Matt LaFleur Faces Player Discontent After Dip in Approval Rating, Promises to Improve
The Green Bay Packers faced scrutiny following the release of the NFLPA's 2026 survey, which revealed a decline in Matt LaFleur's approval rating from an A- to a B-. This drop positioned LaFleur among the six lowest-rated coaches in the league, primarily due to concerns regarding his "respect for players." During the Annual League Meeting, LaFleur acknowledged the feedback, stating, "I don't feel that way, but unfortunately some guys did. That tells me I've got to do a better job of communicating." He emphasized the importance of building strong relationships within the team, noting that connected teams are powerful teams. LaFleur identified role clarity as a significant issue, admitting, "I think there were some guys that were upset about roles last year, and I think that took a toll on our football team." This lack of clarity may have contributed to the team's struggles, as the Packers finished the regular season with four consecutive losses after being four games above .500 at one point. In the wild card round, the Packers suffered a devastating defeat against the Chicago Bears, blowing an 18-point lead, which marked the fourth-largest collapse in franchise history. LaFleur stated, "We lost way too many games late in the game where we had leads or just had opportunities to close people out." Looking ahead, LaFleur must prioritize rebuilding trust in the locker room and enhancing in-game execution. His players' buy-in is crucial for maintaining leads in future games. As the Packers aim to reclaim dominance in the NFC North and progress beyond the conference championship for the first time in LaFleur's tenure, addressing these issues will be vital.
Source: CBS Sports - 2026-03-30