The Green Bay Packers offseason has officially begun. Much has been made about their coaching staff since their season ended and what could be done to get better in 2023. Matt LaFleur gave an end-of-season press conference following their week 18 loss to the Lions. In that press conference he mentioned he doesn’t anticipate many changes with the coaching staff: “It’s my intention to have everybody back. Continuity is a big part of having success in this league.” However, with the offenses’ lack of consistency in 2022, coupled with the fact that LaFleur’s brother is now available, could entice the Packers to at least do some scouting.
Mike LaFleur and New York Jets Agree To Part Ways
After a season highlighted by profound struggles on offense and the regression of quarterback Zach Wilson, the New York Jets and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur parted ways. Mike LaFleur commented on his released and seemed to remain in high spirits:
“This is a production-based business; you’re not going to run from that,” LaFleur said last week. “I grew up in a family of coaches. My dad’s been fired, my brother’s been fired. Every coach is going to be fired at some point and rehired. It’s just the cycle; that’s what it is. That doesn’t keep me up at night or put me to sleep.”
It needs to be annotated that New York’s offense’s struggles cannot be placed solely on the shoulders of Mike LaFleur. After all, he cannot control the accuracy of his quarterback. The Jets’ QB room ranked last in virtually every measure of getting the ball to their teammates, regardless of how open those teammates were. LaFleur did a good job of scheming guys open, but the passers just could not hit them. The Jets were middle of the pack in 2022 in terms of passing yards per game. Their average of 219 passing yards per game ranked them 15th in the NFL. Coincidentally, the Packers were ranked 17th in 2022 averaging 213.6 per game.
Mike LaFleur started his NFL coaching career in Cleveland. LaFleur accepted his first NFL position as an offensive intern in 2014 for the Browns under offensive coordinator. In 2015 and 2016 he joined Atlanta as an offensive assistant. In 2017 LaFleur joined the San Francisco 49ers serving as both the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach (although Wes Welker took over the wide receivers coaching in 2019). LaFleur followed Robert Saleh from the 49ers to become the Jets’ offensive coordinator in 2021. Mike LaFleur’s entire career has been focused around the passing game, if Matt LaFleur and the Packers’ coaching staff feels he could contribute in a meaningful way, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Mike LaFleur in Green Bay. While Matt LaFleur has already said he doesn’t want to move on from any coordinators this off-season, Mike LaFleur could come in and help with the passing game as an assistant.
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