Rob DemovskyMar 31, 2026, 07:59 PM

CloseRob Demovsky is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Green Bay Packers. He has covered the Packers since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2013. Demovsky is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the NSSA.

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PHOENIX — Ed Policy did not pinpoint exactly when he made up his mind to not only keep coach Matt LaFleur but sign him to a contract extension. The Green Bay Packers president did, however, say it was well before the team’s meltdown in the 31-27 NFC wild-card playoff loss to the Chicago Bears.

And, despite fan outcry, which he acknowledged he heard loud and clear, Policy wasn’t going to let the outcome of that game — or the way last season ended with five straight losses — change his mind.

Speaking Tuesday for the first time since signing LaFleur to a multi-year extension in January — a week after a second straight first-round playoff exit — Policy discussed his thought process regarding the first major decision he made since taking over the team in July.

“Frankly, the fact that I was being asked, ‘Is firing him even an option at that point?’ I was a little bit shocked by that,” Policy said during a 30-minute session with reporters at the NFL’s annual league meeting.

While LaFleur has a 76-40-1 regular-season record in seven seasons as the Packers’ coach and owns the third-highest winning percentage (.654) among active coaches with at least 50 games, that mark is 37-30-1 over the past four seasons with only one playoff win (2023 wild-card game). The Packers have made the playoffs six times in LaFleur’s seven seasons but were the last wild-card team to sneak in as the No. 7 seed each of the past three seasons.

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LaFleur’s previous contract ran through the 2026 season, and Policy created somewhat of a stir last summer when he said he did not believe in lame-duck coaches but wasn’t ready to give LaFleur an extension at that time. Whether intentional or not, it turned the 2025 season into something of a LaFleur watch. And when the Packers blew an 18-point halftime lead and gave up 25 points in the fourth quarter of the playoff loss to the Bears, a vocal portion of the fan based wanted Policy to make a change despite a 9-3-1 record and season-ending injuries suffered by star defensive end Micah Parsons and tight end Tucker Kraft.

“Extremely aware of it, and I appreciate it, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Policy said of the fan reaction. “I mean, the second half of that Chicago game was very disappointing. We were all extremely frustrated. I know the fans are frustrated, and I wouldn’t want them not to be frustrated. They’re very passionate about our team, about our games and about the outcome of our games. I wouldn’t change that, and I did hear quite a bit of it.

“I can’t let that factor into these types of decisions. Ultimately, does it impact me? Yes. Do I hear it? Yes. These are not decisions that should necessarily be made by fans after a very disappointing loss.”

Policy also signed general manager Brian Gutekunst and vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball to new deals shortly after LaFleur’s contract was finalized.

“It’s never been more clear to me that we have the right people in the right places and that they’re all aligned,” Policy said.

Policy took over less than a year ago, but he has worked for the Packers since 2012 and grew up around the NFL. His father, Carmen, worked as an executive for the 49ers and Browns.

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“I was brought up and I’ve always believed that you don’t make football decisions out of emotion,” Policy said. “You have to be methodical about it, and if you’ve got seven years of data points to draw on — that was with Matt — probably 14 years of data points with Brian and with Russ — I think I’ve known Russ for over 25 years — why wouldn’t you draw on all the data you have about an individual before making a decision? I don’t believe in making emotional decisions based on one game or a series of games.”

Policy would not reveal terms of the deals or whether LaFleur’s contract in particular contained requirements to win a certain number of games or advance to a certain round of the playoffs.

“We talked a lot about goals, and certainly accountability is a big part of any head coach’s job,” Policy said. “I won’t speak about any details of his contract, but I would reiterate, yes they are very real contracts. For all three of them, these were not one-year extensions. They were multi-year extensions. They were not prove-it contracts. They were very significant commitments to each of the three.”

While fan reaction may have been mixed, coaches and team executives at this week’s league meeting expressed surprise that LaFleur’s job status was even in question. Among those was former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who was hired this offseason as the Dolphins’ head coach.

“What Matt has done from the time he got in this league and his win percentage and what he’s done at Green Bay, I mean the guy’s had one of the best careers,” Hafley said. “He deserves to be the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they continue to take steps and eventually he gets himself a Super Bowl.”