The Green Bay Packers aren’t making any changes with their head coach or general manager following their wild-card round loss to the Chicago Bears.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Packers and head coach Matt LaFleur have agreed on a multiyear extend, and general manager Brian Gutekunst also has an extension with Green Bay in the works. They were both entering the final seasons of their contracts.
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The 46-year-old LaFleur said after last Saturday’s loss that he would like to return as Packers’ head coach.
“Of course [I want to return]. This is one of one,” LaFleur said. “I love this place. I love the people. As much as you guys drive me nuts sometimes, I love you guys. I love our players, the locker room, everybody in our organization. This is a unique place … My kids love it here, my family loves it here.”
Packers president Ed Policy told reporters in June that he preferred to not have the “lame-duck” label placed on his head coach or general manager as that type of situation “creates a lot of issues.”
“I think normally, you have a pretty good idea of where that relationship is going when you have two years left — not always, but normally,” Policy said at the time. “But it creates a lot of issues because they also have to hire a staff … generally speaking, I would avoid lame-duck status. It’s oftentimes difficult on everybody involved, but there are certain situations that probably call for it. So I would not say never.”
Gutekunst, who was promoted to GM in 2018, hired LaFleur in January of 2019. Over seven seasons LaFleur has led the Packers to a 76-40-1 record, three NFC North titles and six playoff appearances, including back-to-back appearances in the NFC championship in his first two years in charge.
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Gutekunst headed the transition at quarterback from franchise legend Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love, as well as helped orchestrate the Micah Parsons trade. He’s been part of the Packers’ organization since 1999 when he started as a scout.