Rams HC Sean McVay gets chance for a career-first as NFL reveals inaugural Thanksgiving Eve game

LaFleur spent one season as Rams offensive coordinator, joining McVay's initial 2017 staff after the two previously worked as assistants in Washington (2010-13). He left the following offseason to become then-Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel's offensive coordinator and play caller, a role he held for one year before being hired by the Packers.

McVay and LaFleur's teams first played each other in the 2020 playoffs, a 32-18 Packers home win, before playing in four consecutive regular seasons from 2021-24. This will be just the second time during the stretch that Green Bay has traveled to Los Angeles, with it winning in 2024, 24-19. Overall, LaFleur's Packers have outscored the Rams 136-90.

Green Bay has also long been a thorn in the side of Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is 7-15 all-time against his former division rival when he served as quarterback for the Detroit Lions. In 22 career starts against the Packers, Stafford has completed 61.3 percent of his pass attempts while averaging 283.5 passing yards per game with 41 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.

Both teams are coming off 2025 playoff appearances and are expected to be among the top teams in the NFC this season, currently ranking first (Rams) and fourth (Packers) in conference championship odds, per ESPN. With the upcoming game set for late November, it should also mean Packers All-Pro edge Micah Parsons will be fully recovered from a December 2025 torn ACL, making McVay and Stafford's job more difficult.

Regardless of the result, McVay will wake up the next morning with something to be thankful for. Either he will have defeated his former assistant for the first time, or his nightmare will be over until they meet again.