Did Sean McVay call Matt Lafleur about Bears game strategy?

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Did Rams coach Sean McVay call Matt Lafleur about Bears game strategy?

By Olamilekan Ajayi | Last updated Jan 15, 2026 9:23 AM ET

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay was a little evasive when asked if he had been seeking advice about how to beat the Chicago Bears in Sunday’s divisional playoff game from his friend, Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur.

The Packers coach could have been a great source of information for McVay on Ben Johnson’s team. But McVay was cautious in responding to the question during the news conference on Wednesday.

"What would you guess?" McVay responded when asked about seeking advice from LaFleur. "No, you know what, we watch the tape, we do our work, and Matt is a very close friend of mine," McVay said.

The two coaches have a long history that goes back when they were assistants with Washington.

Mike LaFleur, Matt’s brother, is currently running the Rams' offense as coordinator for McVay. Having a family tie to one of his opponents makes this entire situation even more intriguing for this weekend’s game.

Scary: Rams HC Sean McVay on whether he’s been on the phone with Packers HC Matt LaFleur to speak about playing the Bears.

“What would you guess? No, you know what — we watch the tape, we do our work, and Matt is a very close friend of mine.”

Uh oh...pic.twitter.com/Xc5pdbgrYB
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 15, 2026

McVay admires Johnson’s offensive philosophy and flexibility

The Rams coach seems to have learned a lot about Johnson, the first-year Bears coach who revamped the Chicago offense. McVay spoke positively about Johnson's flexibility when it came to quarterbacks.

The coach commended Johnson for getting excellent performance with quarterback Jared Goff in Detroit and then quarterback Caleb Williams in Chicago.

“I think what shows his flexibility is the ability to have one of the best offenses with a player like Jared, who’s really special, and then being able to have some similar foundational principles with Caleb but also accentuate the things that make him really unique with the athleticism, move the spot and take advantage of their skill around it,” McVay said, as quoted by Field Level Media.

Johnson's work with both quarterbacks shows he's not locked into one style.

The LaFleur connection brings depth to Sunday's divisional game

The dynamic among these three men brings interest to more than just the game being played. McVay has an affiliation with Matt LaFleur in that they both worked under Mike Shanahan in Washington.

Mike LaFleur calling plays for the Rams adds complexity to the entire scenario.

The winner of this Sunday’s game between the 13-5 Rams and Bears will play San Francisco or Seattle in the NFC Championship Game. Both of these coaches have a reputation for being offensive-minded.

The play-calling could decide the outcome of this contest, as both coaches may try and outmaneuver each other on that front.

Olamilekan Ajayi

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