HC Matt LaFleur says players’ discontent over roles took toll on Packers’ year

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that players who were upset about their roles took a toll on their football team last season, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Ryan Wood.

“You need guys that bring good energy every day,” LaFleur said. “From a coaching standpoint, role clarity is key. If you are unhappy about your role, it’s on you to do something about that to carve out a bigger role on this football team.”

LaFleur did not specify which players he was referring to or whether they were still with the team. Romeo Doubs, Rashan Gary, and Rasheed Walker are notable players who have left the Packers this offseason.

LaFleur said he thinks frustration about player roles has contributed to his NFLPA coaching grade dropping to a B- this year from an A- he received after the 2024-2025 season. Packers former defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley received an A-, while former assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia earned a B+. Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich is the only coach on the team to receive a lower grade than LaFleur, finishing with a C.

The Packers finished as the NFC’s seventh seed for the third straight year after losing their final four regular-season games. Despite LaFleur’s 76-40-1 record since becoming the Packers’ head coach in 2019, he has had limited postseason success.

LaFleur is 3-6 in the playoffs as the Packers’ head coach. In the postseason, they lost in the wild-card round for the second straight year and have not made it to the NFC Championship since 2020, when Aaron Rodgers was quarterback. The Packers haven’t reached a Super Bowl since 2010, when Rodgers and Mike McCarthy led the team.

After the season, the Packers gave LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst multi-year extensions despite speculation that the team might move on after yet another early-season exit.

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