.jpg) LaFleur with theGreen Bay Packers in 2019 | |
| Green Bay Packers | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1979-11-03)November 3, 1979 (age 46) Mount Pleasant, Michigan, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school | Mount Pleasant (MI) |
| College | Western Michigan (1998–1999) Saginaw Valley State (2000–2002) |
| Position | Quarterback |
| Career history | |
Playing | |
| |
Coaching | |
| |
| Head coaching record | |
| Regular season | 74–36–1 (.671) |
| Postseason | 3–5 (.375) |
| Career | 77–41–1 (.651) |
| Coaching profile atPro Football Reference | |
Matthew Robert LaFleur (/ləˈfluːər/la-FLEW-er;[1] born November 3, 1979) is an American professionalfootball coach who is thehead coach for theGreen Bay Packers of theNational Football League (NFL). He has served as the quarterback coach of theWashington Redskins,Notre Dame, and theAtlanta Falcons and the offensive coordinator for theLos Angeles Rams and theTennessee Titans.
Matthew Robert LaFleur[2] was born on November 3, 1979[3][4] to Denny and Kristi LaFleur. Denny had been a linebacker atCentral Michigan University, winning a national championship in 1974 and at one point holding their record for the most career tackles, before becoming a long-time assistant football coach at the school.[5] Kristi was a physical education and health teacher who coached track and cheerleading.[4][6][7] Kristi's father coached football atLoy Norrix High School inKalamazoo, Michigan.[4]
Their son was raised inMount Pleasant, Michigan[4] and played football atthe city's high school. He started atquarterback for them in his junior and senior years, and played well enough to earn all-state honors,[6] He graduated in 1998.[8]
Despite his family's strong ties to Central Michigan University, LaFleur chose to enroll at their rivalWestern Michigan University after Central Michigan football head coachDick Flynn fired his father in 1997.[6][7] LaFleur joinedWestern's football team as awalk on player but saw no playing time.[6] After two years, he was asked by Western's coaches to swap from quarterback towide receiver. They argued that withTim Lester's success, LaFleur had no viable path to getting on the field.[6][7] LaFleur instead decided to transfer out of the program.[6]
LaFleur transferred toSaginaw Valley State inDivision II. He became their starting quarterback afterGarrett Small suffered a career-ending injury in the first game of the season. LaFleur's play helped the Cardinals reach theD-II playoffs in each of his three years at the school.[9] During his three-year run as the Cardinal quarterback, SVSU compiled a record of 29–8 overall and qualified for the NCAA Division II Playoffs each year. LaFleur left Saginaw Valley State as their all-time leader in passing yards (7,699), completions, and passing touchdowns (67). LaFleur was inducted into the SVSU Cardinal Athletic Hall of Fame in 2021.[10]
LaFleur briefly played professionally in theNational Indoor Football League with theOmaha Beef as the backup quarterback in 2003 and, the following summer, signed with theBillings Outlaws.[11][12][13]
LaFleur's coaching career began in 2003 at Saginaw Valley State as an offensivegraduate assistant. He also substitute taught in the local high schools (Garber High School), specializing in math.[7] LaFleur proceeded toCentral Michigan University in Mount Pleasant and assisted the offensive staff in 2004 and 2005.[citation needed] His first full-time coaching job was atNorthern Michigan University inMarquette, where he was the quarterbacks coach underBernie Anderson.[6] After one year at Northern, LaFleur spent the 2007 football season as the offensive coordinator for Ohio'sAshland University.[14]
LaFleur then was hired in 2008 by theHouston Texans to serve as an offensive assistant. He assisted both wide receivers and quarterbacks during his two-year stint there and developed a close relationship with offensive coordinatorKyle Shanahan.[citation needed]
When Shanahan's fatherMike was hired by theWashington Redskins, Kyle brought LaFleur to Washington to coach the quarterbacks in 2010.[15] From 2011 to 2013, LaFleur worked alongside 4 other future head coaches in Washington; Kyle Shanahan,Sean McVay,Mike McDaniel, andRaheem Morris. A primary responsibility of LaFleur's for the2012 season was to mentor rookie quarterbacksRobert Griffin III andKirk Cousins.[16]
After six years of coaching in the NFL, LaFleur returned to college football as the quarterbacks coach at the University of Notre Dame in 2014. LaFleur tutored senior quarterbackEverett Golson who posted 3,445 yards and 29 touchdowns through the air, helping him become just the fourth quarterback in school history to eclipse such totals in a single season.[17]
On February 5, 2015, LaFleur returned to the NFL as the quarterbacks coach for theAtlanta Falcons working under offensive coordinatorKyle Shanahan, with whom he had previously worked while with the Washington Redskins and Houston Texans. LaFleur's younger brother,Mike, was also an offensive assistant with the Falcons.[18]
In 2016, LaFleur coachedMatt Ryan on his way to winning his soleNFL MVP award. The Falcons reachedSuper Bowl LI, where they faced theNew England Patriots, but squandered a 28–3 lead and lost34–28 in overtime, a monumental meltdown that drew heavy fan and media criticism.[19]
On February 8, 2017, LaFleur joined theLos Angeles Rams coaching staff asoffensive coordinator, working under head coachSean McVay, with whom he had previously worked during his tenure with theWashington Commanders.[20] Under LaFleur and McVay, the Rams finished the year with an 11–5 record and as the league's number one scoring offense, scoring 478 points through 16 games.[21]
On January 30, 2018, LaFleur left his position with the Rams to take the same position with theTennessee Titans.[22] Joining new head coachMike Vrabel, LaFleur's role in directing the offense increased, as he had play-calling responsibilities unlike during his tenure with the Rams.[23] The season was plagued with injuries, with the Titans losing star tight endDelanie Walker in Week 1, and Mariota dealing with an incessant nerve injury throughout the season.[24] LaFleur and the Titans finished the season with the 27th ranked scoring offense in theNFL.[25]
LaFleur was hired as the head coach of theGreen Bay Packers onJanuary 8, 2019.[26] On May 30, 2019, LaFleur suffered a torn Achilles while playing basketball.[27] LaFleur also led the Packers to a 2–2 preseason.[28]
On September 5, 2019, LaFleur made his regular-season head coaching debut against theChicago Bears, and led the Packers to a 10–3 victory.[29] He also became the first Green Bay coach to win his first game against the Bears sinceVince Lombardi in 1959.[30] The Packers finished with a 13–3 record in LaFleur's first season as a head coach, and in the process, LaFleur became the first Packers rookie head coach to win 10 games, make the playoffs, and win the NFC North (as well as going 6–0 in division play in the process). In addition, the 13 wins were the most from a rookie coach sinceJim Harbaugh did it with the49ers in 2011.[citation needed]
LaFleur led Green Bay to their first postseason berth since the2016 season as the NFC's number two seed, as he won his postseason debut against theSeattle Seahawks 28–23 in the divisional round of the playoffs to advance to theNFC Championship Game, where the Packers fell to the top-seededSan Francisco 49ers 37–20.[31][32]
The Packers began the 2020 season by winning all four games prior to an early Week 5 bye. After a 5–1 start to the season, the Packers dropped a home game 22–28 to theMinnesota Vikings, the team's first loss in the division under LaFleur.[33] Despite this, the Packers continued playing well, and LaFleur clinched his second consecutive NFC North title and playoff berth in Week 14 with a 31–24 victory against theDetroit Lions. With a 35–16 win over theChicago Bears in Week 17, Green Bay clinched the NFC's number one seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time since the2011 season. The Packers also closed the season out on a six-game winning streak, and LaFleur extended his win–loss record in December games to 9–0.[citation needed]
LaFleur finished with a 26–6 record in his first two seasons as coach, tied for the second-best start for a coach since the 1970 merger (onlyGeorge Seifert, at 28–4, has a better record). His team finished as the league's number one offense, scoring 509 points over the course of the season, and with quarterbackAaron Rodgers throwing for a Packers franchise-record 48 touchdowns.[34]
In theplayoffs, LaFleur and the Packers hosted theLos Angeles Rams, who had the league's number one scoring defense and were led by one of LaFleur's former bosses, Rams coachSean McVay.[35] The Packers defeated the Rams, 32–18,[36] to host the NFC Championship Game for the first time since2007, where they lost to theeventual Super Bowl championTampa Bay Buccaneers, 31–26. LaFleur was criticized for his decision to kick a field goal down 31–23 instead of trying to tie the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion under league MVP Aaron Rodgers.[37]
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LaFleur's 2021 season began with a 38–3 loss to theNew Orleans Saints. They proceeded to win each of their next six games to bring the 6–1 Packers to a Thursday night showdown with the NFL's last unbeaten team, the 7–0Arizona Cardinals.[38] In addition to playing on the road on a short week, the Packers were forced to play without their top three wide receivers, after Davante Adams and Allen Lazard tested positive for COVID-19[39] and Marquez Valdes-Scantling remained out with a hamstring injury since Week 3. Despite the challenges, the Packers emerged victorious, 24–21 with a thrilling last-minute interception of Cardinals quarterbackKyler Murray by cornerbackRasul Douglas, and LaFleur became the winningest head coach through his first 40 career games in NFL history.[40]
The following week, star quarterback Aaron Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19,[41] and LaFleur named second-year quarterbackJordan Love the starter for their Week 9 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although Love was relentlessly blitzed during his first career start, he managed to complete 19 of 34 passes for 190 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. LaFleur took the blame for not being able to counter the Chiefs' aggressive defensive strategies.[42] Special teams miscues ultimately cost the Packers the game, falling 7–13 to drop them to 7–2.[43]
The Packers then shut outSeattle Seahawks quarterbackRussell Wilson the following week, the first such occurrence in his career, to win their Week 10 game 17–0. In Week 11, LaFleur's Packers fell 31–34 to their division rivalMinnesota Vikings, but rebounded to win 36–28 against LaFleur's former bossSean McVay and theLos Angeles Rams the following week.[38] The Packers clinched their third consecutive NFC North title with a tight 31–30 Week 15 victory over theBaltimore Ravens.[44] LaFleur became the first head coach since Dallas'sBarry Switzer to win the division in each of his first three years as head coach.
With a 37–10 Week 17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, LaFleur's Packers clinched home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and became the first team in NFL history to win 13 games a season in 3 consecutive years. In addition, LaFleur broke a 30-year-old record byGeorge Seifert for the most wins by a head coach (39) through his first 3 seasons in the league.[45] The win also meant to this point in his career, LaFleur had never lost consecutive regular season games during his 3-year tenure.
The Packers dealt with a notable amount of injuries throughout the season. Top outside linebackerZa'Darius Smith had not played since Week 1, while top cornerbackJaire Alexander had been out since spraining his shoulder in Week 4. Top left tackleDavid Bakhtiari tore his ACL during the 2020 season, and didn't return until Week 18. His replacement,Elgton Jenkins, was lost for the season with a similar ACL injury in Week 11. In addition, starting tight endRobert Tonyan met a similar fate during the Packers' Week 8 showdown in Arizona.[46]
At the end of the regular season, quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named NFL MVP for the second consecutive year and fourth time overall.[47] Rodgers noted LaFleur's contributions to his winning MVP in 2 of LaFleur's 3 seasons as head coach. Rodgers became the first player in the NFL to win consecutive MVP awards in 12 years, when Peyton Manning won in 2008 and 2009. In the playoffs, they lost their first game to the San Francisco 49ers, 13–10, giving LaFleur a 2–3 postseason record and no Super Bowl appearances in their three straight 13-win seasons. He took the blame for the Packers’ poor special teams effort, particularly one play where they were missing a man on the field during San Francisco's game-winning field goal.[48]
LaFleur's 2022 season as head coach began with another opening day loss, this time to theMinnesota Vikings. The Packers would go on to win 3 straight, however, after the 3–1 start the season started to fall apart. In their next 8 games they would just go 1–7, making their record on the year 4–8.[49]
The Packers won their next four games to get back to a .500 record, setting up a matchup with theDetroit Lions at home with a playoff berth on the line. The Packers would ultimately lose 20–16, finishing with an 8–9 record and giving Matt LaFleur his first losing season as head coach, as well as his first missing the playoffs.[50]
In the offseason, star quarterbackAaron Rodgers was traded to theNew York Jets, leaving2020 first round pickJordan Love as the team's starting quarterback.[51][52] In Week 1, the Packers defeated theChicago Bears 38–20, marking the Packers' first win without Aaron Rodgers as the starter since December 10, 2017, when they defeated theCleveland Browns 27–21.[53] It was also LaFleur's first opening week win since 2020. The Packers would go on to start the season 2–1, before losing four straight games and dropping to a 3–6 record.
In Week 12, the Packers upset theDetroit Lions on Thanksgiving, their first win against the Lions since Week 3 of the2021 season.[54] The following week, the Packers played theKansas City Chiefs onSunday Night Football, winning 27–19 and bringing them back up to a .500 record.[49]
The Packers would go on to lose their next two games, before winning three straight, including a 17–9 win over the Bears, to claim the 7th seed in theNFC and head back to the playoffs.[55]
In theWild Card Round, the Packers traveled toAT&T Stadium to take on the #2 seedDallas Cowboys. The Packers jumped out to an early 27–0 lead, and held on to beat the Cowboys 48–32, the first win by a #7 seed in NFL history.[56][57] The win made LaFleur 3–0 against the Cowboys and 2–0 at AT&T Stadium. The Packers then lost for the 5th consecutive time in the playoffs to the San Francisco 49ers.[58]
In May 2024, LaFleur suffered a tornpectoral muscle while lifting weights.[59] He led the Packers to an 11–6 record, which qualified the team for the playoffs.[60] The Packers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 22–10 in the Wild Card Round.[61]
In Week 4, LaFleur was criticized by Packers fans for his playcalling, settling for a field goal rather than going for a win against the Dallas Cowboys in a 40–40 tie.[62] The Packers have received intensifying calls tofire LaFleur during the 2025 season.[63]
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| GB | 2019 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in NFC North | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toSan Francisco 49ers inNFC Championship Game |
| GB | 2020 | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 1st in NFC North | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toTampa Bay Buccaneers inNFC Championship Game |
| GB | 2021 | 13 | 4 | 0 | .765 | 1st in NFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toSan Francisco 49ers inNFC Divisional Game |
| GB | 2022 | 8 | 9 | 0 | .471 | 3rd in NFC North | — | — | — | — |
| GB | 2023 | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | 2nd in NFC North | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost toSan Francisco 49ers inNFC Divisional Game |
| GB | 2024 | 11 | 6 | 0 | .647 | 3rd in NFC North | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost toPhiladelphia Eagles inNFC Wild Card Game |
| GB | 2025 | 7 | 3 | 1 | .682 | — | — | — | — | |
| Total | 74 | 36 | 1 | .671 | 3 | 5 | .375 | |||
LaFleur is married to BreAnne, whom he met in college, and they have two sons, Luke and Ty.[64] His younger brother,Mike, is theoffensive coordinator for theLos Angeles Rams.[65] LaFleur was the best man atRobert Saleh's wedding, as the two became close while working as graduate assistants at Central Michigan and as assistant coaches for the Houston Texans from 2008 to 2009, where they were colloquially known as the "Piss Boys."[66][67]
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