The Green Bay Packers are sending general manager Brian Gutekunst to Indianapolis, Indiana next week for the 2023 NFL Combine. Head coach Matt LaFleur and the rest of the Packers’ training staff, however, will not be joining him. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky broke the news on Twitter:
Matt LaFleur and his staff are joining a growing number of coaches not attending the combine next week in Indy.
LaFleur felt his time was better spent working with the staff on scheme projects. Because everything from the combine is recorded, they can view it afterward.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) February 24, 2023
Demovsky continued: “GM Brian Gutekunst and the personnel department will staff the combine as usual. Typically, Gutekunst has brought the coaching staff into pre-draft meetings and there’s no indication that will change. Gutekunst is expected to speak with reporters in Indy.”
The Packers general manager is indeed schedule to speak to reporters at Lucas Oil Stadium, where the combine is located, on Tuesday, February 28 at 9:00 AM CST.
The Green Bay Packers Already Have a Plan
The modern day “draft experts” have created a series of myths surrounding the draft and how teams view players that many people accept as true. One of these is that the NFL Combine can shoot a player up or down a team’s big board. This is not so. In the podcast episode listed above, Brian Maafi, who is responsible for dozens of contributions to various draft guides, explains that NFL teams already know what players they are interested in before the combine. They also already know when they should plan on drafting any given player.
That being said, the combine is good for players to display their athletic skills as well as their speed. While some players may impress teams enough to move up a spot or two on their board, no one is “shooting up” a NFL team’s draft board. For the most part, coaches have already seen what they needed to see in game tape.
While some may think that LaFleur skipping the combine is foolish, it truly is not that big of a deal.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
FAQs
Will the Green Bay Packers Make the 2023 NFL Playoffs?
According to sportsbooks, the Green Bay Packers are currently ninth overall (+3000) to win the 2024 Super Bowl. This is the highest among 2022 non-playoff teams, signaling they’ll be playoff-bound.
Who Do the Green Bay Packers Play in 2023?
Aside from their divisional opponents (Vikings, Lions, and Bears), whom they place twice, the Packers play the Saints, Buccaneers, Chiefs, Chargers, and Rams at home in 2023. They’ll travel on the road to face the Falcons, Panthers, Broncos, Raiders, Giants, and Steelers.
Who Owns the Green Bay Packers?
The team is owned by Green Bay Packers, Inc., a publicly owned and traded non-profit. There are currently over 360,000 stockholders. Mark Murphy currently holds the role of Packers president and CEO, with plans to retire in 2025.
How Many Super Bowls Have the Packers Won?
The Packers have won four Super Bowls. These victories include Super Bowl 1 and Super Bowl 2 after the 1966 and 1967 seasons. Their next title came in Super Bowl 31, following the 1996 season. Their most recent championship was Super Bowl 45, crowning them the winners of the 2010 season.
