Cory's Corner: He's A Top 5 Coach
Many fans still don't appreciate everything that Matt LaFleur has done since he got to Green Bay in 2019, but he's one of the best coaches in the NFL.
Matt LaFleur is the right person to lead the Packers.
There are still some crazies out there that think that LaFleur shouldn’t be the head coach. Yet, he has done more than most people give him credit for.
In fact, I would argue that LaFleur is a top five coach in the NFL. Since 2019, Green Bay’s coach with perfectly coiffed hair has a winning percentage of .670, which is below Andy Reid’s .770, but better than Kyle Shanahan’s .629 and Sean McDermott’s .630.
And you cannot understate how well LaFleur handled the transition from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. That could’ve easily gone sideways, but LaFleur sidestepped a potential disaster and guided Love to a 32-touchdown, 11-interception season in 2023 in his first full season as the starter.
With all eyes on LaFleur when he came to Green Bay, he confidently tallied three straight 13-win seasons to earn a 39-10 regular season — no head coach has had more regular season wins in their first three seasons.
“The fact that they’re 13-4 and they’ve had to go over some mountains in a year in which none of us even knew if Rodgers was going to play, in the midst of all that,” said ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky in 2022. “And just the way the team is playing, it’s not just Aaron (Rodgers) throwing for 50 touchdowns like he did last year — he’s the coach of the year.”
The knock on LaFleur is when the regular season ends and the postseason begins. He owns a 3-5 playoff record, including first round exits in 2021 and 2024.
Despite that, the team believes in him and knows that he is always putting the best team on the field. Whether that’s in 12 personnel — my favorite — with Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave on the field or going guns ablazing with Matthew Golden, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks and Savion Williams.
In an NFL that has turned into a copycat league, LaFleur isn’t afraid to do his own thing. And that’s commendable. With all of the Packers passing weapons, he could easily just pass it 60 percent of the time, but the Packers ran the ball over 52 percent of the time last year. And I would even expect that number to rise thanks to Love’s scrambling ability and him being healthy.
The natives are getting restless for a deep playoff run. The talent pool is deep on both sides of the ball and even the kicker might be one of the best weapons on the team.
This year, I am looking forward to seeing LaFleur play chess. He has all the pieces he wants. He has a very good quarterback that he trusts and a quarterback that has put his trust in LaFleur.
Barring any unforeseen injuries, this season will be LaFleur’s capstone project. There aren’t many teams that will be able to stop this team consistently because of all the motion and play-action. Defenses won’t be able to cheat at the line of scrimmage to stop the run because they have burners to get by the defense.
You can disagree all you want, but LaFleur is a top five coach in this league. And he’s about to prove it this season.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (27)
Guam
August 09, 2025 at 07:30 am
LaFleur is a good coach but the author conveniently sidesteps several important issues: (1) staff blunders like Barry, Mennenga and Drayton have caused underperformance by key groups; (2) persistent clock management and challenge flag problems that have not been resolved despite six years of repetition; and (3) an inability to make in-game offensive adjustments if the initial game plan doesn't work has hurt the team in big games.
LaFleur is good, but he will not be great until he resolves the above issues.
Bitternotsour
August 09, 2025 at 08:56 am
Top five?
How many super bowl winners out there
Siriani
Payton
Reed
Harbaugh
Pete Carroll
Tomlin
McVay
Even though they lost these guys at least made it to the dance -
Taylor
Shanahan
Quinn
Jim Harbaugh
Give me an example of LaFleur having done something innovative - his offense is born of a hybrid of Shanahan and McVay with Mike McCarthy having a continued presence through the Rodgers years.
Right now he's the second best coach in the DIVISION (by win percentage) - I would argue he's done less with more talent than most of his peers. He is absolutely an NFL head coach. He can design plays. He wins a lot of regular season games. But PLEASE, top five? You must be joking.
There's a reason that despite his having won a lot of games that he's never won a coach of the year.
Bearmeat
August 09, 2025 at 08:19 am
I’ve said this before. He is a good coach. I wouldn’t go so far as to say a great one. Yet. He needs to win a Super Bowl to be great.
And I don’t usually agree with Corey. But I do here. The way he managed the superego of Aaron Rodgers was laudatory. I do think the playoff losses in 20 and 21 lie at the feet of good old number 12 first and foremost.
He's a good coach. We should be thankful for him, not slamming him all the time. And there is almost no pathway for him and Gute to be gone after this year. And that also is a good thing.
Bitternotsour
August 09, 2025 at 08:58 am
How does caving to Rodgers qualify as admirable player management. LaFleur might as well have worn kneepads in the quarterback room. The illusion of complexity was immediately sacrificed to the narcissistic whims of a prima dona. I remember when he was hired, I was assured by the Andy Herman-types that guys would be "schemed open", have we seen that yet? I saw way more sophisticated offensive identity from both Minnesota and Detroit. Let's not kid ourselves, the team was good enough to get to the Super Bowl in those first two years, and they didn't get it done.
Want a lesson in how to deal with Aaron Rodgers - watch Tomlin.
Guam
August 09, 2025 at 09:19 am
I think your green and gold glasses may be a bit heavily tinted here Bearmeat. LaFleur has some well identified flaws and while he has fixed some of them (Barry, Mennenga, Drayton) he has more work to do. I don't want Marty Schottenheimer coaching the Packers, I want Mike Holmgren. So far, LaFleur is looking more like Schottenheimer to me. I would like to see him prove me wrong, but the clock is ticking.
LambeauPlain
August 09, 2025 at 11:28 am
Matt did a good job managing #12? I don't agree Bear. He acted more like Rodgers' agent than his HC.
LaFleur was greatly intimidated by Rodgers, IMO. Rodgers despised the Illusion of Complexity offense with a run heavy emphasis. After the 2020 season Rodgers decided to take over the offense and routinely changed LaFleur's play call in the huddle or by audible. LaFleur would just shrug and admit he was fine with it all. Rodgers again reverted to perimeter passing seeking chunk plays half the time. LaFleur responded by encouraging Murphy to give Rodgers whatever money he wanted...as the "all in" push finally fizzled in 2022.
That was not strong leadership over his QB. He treated Rodgers with the same kid gloves Sherman used for Favre.
The good news? It seems Love is following the game planning of Matt and the coaches. Will it be enough? With the revival of the Defense, it may be. I hope so.
Bearmeat
August 09, 2025 at 02:05 pm
Yes, MLF did a good job managing Rodgers. Do you know why? Look at what happened in New York, and the last 3 years of MM. Rodgers RAN those teams. He WAS the head coach and GM and QB. How did that go again? Hmmmm….
You don’t put down your star players and put them in their place. You work with them. This is collaborative leadership. If MLF had acted like Holmgren did with early Favre, do you know what would have happened? Rodgers would have revolted. That means no team chemistry in 19, 20, or to a lesser extent 21. You saw the Rodgers revolt fully in 2022. And it was awful.
Yes. MLF has done a damn fine job leading.
PeteK
August 09, 2025 at 08:57 am
He has done a great job with a very young and bland roster. However, this season the roster is deep and the rookies are ready to bloom.
Coldworld
August 09, 2025 at 09:03 am
He’s not a top 5 coach. Top 5 coaches do not have the issues with their staff we’ve seen, do not consistently get out coached in the playoffs, tactically from the outset or in game. He could t win with Rodgers and a talented roster and indeed lost playoff games he shouldn’t, often repeating mistakes that were seen in prior games against the same opponent. He’s overseen some stunning errors that were obvious to all and, in the end our undoing, personnel, coaching loyalty. He’s not particularly good at getting his team fired up to play above itself (or just well to open the season).
No, he’s not top 5. He’s not bottom 5 either, but in the end he’s middle of the pack. On average he beats who he should in the regular season, but, the Dallas game aside, seems to shrink in the playoffs as a caller and tactician both. He’s a top 5 tv coach, perhaps, but the hype that encourages hasn’t been matched by outcomes on field. He’s a very good play designer who’s never been a great play caller consistently.
Maybe this is the year he makes a jump. It if not, his window may well begin to close. Perhaps that has already started: “urgency” means something.
Bitternotsour
August 09, 2025 at 09:26 am
He's good but has yet to elevate a team. He has deer in the headlights moments. he never delivers on his pronouncements - all gas, no brakes? pure bullshit.
He has been provided enough talent to get through, but it never feels like he personally is ready for the big stage. We got a bad break at Philly last year and I never felt like the guys looked to him to lift them.
I know people rail on his choices of coaches, but to me the big issue is his continued offensive failures in the playoffs. The defense has been good enough despite the Barry criticisms. The offense, LaFleur's specialty has failed in every big spot.
LambeauPlain
August 09, 2025 at 11:41 am
He hired a two time failed DC, expecting a different result...for THREE YEARS. Menninga, Drayton...then hope with Bicassia that has not materialized...so Matt makes him Assistant HC one year and a pay raise and contract extension the next? What was Bicassia being rewarded for?
Matt's blind spot as HC is honestly assessing players and coaches performance and making difficult decisions. It is not fun...but incredibly necessary.
LambeauPlain
August 09, 2025 at 11:10 am
I agree with this, CW.
Corey's rose colored glasses narrative conveniently omitted a huge problem that was even more exposed last year...and not aberration with LaFluer...being out prepared, out-motivated, and out flanked, and physically out played by all the teams in the Division. The Eagles did the same.
Ben Johnson even goaded LaFleur after arriving in Chicago by stating that now he gets to lead an ENTIRE team against Matt LaFleur at least twice a season. Ouch. Campbell demanded his lions punch the Packers in the mouth early and often...it showed. LaFleur's best buddy, Robert Saleh told the Jets at halftime two years ago to hit the Packers hard to start the 3rd and they would fold. They did.
Call me "crazy" but I view LaFleur as someone who would be a very good OC working for a disciplined and demanding HC...but is he top 5 HC himself? Hasn't been yet and he may never be.
Making difficult personnel decisions are a weakness. I genuinely like the man... a nice man. Maybe too nice to lead an NFL team. He far closer to Mary Schottenhiemer than St. Vince.
barutanseijin
August 09, 2025 at 09:51 am
What is a “top five” coach? Someone who has led a team to a super bowl victory? If so, does that coach stay “top five “ forever?
If someone is not a “top five “ coach today and takes a team to a superbowl victory, does that mean that coach really was “top five” all the time? Is this greatness fleeting or something permanent that surfaces occasionally? Does topfivitude diminish over time as the Lesser Harbaugh’s is said to? Once gone, will topfiveness ever return?
Unless we sort out the epistemological issues, any judgement concerning “top five “ is meaningless.
LeotisHarris
August 09, 2025 at 02:20 pm
"Unless we sort out the epistemological issues, ...."
The last person who tried to do this in The Corner ended up in Mendota hopped up on Thorazine. I think Leatherhead still communicates with them, got a nice trivet for a holiday gift one year. Anyway, be careful.
Bitternotsour
August 09, 2025 at 08:27 pm
OMG
egbertsouse
August 09, 2025 at 10:37 am
No way. He's a top ten. I would put him 9th.
Heyward
August 09, 2025 at 10:58 am
LaFleur is good at his job; I'm just not sure he's good enough. He's certainly not a top-5 coach.
NFLfan
August 09, 2025 at 11:11 am
I would feel better about MLF if he would hire an authentic OC or an up-an-coming offensive mind to game-plan and collaborate with.
His personnel management is very troubling as well.
He shies away from the management aspect of Head Coaching
Gman1976
August 09, 2025 at 11:23 am
Great coaches don't cost your team wins. They are difference makers at critical moments and in close games. MLF's record last season against the division (1 -7) and his playoff record doesn't inspire me to say he's a top 5 coach. Hopefully, this is the season that he turns the corner.
Bitternotsour
August 10, 2025 at 08:36 am
how you go 1-7 in six games is a mystery you'll have to explain to me Gman.
stockholder
August 09, 2025 at 11:28 am
MLF is a top 5 coach .
With a bottom 5 gm.
The word Dynasty must be in the conversation.
That can't happen until the GM
finds the players to fit it.
Example- Rodgers.
Example- How to get rid of all-Pros.
Example- How many have become all-pros.
Do-it - just isn't magical enough.
CheeseEdWest2
August 09, 2025 at 01:07 pm
Another formidable Haiku.
Packerpasty
August 09, 2025 at 01:54 pm
No way top five...somewhat like Love...slightly above average perhaps.....PROVE IT...both of them...
PackerBackerAZ
August 09, 2025 at 02:53 pm
To be a top five head coach you must assemble a successful group of coordinators and position coaches. A top five head coach must make good in game decisions including challenges and time management. That's all the qualifications. So far, M LaFleur has failed in assembling successful coordinators and position coaches over his six years. He has also failed to provide good game decisions including challenges and time management over his six years. Definitely not top five production with a regular season record that depended on being in the bad NFC North for his first three seasons and playing the worst divisions in both the NFC and AFC last season.
Winning is too dependent on having good players that the coaches and coordinators can elevate through their teaching. The fact is several Packer players are, or have been, either not good or under performing due to coaching. If it's the coaching, LaFleur is most accountable for that. If it's bad players then it's the general manager. Love has played at an elite level for 25% of his games. Is LaFleur responsible for Love not playing at an elite level consistently? Gary has never played at an elite level consistently. Is that the fault of coaching or the general manager? Those are but two of many players not performing to their draft status and/or second or third contracts.
Give Andy Reid the Titans or Giants and would he make the playoffs?
Packerpasty
August 09, 2025 at 08:15 pm
Looks like maybe jets new coach is top five…Pack sure not ready to play…
Snap the ball
August 11, 2025 at 12:13 am
Maybe top 8 coach
Could be Top 2 or 3 But
Needs to manage more and trust some other folks that he has brought back.
Tampa game at home Brady throws 3 picks giving us the game, but good old Kevin King gives up the Td before half and kicking a field goal when we needed a TD
49ers game. Block kick 10 Packers on the field. Someone needs to count. TWICE……
YOU DONT LOSE THOSE GAMES AT HOME……
That’s the difference.
Oh wait Kevin King vs 49 ers at home didn’t come up and try to tackle Debo he laid back Debo got extra 5-7 yards.
Coaching knowing who is on the field …..
Needs to hold JL more accountable……
GaryC
August 11, 2025 at 09:54 am
Not even close to top dozen. I fail to see the offensive genius as many people describe LaFleur. I’m not over reacting to the Jets game. Of more significance is the regular lack of preparation and readiness that’s been seen on numerous occasions in big games - abysmal. Maybe he shuts everyone up this year and lands a SB. I really hope so. I think his window is closing very quickly though. Another 0-6 or 1-5 divisional record and Ed Policy won’t be settling for the same coaching.