Packers’ Incoming President Ed Policy Talks About the Future of Green Bay’s Leadership

That means LaFleur and Gutekunst will either be extended or fired after the 2025-26 season. Executive vice president and director of football operations Russ Ball is also under a multi-year contract, which Policy intends to approach the same way as the head coach and general manager deals.

"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 in regards to his approach.

Gutekunst has been the general manager of the Packers for seven years and LaFleur following right behind him as head coach for six years. Both were hired by a panel that included Policy. Policy was originally the team's vice president and general counsel before becoming the chief operating officer and general counselor in 2018.

Despite having strong relationships with all three — LaFleur, Gutekunst, and Ball — Policy still has expectations for the Packers that will determine his decision to extend their contracts or not. 

One of his top priorities: "It's time we start competing for championships."

LaFleur, though has the 13th-highest winning percentage in NFL history among head coaches, still struggles getting out of a rut in the postseason. Gutekunst, too, has dealt with questionable draft decisions in 2018, 2020, and 2021. 

Remaining on a plateau with average regular season records and a consecutive playoff storyline could influence Policy's decision to extend or fire the two after the season. 

While a do-or-die situation may not be exactly how he's perceiving the upcoming season, Policy intends to do whatever's best for the program.

"Win football games, number one; keep the Packers in Green Bay, number two; and to strengthen our community, number three," Policy said. ". . . every decision that we make here — to do something or not to do something — will be based on furthering one or more of those purposes."

To assist with this, Policy plans to continue allowing LaFleur, Gutekunst, and Ball to do their jobs without hovering over them. However, he intends to initiate more formal meeting time with leadership and assist in communication.

"I see the president's role as it relates to football operations as really selecting football leadership, guiding them and giving them all the resources they need — and supporting them, evaluating them, and then ultimately holding them accountable," Policy said. "Really, I think it's important to let them do their jobs. These are exceptional people — all three of them . . . certainly no team needs two head coaches or two GMs."

What a team does need, though, is a lot of "the right": players, development, team environment, character, culture, a winning roster, and a program that's advancing.