The Green Bay Packers’ Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears in the 2026 playoffs sparked immediate debate among fans about Matt LaFleur’s future, with many questioning whether he remains the right coach to guide Jordan Love and the team moving forward.
On one side of the argument, Matt LaFleur has delivered steady success in Green Bay, even navigating stretches with a backup quarterback and keeping the team competitive.
On the other, a 3-6 postseason record raises a tougher question about whether the Packers have already hit their limit under the current leadership and if meaningful playoff growth can still happen with the same approach.
"I just think Green Bay has to stay the course, they're gonna have to handle the noise, they've got to find a way to run the football more consistently…" – @BarstoolGruden https://t.co/N74CtfSdQW pic.twitter.com/o6HFZuLxDD
— Wake Up Barstool (@wakeupbarstool) January 12, 2026
Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports weighed in on the debate by reaching out to respected offensive voices Greg Olsen and Jon Gruden for their perspectives. Olsen, the former Pro Bowl tight end turned analyst, came out firmly in support of Matt LaFleur, making it clear he still views him as a strong choice to lead the Packers.
Greg Olsen and Jon Gruden’s take on Matt LaFleur’s time with the Packers
“I think you do nothing. I think the notion that Matt LaFleur’s job is potentially in jeopardy is a bit ridiculous. I think what we’ve found over years, and obviously coach probably has a great perspective on this, is I think everyone is always in such a rush to find a replacement. And so often, the replacement is by far worse than who the original coach was,” Olsen remarked during his appearance.
“And I think a guy like Matt LaFleur, his track record of offensive play calling and the success they’ve had, yeah, they’ve lost some tough playoff games and they’ve lost some tough games down the stretch and bad endings. And certainly Saturday night is up there, you know, you’re up 21 to three at halftime against a team that had shown nothing there in the beginning of the game. And then you end up letting it slide.”
Gruden weighed in too, noting that he believes the Packers should keep LaFleur around if for no other reason than there simply isn’t a better option on the market.
“There’s no way I would let LaFleur out of the building unless anyone has a better candidate. And there’s no better candidate. The guy’s done a great job of transitioning from Aaron Rodgers to Love. Love played great. Love has a bright future,” added Gruden.
Not every fan will side with Gruden and Olsen, but that is the debate the Packers now face. The Packers must decide quickly whether any coach available offers a clearer path forward than LaFleur, or if staying the course remains the best option.
