Curd is the Word: The LaFleur Slander Will Not Stand
Matt LaFleur remains underrated despite success
By GregMeinholz
It's been a bit of a slow week in terms of Packers news. Players are soaking up their last bit of freedom before training camp starts, and to be honest, if your players aren't making headlines at the current moment, it's probably for the best. Many have received their fill of OTA news, and everybody, including their uncle, aunt, and cousin's former roommate, has had their fill of Jaire Alexander talk. Bit of a Spaceballs reference thrown in there if you didn't catch it. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, please find Spaceballs on the streaming service of your choice. Grab a beverage, a snack, enjoy, and call me in the morning. But there was one very minor headline that ground my gears this week. That would be a certain analyst's ranking of the current returning head coaches heading into 2025.
If you haven't seen it for yourself, Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus released his top 10 returning head coaches. Here was the ranking:
1. Andy Reid - KC
2. Sean Payton - DEN
3. Sean McVay - LAR
4. John Harbaugh - BAL
5. Mike Tomlin - PIT
6. Jim Harbaugh - LAC
7. Kyle Shanahan - SF
8. Nick Sirianni - PHI
9. Dan Campbell - DET
10. Kevin Stefanski - CLE
First off, I will never argue about Andy Reid topping this list. He deserves it. I do believe he's top of the coaching list right now. Rounding out the top 5, I might move around some names, but overall, not a bad ranking. But then, 6-10, I struggle with. Jim Harbaugh returned to the NFL after a 10-year hiatus and took over a fairly talented Chargers team, and went from 5-12 to 11-6. To be honest, considering the talent on that team and the schedule they faced, I don't think it was that hard of a feat. Before his time with Michigan, sure, he had success with the 49ers, including a Super Bowl appearance, but I'd put Kyle Shanahan over Harbaugh here. Nick Sirianni might even deserve a nod over Harbaugh in my eyes, but I won't argue too hard.
My main frustration, though, lies with Dan Campbell and Kevin Stefanski rounding out the top 10. We get it, Dan Campbell has become this darling of the NFL, helping turn around a Lions franchise that has been miserable for decades. But a 58% win percentage with two coordinators who have been considered the best in their field these last few years, I feel, putting him at number nine is a bit of a reach. I think he should be more like 11-13, right on the cusp of proving himself as that big-time head coach. Kevin Stefanski, come on. A 47% winning percentage that includes a 3-14 season last year. That's a top-10 head coach in the league? He's had two winning seasons in his five-year tenure. I think Dalton Wasserman might be distracted by shiny objects while rounding out his top 10.
As a Packer fan, of course, I'm irritated at the omission of Matt LaFleur. Is that just because he's the Packers' coach? Sure, maybe that plays a little bit of a part, but when you understand that LaFleur has a 67% winning percentage in his six years in Green Bay and put it up against Campbell's 58% in four years and Stefanski's 47% in five years, I'd take LaFleur.
And no, Matt LaFleur is not just an Aaron Rodgers merchant as some like to claim.
Hushing the Disrespect
There's a downside to having a legendary quarterback. That downside is that everyone who plays with or coaches that quarterback gets a little asterisk next to their success. You hear comments like, "Well, yeah, he's a good receiver, look who's throwing him the ball, let's see what he does without them, and we'll talk." Or "That coach is only successful because they have this quarterback running the team, making their job easy." Which, in some cases, can be true; it's like they're guilty until proven innocent.
Former Packers' head coach Mike McCarthy dealt with this when Brett Favre departed Green Bay. He had success with Favre, now what's he going to do with Aaron Rodgers? Funny enough, due to Rodgers' success, McCarthy had to prove himself all over again when he went to Dallas. It's been later understood that Favre had a bit of a career renaissance due to Mike McCarthy, so maybe he was good all along. Matt LaFleur, of course, now has the task of doing what Mike McCarthy did. LaFleur had success with Rodgers for his first three seasons in Green Bay. He then had a slightly below-average season in Rodgers' final year in Green Bay, but then started a new QB in Jordan Love, and has had two winning seasons since. Aaron Rodgers might even agree that LaFleur led him on a career renaissance of his own, winning two more MVP awards with LaFleur as his head coach.
Like any other head coach who has success with a legendary quarterback, LaFleur has had to prove his value in that quarterback's absence. When Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy had success in the wake of Brett Favre's departure, some said it was because they had Brett Favre's team. They had guys that spent time with Brett Favre on offense, so they knew how to succeed cause of Brett. There may have been a little bit of truth to that fact for some of the receivers, but Rodgers and McCarthy proved that to be not the whole reason for the 10 years to follow.
This argument can't exactly be made for Matt LaFleur and Jordan Love's success post-Aaron Rodgers. The offense has seen a massive overhaul since Rodgers' final season in Green and Gold. The success of the offense now is all LaFleur and Love. And they're doing it with one of the league's youngest rosters in consecutive seasons.
Perhaps the greatest strength a head coach can have is overcoming adversity. This isn't just being down by a touchdown or two and pulling off a victory; it comes with handling personnel as well, week to week. When Jordan Love was hurt in weeks 2 & 3 of 2024, Matt LaFleur had to field a quarterback that he'd only known for 2-3 weeks. Malik Willis came in for those games, barely spending a few weeks in Green Bay before, and still helped lead the Packers to victory twice. Sure, Indy and Tennessee were miserable last year, but to still bring in a Quarterback who was yesterday's garbage to another NFL franchise just weeks before, game-plan to their strengths and pull off the victory, even against that QB's former team, is a masterclass in coaching. And it's not just the Quarterback, it's getting the rest of the team to buy into the plan and execute as well.
When outside analysts look at Matt LaFleur, it's obvious that they still see a coach who spent 4/6 seasons sending plays through a headset to a legend. But he's already proved to many close to the Packers that he's more than that. This upcoming 2025 season is more important than most think. Matt LaFleur may be on the cusp of being a top-10 head coach, but he could also be coaching for his job as well if things don't go well. With a very young, moldable roster, if LaFleur doesn't take a step ahead this season, he could be sent packing in favor of another voice to take over for these young players before it's too late for them.
I believe LaFleur is worthy of a top-10 position heading into 2025. But 2025 could also be the difference between him maintaining that position and crashing much further down the ranks.
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Greg Meinholz is a lifelong devoted Packer fan. A contributor to CheeseheadTV as well as PackersTalk. Follow him on Twitter @gmeinholz and Bluesky @gmeinholz.bsky.social for Packers commentary, random humor, beer endorsements, and occasional Star Wars and Marvel ramblings.
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Comments (66)
Guam
June 29, 2025 at 07:12 am
Is Matt LaFleur a top 10 coach. I dunno. He has a gaudy regular season record but a below par post season record. He is capable of brilliant game plans but also has problems making in-game adjustments if his initial game plan doesn't work. His clock and game management skills malfunction on occasion. His choices in assistant coaches have been highly questionable at times.
LaFleur is an odd assortment of very, very good and befuddlingly frustrating. Borderline top 10 at best for me.
dobber
June 30, 2025 at 09:23 am
"He has a gaudy regular season record but a below par post season record. "
We want deep runs, I get that. LaF's teams have two NFCCGs under their belt. They are 3-5 in the playoffs in 5 appearances with two one-and-outs...people make it sound like he's one-and-out every year. By definition, the aggregate records of all coaches, including postseason, is .500, but a couple teams finish each postseason with a winning record and every year 2-4 teams out of the 14 tend to hoard the postseason Ws. Over time, the majority of coaches will have below .500 postseason records.
"LaFleur is an odd assortment of very, very good and befuddlingly frustrating. Borderline top 10 at best for me."
Rankings like this are the sports equivalent of hanging around the locker room at the gym with a tape measure.
Bitternotsour
July 06, 2025 at 08:32 am
wait, what?
Snap the ball
July 06, 2025 at 01:03 am
Don’t lose to 49ers and Tampa at home in the playoffs
Vince is rolled over twice
Brady threw 3 picks. Gave one to Rogers to get him another shot at one
But last 4 mins of the game said sorry guy. I gave this to you and you blew it.
Packman60
June 29, 2025 at 07:28 am
LaFleur definitely is a top 10 coach. He has done it year after year despite having to change his offense to appease Rodgers and working with the youngest team in the league the past 2 years. Those that say he does not belong in the top 10 point to his playoff record, but the Pack gave Philly it's most difficult challenge in the playoffs last year despite an offense that was decimated by injury. They should've beat the 49ers in the playoffs both years, but for special teams misques( a blocked punt and a missed short field goal). In my opinion, both LeFleur and Gutey should be receiving extensions this off-season for what they've accomplished.
Leatherhead
June 29, 2025 at 08:00 am
Dan Campbell is 11 games over .500. He is 2-2 in the playoffs, with both wins coming the same season. So clearly, he's a top coach.
cdoemel
June 29, 2025 at 05:16 pm
Dan Campbell is 37-32-1
Snap the ball
July 06, 2025 at 01:09 am
Lions won’t make the playoffs after last year hangover
pantz_bURp
June 29, 2025 at 08:02 am
Alrightyyyyy then. Just win baby!
I miss Vic. He got me thinking:
He would say, "we need jars on the shelf". Coach LaF would say, "get your piss hot". Basically we need more piss jars.
IMO, Coach LaF is a border-line Top Ten coach during the regular season, but not in the playoffs.
Yours, until I ain't,
P. "smells like asparagus" Burp
*get back to the basics. Don't worry about sledding hills or underground parking. Letz Take Back the North! Lastly Coach LaF, get a tat or piercing or start cussing more (watch Scarface)...or for God's sake...buy a Vespa and paint flames on the side. I can only do so much being a Team Owner sitting in front of a keyboard and having limited resources (cash, not mentally). Letz gnaw on some ankles this season!
Coldworld
June 29, 2025 at 08:03 am
He’s one of the longest tenured coaches and he’s also one who has never guided his team to a superbowl appearance despite having an MVP QB during part of his tenure. It is hard to see what top 10 status would tangibly be justified by.
Even looking at last season, how many times did he win the tactical battle in our own division? Arguably none and in playoff appearances throughout the Dallas game in ‘23 seems like the only time he’s clearly been the better coach on the day when it has really mattered.
Look at it this way, how many years have his teams noticeably exceeded expectations? Maybe his first year and 2023? At this point he’s not a top 10 coach by any metric I see.
Bearmeat
June 29, 2025 at 08:58 am
I hate PFF. I won’t click on that (or any PFF) article because I don’t want PFF getting money from my clicks. They are just as bad as ESPN and NFLN. Those places exist to “inform” average fans. Not die-hards.
What I care about, CW, is intelligent football discussion. And as I regard you as an intelligent, kind, informed, and otherwise excellent fan, I will to respond (once again) to you.
You are dead wrong about MLF, and you have been for years. In good faith, I’ll give you 10 reasons why and I hope this helps you examine your error 😜:
1. Just win, Baby. MLF has done nothing but win since he got here. At several points he has set records for most wins to stat a head coaching career. This despite inheriting an old, jaded team from MM.
2. MLF revitalized ARod’s career, despite 12 falling ever-further into the Illuminati-conspiracy BS that has defined his latter day persona. Go look it up: 2019-2021 was ARod’s best statistical three year stretch of his career. Ever. Yes. Even a little better than 2009-2011.
3. MLF captained the two youngest teams EVER to make the playoffs. He even won a game in 2023, and almost took the team to the NFC CG in that year. That, alone, is worthy of a top 10 spot.
4. When Jordan Love arrived in 2020, he was as raw as could be. By 2022, Jordan Love was ready to start, and is now undeniably a top 10 QB in the league, with elite physical tools that have me salivating as a Packers fan for the future.
5. MLF is massively respected by his peers as a leader of men and an offensive mind. IF the Packers were dumb enough to fire him, he would find a job. Immediately. Ball knows ball.
6. MLF’s teams reflect his emphasis and personality, and that has been the case since he came on the scene. He says one thing, the locker room imitates and parrots it. Even the mercurial #12 most of the time. That is leadership.
7. Accountability: When MLF makes a mistake, he publicly owns it. When his employees make a mistake, he takes responsibility as far as he is able to do and corrects them behind the scenes until it becomes obvious that the issue can’t be fixed. His employees love that. Evidence: Joe Barry. He made a mistake in hiring him. He took responsibility for the defense so many times, despite it being blatantly obvious it was Joe’s fault. He fired him after it became obvious that Joe couldn’t do the job and hired Hafley, who has been a home run.
8. Bad Luck: Go look at MLF’s playoff losses. Every single one of them was by one score, except vs the 9ers in 2019 and Eagles last year. That’s just bad luck. Happens in a single elimination tournament… GB could have (should have) won a few more of those games, and that IMO has a lot to do with late career 12 clenching his butt hole in crunch time (2020 TB, 2021 SF) than it does with the team as a whole.
9. Division Record: Despite last year’s disappointments in the division, MLF owns the Bears. He has won more than he has lost against the Vikings, and even is just about even with the Lions. Despite the Lions entering their prime right as the transition from 12 to 10 took place. And let’s look under the hood again last year: 4 of those 5 losses were by 3 points or less. 10 TOTAL points the other way, and we are 5-1 in the division and sitting pretty at the #1 seed. That’s life. But let’s not pretend that MLF is outclassed by KOC or Campbell or whomever the Bears have hired for the year.
10. Vibes: It’s all about the future, man. This is a young, ascending, and confident team. I expect big things from the Packers this year, and I DO expect them to win a Lombardi under Gute/MLF/Love. Soon. Maybe not this year, but in the next three.
So, is MLF the BEST coach in the NFL right now? Nope. You have to win it all a few times to get that title. But is in he in the conversation? Yep. And he should be. Along with about half of those names in that stupid PFF schlock. Yes, he has to actually win it all and make several more deep playoff runs to be considered in a GOAT list. This year will be big for all three of Gute/MLF/Love for sure. But I think all three have already demonstrated their quality overall and the Packers would be unbelievably foolish to move on from any of them in the near future.
I hope I have changed your mind. I doubt it, but… eh worth the try! 😎
Guam
June 29, 2025 at 09:27 am
MLF is clearly a polarizing topic for Packer fans. From two of the best commenters on CHTV (you and CW) we have completely opposing viewpoints. While you make many good points Bearmeat MLF's post season record (bad luck or not); Barry, Mennenga and Drayton; his periodic clock management gaffes; and his inability to learn how to make in-game adjustments have me leaning closer to MLF is a decent coach, but not a great coach. At least not yet.
Bearmeat
June 29, 2025 at 09:34 am
Thanks Guam. And your response is fair. MLF hasn’t “finished the job” yet. I’m confident that will come but until it does that’s a fair response. I’d only say that only, what, three of those names have done so? Maybe four? The top 10 thing. Mind blowing PFF stupidity. Once again.
Regarding the bad hires, yep. I agree. But he’s fixed them. Bisaccia hasn’t been great, but the STs have been “better” under him than any GB special teams since 2007… Hafley is a home run. Correcting your mistakes is better than not doing so and IMO all you can ask from a human. We all mess up.
I will say… I do enjoy engaging with CW. Especially when I’m right and he’s not. 😂😈
Coldworld
June 29, 2025 at 09:49 am
So not this time then?
Your point about him not finishing the job is the crux though. Top 10 coaches in my mind are the ones who can do that not ones who are either tripped up by their own personnel or tactical errors when it matters.
LaFleur may well be a top 10 media coach, he might be a top 10 lay designer, but he has never been a top 10 tactician or got his team over the hump. To me that is not a top 10 coach, at least when more than 5 years in. That would be refuted were he to finish the job, but then coaches do grow and develop. However, he’s far enough in where the evidence of that needs to be visible.
Perhaps, like Van Ness, this is the year he puts it all together. If not, he’s a coach that can’t get a team over the hump and beat good teams when it matters and perhaps they shouldn’t. Thus he’s not a top 10 coach in reality. Middle of the pack.
Bearmeat
June 29, 2025 at 10:22 am
Unconvincing sir. By your own standards above. How many of the top 10 have won it all? How many have gotten to the big game?
Reid
Payton (ages ago)
Sirianni
John Harbaugh (ages ago)
Tomlin (ages ago)
McVey
Shanahan (never won)
And I’d take MLF over all of these but Reid and mayyyybe Harbaugh. Mayyybe McVey. But MLF has owned him. He has also owned Payton. Not Shanny but I’d take MLF.
Then the next three:
Id take MLF over all of these. You could make an argument for Campbell and KOC IMO but that’s it.
IIRC the only active coach that MLF has lost to more than he has beaten is Campbell. A situation that will reverse itself soon.
How is that not top 10 at a minimum🤷🏼♂️
dobber
June 30, 2025 at 10:00 am
"So, is MLF the BEST coach in the NFL right now? "
I'm hoping he'll be the best coach in the NFL on February 8, 2026.
Otherwise, I really don't care who people think is the best coach in the league on June 30.
Bearmeat
July 01, 2025 at 06:23 am
Get out of here with your common sense! 😜
Snap the ball
July 06, 2025 at 01:20 am
Lost two at home in the playoffs got out coached. He has better D coordinators this time. Won’t happen again
Leatherhead
June 29, 2025 at 02:12 pm
It is hard to see what top 10 status would tangibly be justified by.
Wins? Playoff appearances?
It's always something other than points, and now it's about something other than wins.
dobber
June 30, 2025 at 10:48 am
The goalposts move mostly based on what people think of LaF.
Bearmeat
July 01, 2025 at 06:24 am
And there is the real answer. Last year, early in the season, Eagles fans were calling for Sirianni’s head. Now they love him. Wonder why?
Only one fan base is happy in February. Packers fans need to stop with the Entitltedtown BS. MLF is a good coach.
Bitternotsour
July 06, 2025 at 08:40 am
within the subjective, one inarguable point is he's #1 in personal grooming.
Snap the ball
July 06, 2025 at 01:05 am
Dan gave him one. He knew he was leaving for Washington he didn’t care
egbertsouse
June 29, 2025 at 08:22 am
He’s above average but not great. I’d give him a B-. If you like to collect participation trophies, he’s your guy . Championships, not so much.
NFLfan
June 29, 2025 at 08:37 am
He refuses to hire a real offensive mind (not Stenavich, not Bisaccia) to support and collaborate with him during times requiring rapid/smart decisions and has been allowed to make the same mistakes in game-planning, clock management and adjustments, over and over and over. An owner would have lost patience by now. No one from the Packer's brain trust has stepped in to stop this trend. Hopefully, Policy will.
Snap the ball
July 06, 2025 at 01:07 am
Mike Petine did a good job Got 3 picks off Brady. At home for playofffs The offense didn’t get it done
At home against Tampa And San Fran. Warm weather teams.
Come on
Handsback
June 29, 2025 at 08:39 am
I question a few of the top 10 coaches, but Coldworld said it best in that MLF hasn't taken a team to the SB. That 1 issue is what holds back his standing. Right or wrong I do believe that weighs on people's mind when ranking pro coaches.
I believe in the next few years...we will see GB in the SB and hopefully win it.
Leatherhead
June 29, 2025 at 09:34 am
How many active coaches have gone to the Super Bowl?
I count 11 active coaches who have won more playoff games than LaFleur. Most of them have .500 playoff records.
Bearmeat
June 29, 2025 at 12:39 pm
Thank you. Common sense reigns, LH. It’s hard to win the post season. Most coaches don’t do it. MLF has been inarguably better in both the regular and post season than every head coach in the NFL since 2019 with the exception of Reid and possible inclusion of McVey, Shanny, and Sirianni - the latter only because of the Bowl win.
MLF haters look at the Packers and think “we should win all the time.” Well… that’s hard to do. The NFL is full of very smart men.
Bitternotsour
June 30, 2025 at 11:01 pm
the "we should win all the time" subset is composed of the same people that think the team is inferior to begin with and that it's Gutekunst's fault...
cdoemel
June 29, 2025 at 05:32 pm
8
Reid 6x’s
Tomlin 2x’s
John Harbaugh 1
McVay 2
Payton 1
Sirriani 2
Carrol 2
Shanahan 2
It’s not LaFleur’s fault that Aaron Rodgers choked in 2019 and 2020
Snap the ball
July 06, 2025 at 01:29 am
Special teams vs 49ers
Snap the ball
July 06, 2025 at 01:30 am
Kevin king vs Tampa
TKWorldWide
June 29, 2025 at 09:27 am
Something to talk about during the off-season. How interesting you find it to be is up to you.
Spock
June 29, 2025 at 09:37 am
For the author of this piece (Greg M.): No, I don't recognize the Spaceballs quote-because I've never watched the whole movie, just some clips (I could never stand John Candy's comedy "acting" schtick). However, Greg, you may be interested to know that Mel Brooks is doing a sequel (Spaceballs 2) right now. There's been a couple of reports on the internet about it and even an official "trailer" from Brooks. FYI. Also some talk about a television version reboot of "Young Frankenstein". That I could get behind!
pantz_bURp
June 29, 2025 at 10:13 am
After giving it more thought and reading some posts regarding Coach LaF's success in the regular season (and some in the playoffs)...I need to give him more credit.
I think it stems mainly from me having a man crush on Coach Campbell. Now, hopefully the Packers have much success this season with their challenging strength of schedule. I guess, what I am trying to say is that I hope Coach LaF develops the nickname Baby Campbell. Coach Campbell is so tall...and strong...and sensitive.
A Packer fan until I am feeding the creeping Charlie in my lawn from the bottom up. And still rooting for my team with Charlie by my side.
Thatz all for now,
PB
HarryHodag
June 29, 2025 at 10:16 am
The adage 'the proof is in the pudding' applies here.
MLF is a highly competent coach but to be ranked among the best in the NFL requires a resume with several playoff wins.
If he can get in the playoffs this coming season and win a couple that would go a great distance to put him in the top ten. Check the schedule and give me the odds on playoff victories this season.
TarynsEyes
June 29, 2025 at 10:19 am
14 teams of 32 make the playoffs, with about 6 of the 14 being different each year. One thing seems to matter a lot, and that's strength of Division. Many of the consistent playoff participants do so because of Division weakness, and GB has been a huge benefactor for near two decades, and has endured a usurping lately. MLF now needs to battle for a playoff spot which with the rise of others outside his Division making it more of a need to win the Division to get in, which seems to be slipping away from his ability, which also seemed to depend on the weakness of the Division.
Yes, he has a wonderful regular season record, and is setting up to become a struggle for .500 ball. Take away the Rodgers argument and focus only on the two years with Love, and leaving out the injury because Malik saved much of that expected drop off. How good has MLF actually been in those two seasons? Do you believe he's a top ten HC based on that info, because that is where his true HC ranking begins, and he isn't with Love, and needs much more to achieve it? Can he, possibly, has he, no?
Tomlin was once deemed a top ten HC, even top five, but is he really even close to either now, no. But, he's still higher than MLF because he has had to achieve a winning record in a much harder Division, with no average QB, less a LOVE, but his playoff failure for a long time keeps him off the list, as it does for MLF.
splitpea1
June 29, 2025 at 10:21 am
Maybe MLF sneaks into the top 10 if you eliminate two of the names on the list: Tomlin, who hasn't won a playoff game since the 2016 season (and lost six of them in a row since), and Stefanski, who has only won one playoff game, got obliterated in one a couple years later, and finished with a sparkling 3-14 record last season.
In totality, I'd say MLF is maybe slightly above average, but to this point, no more. He deserves credit for good game planning when Willis was thrust into action when he was a fresh arrival. Also an impressive playoff win vs. Dallas. But MLF's biggest problem is some of the assistants he has hired or promoted over the years, with the most glaring being ST coach Drayton and DC Barry--neither one should have ever been hired in the first place. And I'm still pissed about losing to the Bears at the end of last season--no excuse whatsoever for that!
MLF will get the respect when it's proven he has hired the right assistants and engineers a gritty playoff run with this young team and at least reaches the Super Bowl.
Starrbrite
June 30, 2025 at 06:52 am
Yes—Drayton is perhaps the worst coach I’ve ever witnessed.
…and yes, the Bears loss was infuriating—inexcusable. The defensive call late in the game is on my list as one of the most weak-kneed and close-your-eyes, hope-we-don’t-lose efforts in Packer history.
Alberta_Packer
June 29, 2025 at 10:34 am
MLF is certainly a top 10 regular season coach. Unfortunately - not a top 10 playoff coach. He has yet to successfully level-up to the highest challenge. So critical analysis should not be characterized as slander.
TKWorldWide
June 29, 2025 at 10:34 am
Sean Payton ranked second?
Stefanski?
No mention of O’Connell?
Does anyone downgrade Reid because he has Mahomes? Or do they credit him with “making” Mahomes?
TarynsEyes
June 29, 2025 at 10:56 am
Payton was a top ten HC with NO, left for a while, and took over a Denver team is total chaos, and then drafted a rookie QB, reshaped the team and created a real threat in the AFCW.
Stefanski, I get the ire, but I don't envision MLF handling that situation at all. It shouldn't get him on the list, but that sure as heck keeps MLF off, or behind Stefanski wherever placed.
Starrbrite
June 30, 2025 at 06:53 am
I hate the Broncos too much to credit them with anything……
GregC
June 29, 2025 at 11:38 am
I would put LaFleur in the 8-10 range. For those who don't think he should rank that high, you need to tell us which ten coaches you think are better than him. Are there other coaches with good playoff records who are not on this list? Kevin O'Connell is a good young coach, but he's 0-2 in the playoffs.
Some of the coaches on this list don't have good playoff records. Dan Campbell is 2-2, including a meltdown at San Francisco that ended the 2023 season and a loss as a heavily favored home team this past season. Kevin Stefanski is 1-2. Mike Tomlin is 8-11 and is 17 years removed from his Super Bowl title. He's had crap QBs the last few years, but he didn't do well with Ben Roethlisberger toward the end. I would take LaFleur over any of those three.
Sean Payton is 9-9 in the playoffs, and his Super Bowl win was 16 years ago. I would take him over LaFleur, but it's close. People tend to forget that winning in the playoffs is not easy. Also, there are a lot of coaches (including some on this list) who have missed the playoffs multiple times. LaFleur has only missed the playoffs once in six years.
Starrbrite
June 30, 2025 at 06:57 am
GregC—I like your analysis—well said.
dobber
June 30, 2025 at 09:51 am
"Sean Payton is 9-9 in the playoffs, and his Super Bowl win was 16 years ago. I would take him over LaFleur, but it's close."
Sean Payton is also a really good regular-season coach. He gets many of the same caveats people gave McCarthy and and are currently giving LaF: preyed on a weak division. Struggles in the post season. Success attached to an outstanding QB. Don't forget "suspended for a full season for not keeping his goons in check."--you don't suspend a head coach like that unless there's evidence that he knowingly allowed or even condoned bountygate.
Right now, he's taking a shot at rebuilding a moribund Denver team without a HOF QB and has one season below the Mendoza line (8-9) and one season at 10-7 with a one-and-done postseason....let's see, Packers post ARod: 9-8 and 11-6. If the Broncos didn't lead the league by a wide margin in sacks last year, do they make the playoffs? If they don't this year?...cuz I'lll tell you what, they did very little to help their meh offense this offseason.
GregC
June 30, 2025 at 10:33 am
Yeah, I really hated that Bountygate thing. I think it should've been a bigger scandal than it was, but the NFLPA wanted to protect the players who were involved, even though their illegal actions were directed at other players, with intent to injure them. Maybe that sort of thing was widespread, and they didn't want to open a great big can of worms.
I give Payton credit for thinking outside the box with his offensive schemes and play calling though.
NFLfan
June 29, 2025 at 01:00 pm
MLF should take a realistic view of his weaknesses and address them by hiring those who are stronger in those areas.
Great CEO's acknowledge their weak points and are not afraid to hire those who are more qualified.
PhantomII
June 29, 2025 at 03:02 pm
Good managers hire smarter supporting cast around themselves....STRIKE ONE
Good managers learn from their mistakes....STRIKE TWO
Good managers are able to pivot from obstacles and overcome it.....STRIKE THREE.
ML is a top 15 HC until he starts hitting on these 3 issues. Nobody is going to build off ML coaching tree.
JL I thought was a top 5 QB in late 2023...He dropped in 2024 like our WR's did easy completions...Now that he's paid...time to step up. Pulling for ya...GPG
Gute has given ML a top 5 defense which is missing a top edge rusher for the defense to be even better without blitzing and exposing the defense due to lack of talent at edge. This will have to improve to get to and past the NFCC...
Gute has not kept top WR talent in the pipeline after DA was our #1 WR.....I expect Golden and #11 to step up with others and hopefully ML uses Kraft in the pass game a lot more as well as Jacobs. That would make a pretty lethal Offense, especially if Watson comes back healthy and hungry to get paid. GPG
GregC
June 29, 2025 at 03:21 pm
So he's not even top 15? Who are the 15 coaches who are better than LaFleur?
PhantomII
June 29, 2025 at 04:10 pm
Anyone who has a game plan and understands the opposition will usually figure it out and has ways to minimize it's success and a good coach will have a secondary way to exploit the defensive change to the original game plan. Anyone who hires a good quality DC / OC / and good position coaches. Any coach who understands when his WR's are dropping balls left and right that he needs to use his best offensive weapons in TE Kraft and RB Jacobs in the pass game more. Any coach who has the WORST ST in the NFL that single hand-idly lose the biggest game of the year does not hire the assistant ST coach to replace him....
GregC
June 29, 2025 at 07:11 pm
Okay, so who are all of these coaches? What are their names, and what are their playoff records?
cdoemel
June 29, 2025 at 05:12 pm
A list of the top 10 returning HC’s that doesn’t include Lafleur is complete bulshit!
Jim Harbaugh
Lafleur
Sirriani
Reid
McDermott
Tomlin
Payton
McVay
John Harbaugh
McCarthy
At 37-32-1 Campbell isn’t a top 10 coach.
Snap the ball
July 06, 2025 at 01:28 am
They play hard for Campbell. And Hungry. They got sick of losing to the Packers for years
I guess. The coach before Dan beat the Packers from Bill coaching tree. Man to man Defense only Adam’s could get open
I would say top two or three when the team is focused
Great games against the chiefs at home. Then next week lose to. Tommy with the Giants Come on
cdoemel
June 29, 2025 at 05:36 pm
It’s not LaFleur’s fault that Rodgers choked in 2019 and 2020 in the NFC Championship game
crayzpackfan
June 30, 2025 at 01:11 pm
Whose call was it to kick a field goal in the red zone of the Tampa game instead of trying for a TD? Dumb call no matter how much M&M candy you coat it with.
Snap the ball
July 06, 2025 at 01:28 am
Rogers going off script
Vachio
June 29, 2025 at 05:40 pm
Riddle me this...why doesn't Andy Reid get an asterisk due to Patrick Mahomes? Last time I checked, Reid has precisely zero SB wins without Mahomes. I mean, if we're going to use the legendary QB argument, let's use it consistently.
dobber
June 30, 2025 at 09:53 am
boom.
Cheezehead72
June 30, 2025 at 06:53 am
I will admit that I am biased as I like Campbell. I did not like it when he became the HC of the Lions. He is a very good head coach and should be in the top ten. Yes he had good coordinators but the author failed to mention that Campbell hired both of them without worrying about his job. I believe that MLF worries about being replaced and does not hire the best coaches. He also thinks he can be a play caller and HC. Once MLF comes to reality that he is only adequate at calling plays and being a head coach and he hires an OC that can call plays he might be a top 10 HC.
Sean Peyton should not be on the list yet.
Starrbrite
June 30, 2025 at 07:02 am
I’m in agreement with you on Payton and disagree with your assessment on Campbell—I’ve said many times I think Campbell is a big dufus. We’ll know more this year, but I see the Lions regressing.
Leatherhead
June 30, 2025 at 10:01 am
Andy Reid....after 5 seasons, had won 4 playoff games, including the notorious 4th and 26 game. The next season, he went to the Super Bowl. Then he went on about a 10-12 year stretched where he routinely missed the playoffs or was one and done. He had one season with 2 playoff victories.
Mike Tomlin won 5 playoff games in his first six years, then missed the playoffs and was one and done the following two seasons.
Mike McCarthy won 1 playoff game his first four years. Then he won the Super Bowl.
These are HOF coaches. That's who you're comparing LaFleur to, after only six seasons.
Starrbrite
June 30, 2025 at 06:42 pm
LH—I’ve always believed that had we hired Payton or Reid we would have won a couple more SB’s.
Starrbrite
June 30, 2025 at 06:44 pm
Payton has previously stated that he wanted the Packer HC position and was very unhappy he did not get hired.
PhantomII
June 30, 2025 at 07:17 pm
Well.... bounty-gate against our team....did not help him there TBH. I still believe there is a line between ML and Gute where either party does not quite do enough to get us to the show...right now Gute needs to get GB an Elite Edge rusher....I would also say a #1 WR though I think that sorts itself out soon between Golden and #11. If Gute got an Edge..we could really play some deep ball this season....GPG....ML needs to use what he has that's working on Offense better.