Matt LaFleur's New Pressure Could Shape Packers' 2026 Season

Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Matt LaFleur's New Pressure Could Shape Packers' 2026 Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ethen Hutton | Last updated Jul 9, 2026 11:00 AM ET

Every NFL season presents new challenges, and for Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, the 2026 campaign is no different. The 2021 runner-up for Coach of the Year is entering his eighth season leading the Packers, looking to return to the NFC Conference Championship Game for the first time since 2020.

LaFleur burst onto the scene in his first three seasons as Green Bay's head coach, posting 13-win campaigns in each season, with back-to-back NFC title berths in 2019 and 2020. The last three seasons haven't met such standards, though, as the team works to rebound from consecutive Wild Card losses over the past two seasons.

He's undoubtedly one of the best coaches in the league, but pressure has continued to mount on LaFleur and his team, as they've been unable to recapture the postseason success previously enjoyed early in his tenure as head coach. Entering a crucial 2026 season, the pressure could shape Green Bay's success this season for better or worse.

Monitoring LaFleur's track record, it's highly likely that the team reclaims its status as one of the NFC's biggest threats, coming off an injury-riddled 2025 campaign. His team opened the season with a fast start, but was depleted during a five-game skid that ended Green Bay's season on a sour note.

Coming into the new season, LaFleur and his coaching staff will have the opportunity to rebound in a big way.

A Healthy Packers Team Could Alleviate Pressure Surrounding Matt LaFleur And Company

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and quarterback Jordan Love (10) participate in Packers training camp on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin.© Samantha Madar/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK

As previously mentioned, the Packers got out to a rapid start before a flurry of injuries to key players hampered the team down the stretch. When healthy, LaFleur's squad was one of the best in the league a season ago.

Coming off its Week 14 win over the Chicago Bears, Green Bay entered Week 15 as one of just five teams with nine or more wins in the conference.

Unfortunately for LaFleur and his team, that would be the height of their power in 2025, as Green Bay went on to close the regular season with four-straight losses before a highly contested rematch with Chicago that put the season to an early end. Packers stars such as Micah Parsons, Jordan Love and Tucker Kraft each missed time during the skid, which played a crucial role in the team's eventual downfall.

But that was last season. The Packers, led by their star coach, have their sights set on avenging last season's shortcomings. Kraft and Parsons are each slated to return during the early part of the season, while Love is set to enter his sixth professional season with a clean bill of health.

The stars could be aligning for LaFleur's squad, as they set their sights on Training Camp coming up on July 29.

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

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