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‘Concerns’ Emerging for Matt LaFleur, Packers Coaching Staff
Green Bay Packers: Fans Will Love What Matt LaFleur Just Said About Team's Defense as They Prepare for 2025 Season 1 Green Bay Packers Head Coach Matt LaFleur watches practice during the sixth day of training camp on July 29, 2025, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wis.

Matt LaFleur and the Packers coaching staff remain one of the most respected across the NFL, but some are beginning to wonder if this group is capable of bringing a Lombardi back to Green Bay.

While the Packers made the postseason in each of quarterback Jordan Love’s first two seasons as the starter, Green Bay regressed last fall and there are some significant questions at cornerback, pass rush, and along the offensive line as the 2025 season nears.

If Green Bay makes big strides this season, and Love makes a leap, it could turn out to be one of LaFleur’s most impressive coaching jobs to date in his career.

Is it Time to Worry About Matt LaFleur, Packers Coaching Staff?

There’s real optimism about Jordan Love taking the next step and the Packers making noise in the NFC North, but not everything in Green Bay is trending in the right direction — especially on the coaching side.

ESPN’s Ben Solak sees some red flags developing if 2025 plays out similarly to 2024.

“Two key coaching points give me pause in Green Bay,” Solak writes of LaFleur and staff, for ESPN. “It ended the season dead last in defensive success rate against dropbacks but second in EPA per dropback faced. How? Tons of interceptions. The Packers ripped off 17 picks, tied for third most in football, and recovered 14 fumbles. They finished third in defensive EPA on takeaways (behind Denver and Buffalo), and though I don’t think their defense was poorly coached by any stretch, it probably punched above its weight last season.

“The second is Green Bay’s performance against elite teams. It ended the season 1-5 in its division (beating only Chicago on a game-ending field goal block) and lost to the Eagles twice, including in the playoffs. The best defensive coordinators — Vic Fangio, Brian Flores and Aaron Glenn — were able to flummox Love and expose that opportunistic defense. Green Bay’s staff never found a solution as the season went on.”


Packers' Unheralded Rookie Surging Up Depth Chart, Pushing for First-Team Reps 1 Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley gives instruction during a drill with defensive backs on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wis.

If the Packers are going to take that next step, LaFleur and his coordinators will need to prove they can scheme consistently — not just rely on turnovers or hot streaks.

Defensive volatility and an offense that falters against elite play-callers isn’t a recipe for sustainable success.

Follow Matt Lombardo on Threads at @MattLombardoNFL. To read more of our articles and in-depth NFL coverage, click here.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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