606 yards while completing 60.2 percent of his passes. There was also 10-Yard Fight, an obscure video game LaFleur loved as a kid, Tecmo Bowl, and, according to his brother, a lot of EA Sports NCAA Football. Take the emotion out of it, and be able to have an honest conversation without being triggered or sensitive by what was said. I think the ball can bounce either wayI dont want this to come off sounding like an excuse, because it is what it is. I think you guys probably notice it even when you're in the locker room," LaFleur said in a press conference this past Saturday, April 29. LaFleur was hoping for a deeper connection. I know a lots been speculated, Oh, theyre gonna lean more on the run game. Well, maybe. While some figured it was a foregone conclusion that the Packers would pick up the fifth-year option on their 2020 first-round draft pick at a $20.272 million fully guaranteed price tag for the 2024 season Gutekunst turned down the opportunity after the draft ended to flat-out say that yes, Love will indeed have his option picked up. I want to be held accountable, Rodgers says. In LaFleur's second season, the Packers were trailing the Bucs 31-23 in the NFC Championship Game with 2:09 remaining when LaFleur called for a 26-yard field goal attempt on fourth down from the . I think it's going to be a process, but one I know that he can handle," LaFleur went on to mention. One of the best things you can say about Matt is that the guys hes worked with usually play their best ball when hes with them, McVay said. He is one of 49 members on the Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors board and one of nine members on the Seniors Committee. I am not trying to compete with anybody else in the league. They selected Michigan outside linebacker Rashan Gary with the No. Hes got the green light on the field, LaFleur said. They are grown men. LaFleur defended his decision to kick the field goal. He guesses that if he called him 20 minutes before a Packers game and hes got a problem, LaFleur might skip the pregame speech. When LaFleur was a kid, family members called him Matty. Three of his childhood friends still call him that. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL, Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur speaks during the NFC head coaches availability at the NFL football meetings, Tuesday, March 28, 2023, in Phoenix. It eventually came out, giving Ty a story that he might tell his grandkids. I asked Rodgers if theres anything hed like to do differently if they make the playoff this season. Hes so freaking good-looking, Rodgers said, in a dead serious tone. Aaron Rodgers was a couple of thousand miles from Green Bay, and as far as the Packers knew, his mind might have been further. A lot of people said, Oh a 5-foot-10 quarterback cant play college ball, so I got used to drowning stuff out. LaFleur tells the story of the time, famous in his family, when his grandmother answered the phone after his grandfathera Kalamazoo, Michigan, high school coachlost a game. Talk to any former Shanahan assistant and youll get the same response. Like I told him, the beauty of this game is winning is a hell of a lot of fun, but its about the relationships you make. Now, with the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday the Packers could use the 13th pick (the reported compensation by Adam Schefter for the Aaron Rodgers trade) on another edge rusher or, at the very least, figure to pick one during Day 2. Much of that Houston staff departed for Washington in 2010 to work under Mike Shanahan. He is, and I mean this with all sincerity, out of all the people that Ive known in life, in this profession or not, the most trustworthy human being Ive ever met, McDaniel said. There were some remarks where Im like, Is he just messing with me? Eagles' 2023 NFL draft: Pick-by-pick analysis for all seven selections authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. It is a web of inside jokes and roasts that hasnt ended despite their respective rises up the ranks. This thing doesnt operate with just one dude. ), I still feel like theres still the opportunity for the same amount of yards and touchdowns. The more you talk to the core of the LaFleur-Shanahan-McVay tree, the more you realize that youre in the middle of what feels like the worlds most chaotic group chat between football geniuses. The 2023 NFL draft is a wrap, as the rich continue to get richer in Philadelphia. Matt is a big part of that puzzle of why to get up every morning, Lewis said. This is not just a fun anecdote, though: This is where Matt LaFleur first learned football. Matt LaFleur bombed an interview 5 years ago to be Maryland's WR coach The most common answer is obvious. Bottom line, you gotta find a way to win. He said he wonders often what could be done differently. If there was a vacancy on his staff, LaFleur wanted to be prepared. But the Packers do have to find a way to replace his production. LaFleur acknowledges his offense wont look the same without Adams, though the foundation will remain. But those undiscovered moments helped bring LaFleur and Rodgers together and keep them together through the coming turbulence. Rodgers' move to the New York Jets had finally come through after weeks of negotiations with both franchises dealing away a significant amount of picks moving around and it only further solidified how much trust the organization has in him. He was cooking dal and kitchari. I definitely spent my time on the sticks, he says. Oops. Hed put on a ludicrous amount of layers before winter games and he kept talking about the cold while addressing the team late in the season. Dillon. More than 48,000 people died by suicide in the US in 2021 . Initially, there was some negotiation about how much freedom Rodgers would be given to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Theyre always the most important. It wasnt the time or place to put the pressure on him. All rights reserved. He's going to be the guy in the huddle and he's got to be an extension of us. LaFleur would desperately try to get ahead on his dutieseveryone with him in those days agreed he was a perfectionistand then after hours and hours of work, Gibbs would ask him to change it. The lines could have been made with a ruler. Staying disciplined on that is a constant challenge for me, LaFleur said. Theirs has been the most scrutinized relationship in the NFL, and it has held up under the surgical lights. Despite social, political, and existential crises, the foundation of my Catholic identity held firm. Davante demanded so much of the ball because he was always open and if youve got a guy who is always open, you gotta give him the ball, Rodgers said. Then, Rodgers explains, LaFleur can make fun of the tempo plays Rodgers asked for, or correct him. Hes got great eyebrows, he dresses nice, and they just get distracted by all the things he brings to the table and they dont give him credit. So if LaFleur was mad about something Rodgers said or did, he would take it out on the backup quarterbacks. Im sure hes not gonna sit there saying, When I was with the Omaha Beef in 2003, I hit my fifth step like this but theres something to be said for a guy who understands the position, Ragsdale said of LaFleur. LaFleur has won two playoff games as a head coach but has yet to lead his team to a Super Bowlthis despite earning a first-round playoff bye in each of his three seasons. To win consistently the way he has is not appreciated enough., His quarterback, though, has a different take: Its because he just won the lottery, man. Where LaFleur calls home, there are championships and there are failures and not much between. Matt LaFleur Addresses Packers DC Joe Barry's Future - Heavy.com While he also had three interceptions over the same span, it can be attributed to part of the growing pains that a young quarterback will have with the lack of snaps afforded to him. I know he was taking a lot of heat. And these days, you can watch the Packers practice on the street called Mike McCarthy Way. On the day I was at practice, a reporter asked LaFleur whether he was worried about Rodgers being suspended for admitting to using ayahuasca on a podcast. The Packers lack of pass-rushing depth was exposed last season after Gary tore the ACL in his right knee. Motion, fakes. I dont want to discredit the fact that hes a perfect fit for any scheme, but we would literally talk about that amongst each other, LaFleur said. For some coaches, failures beget more failures. Theres no question in my mind I could trust him with anything.
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