FlurrySports lists the top Green Bay Packers head coach candidates if they fire Matt LaFleur, including John Harbaugh and more.
When Matt LaFleur took over the head coaching position in Green Bay, many were excited to see what the new blood could inject into the historic Green Bay Packers franchise. Instead, LaFleur has injected nothing but more continuing disappointment in the NFL Playoffs, and a conservative approach that may have driven the fans and organization crazy for the last time.
For being touted as an “elite” coach by some, LaFleur has sputtered to a 37-30-1 regular season record and a 1-3 record in the playoffs over the past four seasons. Since taking over and having his teams make the conference championship game, thanks to Aaron Rodgers’ magic in his first two seasons, the Packers have failed to win a single playoff game in three of their last four appearances.
With expectations always sky-high for a storied franchise like the Packers, it is possible Green Bay fires Matt LaFleur. If they do, these are three Green Bay Packers head coach candidates.
Top Green Bay Packers Head Coach Candidates
John Harbaugh | Former Ravens HC
Hiring John Harbaugh as the next Green Bay Packers head coach simply makes sense. Not only is he a Midwest guy through and through, but he’s a heck of a football coach who always has his teams playing better than they should. While he has gotten plenty of flak for the Baltimore Ravens’ issues as of late, few have come close to his success since he took over the Ravens in 2008. In those 18 seasons, he has made the NFL Playoffs 12 times and has won at least one playoff game nine times. His overall playoff record is 13-11 for a .542 winning percentage. Comparing that to LaFleur, who has a playoff record of 3-6 for a .333 winning percentage, and it’s clear that Harbaugh is a tier above LaFleur.
The biggest draw for Harbaugh, though, is the work that he can do on special teams. Packers fans gripe about special teams more than any other fanbase in the NFL, and it’s for good reason. It’s been well over a decade since the last time the Packers had a special teams group that was even average. Harbaugh would instantly be able to fix those issues as he specializes in special teams. Outside of a one-year post as defensive backs coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007, Harbaugh had spent 1988-2006 as a special teams coordinator for Morehead State, Cincinnati, Indiana and the Philadelphia Eagles. As a coach who could fix special teams and have the team playing above the sum of its parts, Harbaugh would be a home run hire.
Kevin Stefanski | Former Browns HC
Before you audibly laugh at the fact that a former head coach of the Cleveland Browns is a step up from Matt LaFleur, let’s take a deeper dive into his tenure in Cleveland. Stefanski came into an awful Cleveland Browns team and immediately went 11-5, winning Coach of the Year honors. It was the first winning season for the Browns since 2007 and their first playoff berth since 2002. The Browns treaded water the next two years before Stefanski again elevated an average team to an 11-6 record, winning his second Coach of the Year award.
Since then, the Browns have gone a meager 8-26 record, but not much, if any, of that blame can be placed on him. The Browns took a massive swing when they traded for Deshaun Watson and, in return, got a quarterback who looked like he’s never played a down of football in his life. With a poor front office and no talent on the team, it’s hard to place blame on Stefanski when he’s shown his ability to win even with “average” Browns rosters in the past.
The marriage between Stefanski and the Packers just makes sense. Stefanski is an offensive guru who was part of the Minnesota Vikings staff from 2006-19. As offensive coordinator, he rejuvenated the Vikings team and made them a force to be reckoned with. Not only would he instantly be put in the best spot of his career, but he would also be given a great defense as well, making it very likely he can again elevate a team to the next level.
Brian Flores | Vikings DC
It’s no secret that Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley could be leaving Green Bay for his next head coaching gig. What replacement would possibly be better than hiring the best defensive mind in the NFL? Brian Flores has turned an average Minnesota Vikings defense on paper into a machine. In Green Bay, he would be gifted one of the most talented and feared defensive players in the league with Micah Parsons, along with some solid defensive pieces.
The best part about Flores is how he has always elevated the teams he’s coached. He was a head coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2019-21 and was notably fired for winning too many games. He took a bad Miami team and went 5-11 in his first season before immediately going 19-14 over his final two years when the organization clearly wanted him to tank for a better draft pick. He was also at odds with the front office as he didn’t want to draft Tua Tagovailoa, which has only aged spectacularly ever since. While some Packers fans may be quick to judge, as he’s never been in the playoffs as a head coach, just remember he was a huge part of multiple Super Bowls for the New England Patriots from 2008-18. A disciple of Bill Belichick, much like Mike Vrabel, there is plenty of reason for optimism for a coach who has succeeded everywhere he’s been.
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