They selected Michigan outside linebacker Rashan Gary with the No. Dillon. video. Already, LaFleur has more 13-win seasons in three years than Mike Holmgren had in 17. Theres a play called strike in the Packers playbook. July 30, 2018 by Matt Lafleur. I have 100 percent trust with him. 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. Ultimately, it was his decision.. When the team hosted kids and their families from the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the coach noticed Rodgers did more than provide autographs like he was signing checks to pay bills. Lets find what the issue actually is and get to the root of what were talking about. 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. The Case for Matt LaFleur. LaFleur was intrigued by him because of Rodgers praise. But this only hardened LaFleurs resolve to not say anything. The plan was dinner at Rodgers place just the two of them and Rodgers girlfriend, Shailene Woodley. But, as Saleh said, LaFleurs strength at that time was work ethic, not scheme. Holmgren is in the Packers Hall of Fame and soon could be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And the return of Rodgers whose history suggests he will bring out the best in other receivers looks even more significant now than Adams is a Raider. Im walking around a vast, carpeted locker room in Lambeau Field in early August trying to find out why, and generally succeeding: Players are explaining in detail his widely praised management style and describing his football mind, which blends the concepts hes loved for years with those embraced by his quarterback into the best playbook in the NFL. The play takes a lot of trust, and its virtually a blind throw, a favorite of nearly everyone in LaFleurs coaching circle. As we walk through the tunnels of Lambeau Field, he explains that, like everyone, he cares what people think of him, but he tries hard to only value the opinion of his family, coaches, and players. He believes it was evident in how the Packers played. He went on to coach in the minor league UFL for two seasons with the Sacramento Mountain Lions before Shanahan brought him back on staff in Washington in 2011, a year after LaFleur, Shanahan, and McVay were hired there. 12 pick in 2019. When Rodgers used the hashtag boycottLafleursBrows on Twitter, LaFleur responded with a text: Boycott COVID toe.. After the Packers lost to the 49ers 13-10 in the divisional playoff round, LaFleur didnt speak with coded words about how Rodgers failed to capture the big moments or hint at his dissatisfaction with a special teams unit that gave up a blocked punt, a blocked field goal and had 10 men on the field for the 49ers field goal that won the game. He asked Rodgers about him again this January. Theres also one more evolution thats taken place. 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. 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. I liked to be coached. LaFleur was a former undersized midwestern quarterback and the son of a MAC coach. Four years ago, LaFleur was hired to get Aaron Rodgers back to an elite level after a sharp decline in production. McVay, LaFleurs former boss in Los Angeles, uses it too. I put it to nearly everyone I spoke with for this story: Why doesnt LaFleur get as many plaudits as he should? Dan Pompei is a senior writer for The Athletic who has been telling NFL stories for close to four decades. He really didnt like the feeling of not knowing everything, so he made it his job to know everything., McDaniel immediately noticed that LaFleur was a quarterback specialist who was obsessed with learning run blocking and line play. 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. Theyre always the most important. And he is so damn good at it, man. There were some remarks where Im like, Is he just messing with me? Though I . 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. Some of the leaders didnt think it was in the teams best interests and told LaFleur a day off their feet would be more beneficial. LaFleur said almost nothing publicly about the controversy during the season, sidestepping questions. On ESPNs Jan. 3 Manningcast for Monday Night Football, Rodgers joked about his coachs eyebrows and hair and also pointed out his game-day attire has included Jordans, lululemon pants and a quarter-zip sweater. Matt LaFleur wins games at a higher clip than any pro football coach in history. Matt LaFleur said he has entertained the idea of Nathaniel Hackett returning to the Packers' staff. It is a web of inside jokes and roasts that hasnt ended despite their respective rises up the ranks. To Matt this may have been meaningful, but it doesnt even stick in my brain. Since 2007, the Vikings have sounded the. He asks for an autograph for his kid (the kid, it should be noted, is very young and does not care at all). (Todd Rosenberg / Associated Press), Matt LaFleur willingly shields his players and assistant coaches from blame: As a leader, you have to own everything. (Jeffrey Phelps / Associated Press), Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers chat at the NFL Honors show on Feb. 10. He found a way to relate to godlike Aaron Rodgers.. Is he trying to get under my skin to rile me up? I tried to play a poker face as best I could, but internally, my heart might have skipped a beat or two. LaFleur said the jokes came from multiple guests at the wedding. Knowing that we both come to it just wanting to do whats best for the team and with love and respect for each other.. I spent the majority of my offseason, I would say, trying to defuse the situation as best as we could, LaFleur says. Hes not confrontational, but hes not afraid of conflict, McDaniel said. 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. After the Saints stunned the Packers 38-3 in the opening game of the 2021 season, LaFleur said, Obviously, I didnt get these guys ready to play ball.. Aaron Rodgers was a couple of thousand miles from Green Bay, and as far as the Packers knew, his mind might have been further. Aaron set me straight, LaFleur said. But I feel like I have to get him on the record: Why doesnt he get enough credit? "It's hard to lead when you're not the guy, and he knows he's the guy now. 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. 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.. And Rodgers. LaFleur starts an impression of a midwestern grandma: Why yes it is, and of course, the caller was disarmed. And they take it like being attacked or something but hes just asking questions and being thorough. Stenavich said they recently changed the rules of a protection scheme not because LaFleur was angry, but because he just kept interrogating why they did it that way. Many times, the lessons you learn from defeats are most impactful than what you learn from when you succeed.. Mike Shanahan told me what was unusual about the group was not just how late they stayed, after arriving before 6 a.m. to work out, but also that they wanted to understand every single position. I told him, Hey, from my standpoint, you have to do what you think is right for your body.. 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. They are grown men. That quickly changed. I really sit back and think, here we are, with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. Josiah Deguara, who had 13 catches for 114 yards last season, is the top tight end under contract. History suggests they wont add any in the first round of next weeks NFL draft. Hes so freaking good-looking, Rodgers said, in a dead serious tone. So whether you were vaxed or unvaxed, it doesnt shield you from it. He also learned how everything ties together: Sometimes, he said, youll trade in a 3-yard pass in order to set up an explosive pass. As a leader, you have to own everything, he explains. Also at the wedding was Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who had the opportunity at the reception to lead Rodgers to the bar, offer him something strong and straight up, and make a pitch for Rodgers to come home with him. And he was still so spooked when he returned to Green Bay that he talked to offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich about it. I said, Listen, Im not going to wear you out, LaFleur says. Green Bay Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy spoke with Larry McCarren at the NFL Annual Meetings in Phoenix. He was cooking dal and kitchari. In their second season together, Rodgers won the third of his four NFL MVPs. When LaFleur was in Los Angeles for the NFL Honors, he met Clements, who lives in the area. Patrick MahomesAndy Reid, Bill BelichickTom Brady, Sean McVayMatthew Stafford: All three of these partnerships are drastically different, but you cannot tell the story of one man without the other. This is not just a fun anecdote, though: This is where Matt LaFleur first learned football. LaFleur visited Rodgers in California a second time in 2021 before Rodgers acquiesced to playing for the Packers last season. The Packers must find a quarterback to back up Love. Davante knows how I feel about him, LaFleur says. 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. 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. Now hes all swaggy. Certainly we made our fair share of mistakes because they made plays and we didnt. And then last year against the 49ers in the divisional round: Obviously our defense balled out and we didnt play up to our standard offensively or on special teams., LaFleur said hes talked often with McVay about the playoffs. Rodgers appreciated his coachs stance, even if it wasnt verbalized at a podium. Someone else would be Maryland's wide receivers coach. Those rules and the trust they fostered helped the Packers to 26 regular-season victories in LaFleurs first two seasons. The Packers played in Green Bay last Christmas Day. Rodgers says of his coach: Guys will follow you if you show them how much it means to you. (Michael Owens / Associated Press), Matt LaFleur, with linebacker DeVondre Campbell, has an impeccable winning percentage of .796 but no championships. It was like he was running on a hamster wheel, McDaniel said. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. As part of his opening statement, LaFleur said, Obviously, I didnt do enough to get our team prepared to win a football game. Talk to any former Shanahan assistant and youll get the same response. 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. The flip side of that is that LaFleur empowers his assistants and wants input, Stenavich said, and lets assistants address the room in ways other coaches might not. Its really a compliment, Rodgers says. Arguably one of the best receivers of all time, especially when it comes to route running, Packers receiver Allen Lazard said of Adams. You could trust him with your life or your family. He said that if he was going through something and had to call one person who he knows would drop everything, it would be LaFleur. He is, entering his fourth year, the longest-tenured head coach in his division, no doubt a byproduct of his rivals inability to reliably beat him. But if there is one thing that Love has learned from flying under Rodgers' wing, it is that he has made strides towards becoming a better on-field leader. A good relationshipone where each person erases the others mistakes and both make each other bettercan win you a Super Bowl. 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. The Packers took Christian Watson in the second round and Romeo Doubs in the fourth last year, but theyre the only Green Bay wideouts currently under contract who had at least 100 yards receiving last season. 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 did know ball, said McDaniel, who was on that 2008 Texans staff. That is what is unfolding in Green Bay. The West Coast offense, what he was used to, is very guy for a guy when it comes to protection. Ill always wish him well.. 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. Stay up to date with our daily newsletter, Aaron Rodgers Hints At Finishing Out Contract With New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens Earn Strong Grades For 2023 Draft Picks, 2023 FIBA World Cup Excitement Hits Fever Pitch In Philippines, 'Special' Jaiswal: From Homeless To IPL Hero, Thousands Protest French Government's Immigration Plans, Wars, Religion And Football: Five Faces Of Erdogan, Qatar Spends Big To Beat Post-World Cup Blues, The Green Bay Packers have finally dealt Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets, His departure has firmly entrenched Jordan Love as the Packers star quarterback, Head coach Matt LaFleur is all in on his new lead guy. It was another to earn the trust of an independent-minded, future Hall of Fame quarterback who reputedly could be as cold as a Lambeau Field goal post in January. LaFleur began considering one of his new assistants more than a year ago when he asked Rodgers about Tom Clements, who had been an assistant with the Packers for 11 years of Rodgers career before LaFleurs arrival. But weve got a pretty good quarterback that can help other guys. His players paint him as sort of a Gregg Popovich or Steve Kerrtype personality manager, if either man had an unbelievable skin care regimen. Despite being from Michigan, he hated the cold (he cops to being soft), and Green Bay is a rough spot to feel that way. The best coaches push you to do things that youre uncomfortable with, Ryan says. Please enter a valid email and try again. G reen Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur may have just asked for a migraine when Green Bay visits the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Ultimately, we were there to support David and Frankie, and I didnt want to take away from that experience.. We have a lot of conversations during the weekthats why I never want to miss a meeting. Matt LaFleur was in his debut season as Green Bay's coach when the Packers lost the NFC championship game to the San Francisco 49ers, whose staff featured Saleh as defensive coordinator and. Thats not just because he has to problem-solve an offense without one of the best receivers in football, but because he is entering Year 4 with one of the best quarterbacks of all time and they have yet to make a Super Bowl appearance. It was a comfort. Green Bay has been the center of the media circus a handful of times over the past two years: Rodgerss will-he-or-wont-he controversies about retirement and trade demands, or his positive COVID test last season which led to the revelation that Rodgers was not vaccinated. He is a bottom-line guy. After GM Howie Roseman made seven trades, Philadelphia finished the weekend with seven picks and more 2024 ammo. The reporter did not check to see whether the drug was banned by the NFL. Even so, he does not feel a ton of pressure. Its about whether youre willing to put in the grind and work your tail off to accomplish what they need.. The third round has been disastrous for the Packers recently. Matthew Patrick LaFleur ( / lflur / l-FLOO-r; [2] born November 3, 1979 [1]) is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). The spring transfer period in college football closed Sunday night with 43 scholarship players -- the equivalent of half a roster -- from Sanders' program having entered the portal since more than 40,000 fans showed up at Folsom Field in Boulder for Colorado's spring game on April 15. The league reflects their image now and they are having a great time with it. That move could lead to the exit of free agent Mason Crosby, who has a franchise-record 1,918 career points over 17 seasons. But the team that plays the best in that three-hour window wins, he told me. When LaFleur worked for Dan Quinn on the Falcons in 2015 and 16, Quinn had three rules. LaFleur seemed to think the talent was there, and the only change needed was at the top. It eventually came out, giving Ty a story that he might tell his grandkids. That meant many conversations with Rodgers, and many more with Murphy, Gutekunst and Ball, trying to move both sides closer to middle ground. Initially, there was some negotiation about how much freedom Rodgers would be given to make adjustments at the line of scrimmage. This period ended organicallya meeting here, a play there, a series of expansive Zoom calls before the 2020 season. Maybe (Lukas) Van Ness from Iowa winds up falling to 15. ), I still feel like theres still the opportunity for the same amount of yards and touchdowns. "I think he definitely understands that he's the guy in charge. And in Houston the following year, LaFleurs first task was to draw the run plays for legendary offensive line coach Alex Gibbs. That, in turn, forced Barry to blitz more to generate pressure, with limited success. I want them to be happy, I want them to enjoy being here. Rodgers talked him through it and wiggled the tooth for him. LaFleur is the dad in the passenger seat with the 15-year-old with their temps. I hope my kids want toif this is what they want to do. To me, if edge is a priority, thats probably where youre going to get your best value (at 15), McShay said. I hadnt really ever hit it, so I had no reference point to be able to throw that with confidence, Rodgers said. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. Rodgers was messing around with me quite a bit, LaFleur says. And then LaFleur backed off. Follow Dan on Twitter @danpompei, After a bumpy start, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have developed a strong working relationship. Theres no question in my mind I could trust him with anything. 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. Green Bay hasnt selected a wide receiver in the first round since taking Javon Walker from Florida State with the 20th overall pick in 2002. There was a dance, Rodgers explainshe uses that word often in our talkafter LaFleur got hired in 2019, when the two did not know they could just say whatever they wanted to each other directly, sometimes brutally. A lot of people would be like yes, sirand he was very very respectful, but he would ask why, McDaniel said. LaFleur has not indicated, at any point, that he wants acknowledgment for what the Packers have achieved with him at the helm. 1 seed in their respective conferences this year, but both teams were defeated at home in the divisional round. As head coach Matt LaFleur explained over the weekend, everyone knew what the situation was with Rodgers likely heading to New York. His ability to throw on the move. This, a handful of Packers told me, is the backbone of the team. Winning 13 games three seasons in a row seems like an easy proposition with Aaron Rodgers under center. 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. I want to be held accountable, Rodgers says. LaFleur reiterated his hope that he'd get to continue working with Rodgers this season while offering no news on the quarterback's status. IBT Fast Start - Let the best of International News come to you. He has been the force that keeps the team a team. And of course he is. Last years third-round pick was UCLA offensive lineman Sean Rhyan, who played one special teams snap and no offensive snaps as a rookie and was suspended the last six games of the season for violating the NFLs policy on performance-enhancers. (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.). A year later, after a play-calling stint with the Titans, LaFleur popped up on the Packers radar. That was the backdrop to the March wedding. There should be many more opportunities for the 42-year-old LaFleur, with or without the 38-year-old Rodgers. Take for instance, LaFleurs first year. The Packers enter this season with the second-best odds to win the NFC behind only the Buccaneers. This thing doesnt operate with just one dude. I just have so much trust in these guys that they are doing the right thing, LaFleur says. In multiple conversations over the two days after the end of the Packers season, LaFleur made sure Rodgers knew how much he was wanted. The Packers lack of pass-rushing depth was exposed last season after Gary tore the ACL in his right knee. LaFleur's not going to scream or lecture and he's not so self-absorbed to take his eye off the road. The three rules require trust because there is much left assumed with only three. He was apprehensive, as he had not yet lost a tooth. 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. Weve seen that throughout society, throughout this locker room. Certainly, there are adjustments, LaFleur says. The argument LaFleur suffers from is that hes a beneficiary of Rodgerss talent. Kyle and Matt were huge mentors of mine. Different late-season rest regiment, play-calling, practice tweaks, anything? LaFleurs coaching staff has changed more than in any year since he was named head coach, with four additions and five promotions. (Its not.) 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. Then, Rodgers explains, LaFleur can make fun of the tempo plays Rodgers asked for, or correct him. In the team's virtual meetings, there were far more. Aaron audibles a lot. LaFleurs winning percentage of .796 is better than the winning percentages of Curly Lambeau and Vince Lombardi. Which may explain, in part, why three days after the wedding, Rodgers informed LaFleur Matty, he calls him that the vows between the Packers and their passer would be renewed. 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. LaFleur could not prevent the departure of the player he has called footballs best wide receiver. First of all, he's earned the respect of his actionsthe way he worksfrom all his teammates, I would say.
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