- Named the Packers' 15th head coach on Jan. 8, 2019.
- Per the Elias Sports Bureau, his 47 wins are the second most in NFL history by a head coach in his first four seasons in the league, trailing only George Seifert (52). Green Bay's 47-19 (.712) mark since 2019 is the third-best regular-season record in the NFL and the best in the NFC.
- In his first three seasons leading the Packers (2019-21), guided Green Bay to a trio of 13-win seasons, three NFC North crowns and two appearances in the NFC Championship Game.
- Is the only head coach in NFL history to not lose back-to-back games in his first 49 games.
- Finished second in voting for The Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year in 2021.
- Became just the sixth head coach since 1970 to lead his team to the conference championship game in both of his first two seasons as a head coach, joining Jim Harbaugh (2011-12), Rex Ryan (2009-10), Barry Switzer (1994-95), Seifert (1989-90) and Don McCafferty (1970-71).
- Oversaw a Packers offense that led the NFL with 509 points in 2020, the second-highest total in team history (560 in 2011). Green Bay was the only team to rank in the top 10 in the NFL in 2020 in all of the following categories: total offense (389.0 ypg, No. 5), yards per play (6.29, No. 3), passing offense (256.6 ypg, No. 9), passing yards per play (7.81, No. 2), rushing offense (132.4 ypg, No. 8) and yards per carry (4.78, No. 7).
- Helped guide QB Aaron Rodgers to back-to-back NFL Most Valuable Player awards in 2020 and 2021 as he became only the fifth player in NFL history to win consecutive MVPs.
- Has guided the Packers to three of the top four seasons in team history for fewest giveaways (11 in 2020, 13 in 2019 and 2021).
- Is entering his 15th season in the NFL in 2023, having also served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Redskins, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16) and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09).
- During his first 10 seasons in the NFL, was a part of offensive staffs that helped their teams rank in the top 10 in the league in total yards seven times (2008-09, 2012-13, 2015-17). Was on a staff that helped its offense finish in the top five in the league in scoring three times, highlighted by No. 1 rankings in 2016 with the Falcons and in 2017 with the Rams.
- Tutored Falcons QB Matt Ryan, who led the league with a 117.1 passer rating in 2016, the seventh highest in a season in NFL history, on his way to being named NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press.
- Has coached the league MVP (Rodgers, 2020-21; Ryan, 2016) or the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year (Rams RB Todd Gurley, 2017; Ryan, 2016) in four of the last seven seasons.
- Began his coaching career in 2003 at his alma mater, Saginaw Valley State. Has six seasons of coaching experience at the collegiate level, having also worked at Central Michigan (2004-05), Northern Michigan (2006), Ashland University (2007) and Notre Dame (2014).
COACHING BACKGROUND
Years, College/Pro Team, Position Coached
- 2003, Saginaw Valley State University, Offensive Assistant
- 2004-05, Central Michigan University, Graduate Assistant
- 2006, Northern Michigan University, Quarterbacks/Wide Receivers
- 2007, Ashland University, Offensive Coordinator
- 2008-09, Houston Texans, Offensive Assistant
- 2010-13, Washington Redskins, Quarterbacks
- 2014, University of Notre Dame, Quarterbacks
- 2015-16, Atlanta Falcons, Quarterbacks
- 2017, Los Angeles Rams, Offensive Coordinator
- 2018, Tennessee Titans, Offensive Coordinator
- 2019-23, Green Bay Packers, Head Coach
Entering his 15th season coaching in the National Football League, Matt LaFleur (la-flew-er) enters his fifth season in Green Bay after being named the Packers' 15th head coach on Jan. 8, 2019.
"We are very excited to welcome Matt as the next head coach of the Green Bay Packers," said Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy on the day of LaFleur's hiring. "We found a coach with the background and experience that we think will get us back to playing winning football. We're also excited about the person – he is bright with a great work ethic and a perfect fit for Green Bay and the organization."
In his first four seasons leading the Packers, LaFleur has authored one of the greatest starts to a head-coaching career in NFL history. Per the Elias Sports Bureau, his 47 wins are the second most in league history by a head coach in his first four seasons in the NFL, trailing only George Seifert (52 in 1989-92). Green Bay's 47-19 (.712) regular-season record since 2019 ranks No. 3 in the NFL and No. 1 in the NFC. With a 13-4 record in 2021, LaFleur led the Packers to a third straight NFC North crown while also earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the second consecutive season. He became the first coach in NFL history to post 13-plus wins in three straight seasons and his 39 wins from 2019-21 passed Seifert (38) for the most wins by an NFL head coach in his first three seasons in the league (Elias). LaFleur's 39 wins from 2019-2021 are also tied for the third most by a coach over any three-season span in league history, trailing only Mike Ditka's 40 victories with the Chicago Bears from 1985-87 and Andy Reid's 40 wins with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2020-22 (Elias).
Green Bay's success under LaFleur has been highlighted by its domination of the NFC North, success at Lambeau Field and owning the month of December. In his first four seasons, he has captured three division titles while going 18-6 against NFC North opponents, a .750 winning percentage that ranks as the best in the history of the NFC North/Central (min. 10 games, Elias). Overall, LaFleur has guided the Packers to a 27-6 record (.818) in the regular season at home, the top mark in the NFL since 2019. Green Bay finished the 2021 campaign with an 8-0 record at Lambeau Field, the only NFL team to be undefeated at home that season, and it marked the third straight season the Packers won seven-plus home games, tied for the second-longest streak in team history (2010-12) behind only a five-season stretch from 1994-98. Green Bay is 15-0 in the month of December under LaFleur, marking the longest winning streak by a head coach at the start of his career in the month of December (Elias). LaFleur is also 18-2 during the regular season in December/January, a .900 winning percentage that ranks No. 1 in the NFL since 2019.
Since taking command of Green Bay's offense in 2019, LaFleur has helped the Packers rank No. 1 in the NFL in giveaways (59), No. 2 in time of possession (32:00), tied for No. 3 in sacks allowed (122) and No. 7 in scoring offense (25.8 ppg). The offense continued to excel under LaFleur in 2022 as QB Aaron Rodgers finished the season No. 7 in the NFL in TD passes (26) and No. 10 in completions while also tying for No. 5 with 53 completions of 20-plus yards. RB Aaron Jones led the team with a career-high 1,121 rushing yards and ranked No. 2 in the league among RBs with an average of 5.26 yards per carry. WRs Romeo Doubs (41, three) and Christian Watson (41, seven) became only the third rookie WR duo in NFL history to each have 40-plus receptions and three-plus TD receptions in a season. Watson is also only the third player in team history to have seven-plus receiving TDs (seven) and multiple rushing TDs (two) in a season (Johnny "Blood" McNally, 1931; Don Hutson, 1941). Watson's seven receiving TDs were the third most by a Packer rookie in team history while he and Doubs both finished in the top 10 among NFL rookies in TD receptions last season. Additionally, the Packers ranked No. 7 in the NFL in sacks allowed (32), including just 17 in Weeks 7-18, which was tied for the third fewest in the league over that span. Green Bay ranked No. 5 in the NFL in time of possession (31:23), its fourth straight season finishing in the top five in the league in the category.
In 2021, the Packers finished the season ranked No. 10 in the NFL in total offense (365.6 ypg) and total points (450). The offense was led by spectacular individual seasons from Rodgers and WR Davante Adams. For the second consecutive season under LaFleur, and the fourth time overall, Rodgers was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player by The Associated Press and the Pro Football Writers of America. He led the league with a passer rating of 111.9, joining Steve Young (six times), Roger Staubach (four) and Ken Anderson (four) as the only players to lead the league in passer rating at least four times since 1970. Adams set new single-season team records for receptions (123) and receiving yards (1,553) in '21 as he became the first player in team history with three 100-catch seasons (2018, 2020-21). He also became the first player in league history to post 115-plus catches, 1,350-plus receiving yards and 11-plus receiving TDs in back-to-back seasons (2020-21).
Green Bay's defense has also shown consistent improvement under LaFleur the past four seasons. Named to his position on Feb. 9, 2021, by LaFleur, defensive coordinator Joe Barry guided the Green Bay defense to a No. 6 league ranking in passing defense (197.0 ypg) in 2022, the fewest allowed by the Packers since 2010 (194.2 ypg). Green Bay was tied for No. 4 in the league with 17 INTs last season, with 16 of them coming in Weeks 7-18, the most in the NFL over that span. The Packers gave up 28 points or less in 16 of 17 games, tied for the most in the league in '22. In 2021, Green Bay finished in the top 10 in the NFL in total defense (328.2 ypg, No. 9) and passing defense (219.1 ypg, No. 10). The 2021 season marked just the eighth time since 1970 that Green Bay finished the regular season in the top 10 in both total offense and total defense (2020, 2010, 2009, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1994).
Several players have enjoyed individual success in LaFleur's four years at the helm, with 12 Packers earning All-Pro, Pro Bowl or All-Rookie honors over the past four seasons. CB Keisean Nixon earned first-team AP All-Pro honors as a kick returner in 2022, the first Packer to earn the honor since the position was added in 1976. He was joined by CB Jaire Alexander, who garnered second-team honors. Alexander was also selected to the Pro Bowl with G/T Elgton Jenkins, and LB Quay Walker earned a spot on the PFWA's All-Rookie team last season. Adams, LB De'Vondre Campbell and Rodgers were named first-team AP All-Pro in 2021 while Adams, DL Kenny Clark and Rodgers were selected to the Pro Bowl. In 2020, Adams, T David Bakhtiari, C Corey Linsley and Rodgers earned first-team AP All-Pro honors, the Packers' most first-team selections since 1967 (six), while Alexander and LB Za'Darius Smith earned second-team All-Pro recognition. The 2020 Pro Bowl roster featured Adams, Alexander, Bakhtiari, Jenkins, Jones, Rodgers and Smith. The Packers' seven selections tied for the most in the NFL in 2020 (Baltimore, Kansas City and Seattle), and were the most original selections for Green Bay since seven players were selected in 2011. Six of the players were named starters in 2020 (all but Jones), giving Green Bay its most starter selections since 1967 (eight).
Since his first day addressing the team, LaFleur has emphasized the importance of the ball, both protecting it on offense and taking it away on defense. For the fourth straight season in 2022, Green Bay finished on the positive side of the turnover margin (plus-2, t-No. 12 in the NFL). Since 2019, the Packers rank No. 2 in the NFL in turnover margin (plus-34). From 2019-21, Green Bay ranked in the top two in the NFL for fewest giveaways, ranking tied for No. 1 in 2021 with 13 (Minnesota and Seattle), No. 1 in 2020 with a team-record 11 and No. 2 in 2019 with 13. It marked the first time in NFL history that a team had 13 or fewer giveaways in three consecutive seasons, and Green Bay's 37 total giveaways during that period were tied for the fewest giveaways over a three-season span in NFL history (New England, 2015-17). Overall, the Packers are 33-2 under LaFleur when winning the turnover margin, and their 28 zero-giveaway games from 2019-21 were the most in league history over a three-season span. Green Bay finished the 2021 season ranked No. 3 in the NFL in turnover differential (plus-13), tied for No. 7 in 2020 (plus-7) and tied for No. 3 in 2019 (plus-12). On defense, the Packers were tied for No. 11 in the NFL with 24 takeaways in 2022 and tied for No. 4 in the league with 17 INTs. In 2021, Green Bay was tied for No. 8 in the NFL with 26 takeaways and tied for No. 6 with 18 interceptions in 2021. In 2019, the Packers were tied for No. 7 in the league with 25 takeaways and tied for No. 3 with 17 INTs. Overall, Green Bay is 42-6 under LaFleur when forcing at least one turnover, an .875 winning percentage that ranks No. 1 in the NFL since 2019 (TruMedia).
For the second consecutive season in 2020, LaFleur led Green Bay to a 13-3 record and an NFC North title while also earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC for the first time since 2011. According to Elias, he was the sixth head coach since 1970 to lead his team to the conference championship game in both of his first two seasons as a head coach, joining Jim Harbaugh (2011-12), Rex Ryan (2009-10), Barry Switzer (1994-95), Seifert (1989-90) and Don McCafferty (1970-71). Additionally, Green Bay's 13-win improvement over the previous two seasons (13 wins in 2017-18) marked the biggest two-season victory improvement by a head coach in franchise history from the two seasons prior to him taking over, eclipsing the previous mark held by Vince Lombardi (15 victories in 1959-60 after the Packers won four games in 1957-58).
Following a productive first season in 2019, Green Bay's offense exploded under LaFleur in 2020. The Packers led the NFL with 509 points, the second-highest total in team history (560 in 2011), including a league-best 12 games with 30-plus points. Green Bay was the only team to rank in the top 10 in the NFL in all of the following categories: total offense (389.0 ypg, No. 5), yards per play (6.29, No. 3), passing offense (256.6 ypg, No. 9), passing yards per play (7.81, No. 2), rushing offense (132.4 ypg, No. 8) and yards per carry (4.78, No. 7). Additionally, the Packers were the only NFL team to have three different players (Adams-18, Jones-11, TE Robert Tonyan-11) with 10-plus TDs in 2020.
In their second season in LaFleur's offense in 2020, Rodgers and Adams turned in outstanding individual performances. Rodgers was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player by AP and by the PFWA after leading the NFL with a 121.5 passer rating, the second-highest single-season mark by a quarterback in NFL history behind only his 122.5 rating in 2011. In addition to leading the NFL in passer rating, Rodgers also led the league in passing TDs (team-record 48), completion percentage (team-record 70.7) and interception percentage (0.95), the first QB to lead the NFL in all four categories since Young in 1992. Adams set the franchise record to that point for receptions in a season with 115 and tied WR Sterling Sharpe (1994) for the most receiving TDs in a season with 18 (tied for No. 3 in NFL history). Adams became the first player in NFL history to have 18-plus TD receptions and 100-plus catches in a season. Additionally, he led the NFL in receiving TDs, receiving yards per game and receptions per game in 2020, the first NFL player to lead the league in all three categories since Sharpe in 1992.
In LaFleur's first year leading the team in 2019, Green Bay finished the regular season with a 13-3 record on its way to an NFC North crown and the No. 2 seed in the NFC as he became just the fifth coach in league history to win 13-plus games in his first season as a head coach. He guided the Packers to their biggest one-year win improvement in club history (plus-seven wins) and became the first head coach to lead Green Bay to the playoffs in his first season. He joined Mike McCarthy as the only head coaches in club annals to lead the team to the NFC Championship Game in their first playoff appearance, and he became the first NFL coach to do so since Harbaugh led the 49ers to the NFC title game in 2011.
LaFleur guided the Packers to a 6-0 record in NFC North games in 2019, just the second time that Green Bay had gone undefeated in the division (2011) since the league went to a divisional format in 1967. He joined Jim Caldwell (2011) and Steve Mariucci (1997) as the only coaches in NFL history to post a perfect divisional record and 13-plus wins in the regular season in their first season as a head coach.
Green Bay's defense also took a step forward with LaFleur at the helm in 2019 as it allowed 19.6 points per game (No. 9 in the NFL). It marked the first time Green Bay had finished in the top 10 in the league in the category since 2010, which was also the last time the Packers allowed fewer than 20 points per game. The average of 19.6 points per game allowed was a 5.4-point decrease from 2018 (25.0 ppg.), the biggest one-year improvement in scoring defense for the Packers since 1996.
LaFleur came to Green Bay after spending two seasons as an offensive coordinator, first with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and then with the Tennessee Titans in 2018. He also coached quarterbacks for two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (2015-16) and four seasons with the Washington Redskins (2010-13). LaFleur got his start in the NFL coaching ranks with the Houston Texans as an offensive assistant in 2008-09.
During his first 10 seasons in the league, LaFleur was a part of offensive staffs that helped their teams rank in the top 10 in the NFL in total yards seven times (2008-09, 2012-13, 2015-17). In three of those seasons, LaFleur was on a staff that helped its offense finish in the top five in the league in scoring, highlighted by No. 1 rankings in 2016 with the Falcons and in 2017 with the Rams.
In his lone season with the Titans, LaFleur guided the offense to a No. 7 league ranking in rushing (126.4 ypg) as Tennessee registered 11 games with 100-plus rushing yards, tied for No. 2 in the NFL in 2018. Tennessee's ground game was led by third-year RB Derrick Henry, who finished No. 7 in the NFL in rushing yards (1,059) and tied for No. 3 in rushing TDs (12), the most by a Titan since RB Chris Johnson's 14 rushing TDs in 2009. RB Dion Lewis added 517 rushing yards as Tennessee was one of only three teams in the league (Denver and Seattle) to feature both a 1,000-yard back and a 500-yard back in 2018.
Despite missing three full games and parts of others due to injuries, Titans QB Marcus Mariota set a single-season franchise record with a 68.9 completion percentage, good for No. 6 in the league in '18, and posted a career-high average of 7.64 yards per attempt, the top mark by a Titans QB (min. 200 att.) since Steve McNair in 2003 (8.04). In Week 12 at Houston, Mariota completed 22 of 23 passes for 303 yards and two TDs with no INTs, a 95.7 completion percentage that was the second-best single-game mark in NFL history (min. 20 att.) behind only Chargers QB Philip Rivers' 96.6 percentage recorded the previous day vs. Arizona.
Under LaFleur's direction, Tennessee's offense had one of its finest seasons in team history when it came to taking care of the football, finishing tied for No. 7 in the league with 18 giveaways, tied for the fourth fewest in a season in franchise annals. The Titans set a single-season team record with only six fumbles lost on the season, which was tied for No. 4 in the NFL in 2018. The offense also contributed to the Titans being called for only 82 penalties on the season, the fewest in the league in 2018 and the fewest in franchise history in a 16-game season (since 1978).
As offensive coordinator for the Rams in 2017, LaFleur was part of a staff that helped the team improve its win total by seven games (4-12 to 11-5) as Los Angeles took home the NFC West crown for the first time since 2003. The Rams led the league in scoring with an average of 29.9 points per game, more than doubling their average from 2016 (14.0 ppg) as they became the first team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to go from last to first in the NFL in scoring in one season. The Rams also finished in the top 10 in the league in total offense (No. 10, 361.5 ypg), rushing offense (No. 8, 122.1 ypg), passing offense (No. 10, 239.4 ypg) and third-down percentage (No. 9, 41.1).
RB Todd Gurley was named AP Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league in yards from scrimmage (2,093) and rushing TDs (13) and ranking No. 2 in the NFL with a career-high 1,305 rushing yards. QB Jared Goff finished in the top 10 in the league in passer rating (No. 5, 100.5), passing yards (No. 10, 3,804), passing TDs (t-No. 5, 28) and INT percentage (No. 5, 1.47). The Rams threw only seven INTs on the season, the fewest in the NFL in 2017 and tied for the fewest in a season in franchise history (1969).
LaFleur joined the Rams after serving as the quarterbacks coach for the Atlanta Falcons in 2015-16. In 2016, he was a member of an offensive staff that helped the Falcons win the NFC title and set franchise records for total offense (415.8 ypg), points scored (540), passing offense (295.3 ypg) and yards per play (6.7). LaFleur tutored QB Matt Ryan as he set single-season franchise marks for passing yards (4,944), completion percentage (69.9) and TD passes (38) along with an average of 9.26 yards per attempt that ranked No. 1 in league history among QBs with 500-plus attempts. Ryan led the league with a 117.1 passer rating, the seventh highest in a season in NFL history, on his way to being named NFL Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year by AP.
LaFleur spent the 2014 season coaching quarterbacks at the University of Notre Dame, where he helped QB Everett Golson throw for 3,445 yards and 29 TDs, both good for No. 3 in single-season school annals. Golson completed a school-record 25 consecutive passes in a game vs. Syracuse, eclipsing the previous mark of 14 straight held by three different quarterbacks.
From 2010-13, LaFleur served as quarterbacks coach for Washington. In 2012, he tutored rookie Robert Griffin III, who became the first QB in team history to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and the first Washington rookie QB to be selected to the Pro Bowl. Washington finished 10-6 on the season, taking home its first NFC East crown in 13 years. Griffin completed 258 of 393 passes (65.6 percent) for 3,200 yards and 20 TDs with just five INTs, and set NFL rookie records for passer rating (102.4), interception percentage (1.27) and rushing yards by a QB (815). Washington ranked No. 4 in the league in 2012 in scoring (27.3 ppg), the second-best average in team history (27.7 in 1999), and led the NFL with a franchise-low 14 giveaways on the season.
In 2011, veteran QB Rex Grossman started 13 games and posted career highs for completions (265) and passing yards per game (242.4) under LaFleur's direction. In his first season in Washington, LaFleur helped the team finish No. 8 in the league in passing offense (244.6 ypg), the team's best average since 1999 (245.4 ypg). Veteran QB Donovan McNabb started 13 contests in 2010 and ranked No. 8 in the league with an average of 259.8 passing yards per game.
LaFleur's first NFL coaching experience came with Houston as an offensive assistant in 2008-09, where he was part of a staff that helped the Texans rank in the top five in the league in total offense and passing offense in both of those seasons. In 2009, LaFleur assisted offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Kyle Shanahan with the QBs as the Texans ranked No. 4 in the league in total offense (383.1 ypg), highlighted by a passing game that ranked No. 1 in the NFL (franchise-record average of 290.9 ypg) as QB Matt Schaub led the league and set single-season team records for passing yards (4,770) and completions (396). In 2008, LaFleur assisted wide receivers coach Larry Kirksey as Houston ranked No. 3 in the league in total offense (382.1 ypg) and No. 4 in passing offense (266.7 ypg), with WR Andre Johnson leading the NFL in receptions (team-record 115) and receiving yards (1,575).
In 2007, LaFleur served as the offensive coordinator at Ashland (Ohio) University, where he helped the Eagles score a then-school-record 440 points and average 528.2 yards of offense per game on the way to an NCAA Division II postseason appearance, the team's first since 1997.
LaFleur began his coaching career as an offensive assistant at Saginaw Valley State in 2003 before working as a graduate assistant at Central Michigan in 2004-05. He also coached quarterbacks and wide receivers at Northern Michigan in 2006.
Born Nov. 3, 1979, in Mount Pleasant, Mich., LaFleur played quarterback at Saginaw Valley State (2000-02), where he guided the Cardinals to three straight NCAA Division II playoff appearances and earned second-team All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors in all three seasons. He ranks No. 3 in school history in passing yards (7,699), completions (560) and passing TDs (67). LaFleur began his college career as a wide receiver at Western Michigan (1998-99) before transferring to SVSU.
Following his college career, LaFleur played in the National Indoor Football League for the Omaha Beef in 2003 and the Billings Outlaws in 2004.
LaFleur's younger brother, Mike, is currently the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. Their father, Dennis, was a starting linebacker on Central Michigan's 1974 national championship team and went on to be a defensive assistant coach for the Chippewas for 22 seasons (1976-97). Following his time at CMU, Dennis also served as the head coach for four seasons and as an assistant coach for 13 seasons at Mount Pleasant (Mich.) High School.
LaFleur and his wife, BreAnne, reside in De Pere with their two sons, Luke and Ty.
