Jordan Love did not hedge after the Green Bay Packers‘ season came to a sudden end. As questions swirled following a painful wild-card loss to the Chicago Bears, the quarterback addressed the most sensitive topic head-on, making it clear where he stands on Matt LaFleur‘s future.
Green Bay let a commanding 21-3 halftime lead slip away and fell 31-27 at Soldier Field, exiting the playoffs in the opening round for the second consecutive year.
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LaFleur declined to engage in speculation about his job security afterward, but Love did not wait long to offer his perspective.
“Yeah, I definitely think Matt should be the head coach,” Love said after the game. “I’ve got a lot of love for Matt. I think he does a great job. That’s it.”
The message was short and unambiguous, coming at a moment when outside scrutiny was growing louder. Love‘s backing matters, not just because he is the franchise quarterback, but because his development has been closely tied to LaFleur‘s system since he took over the offense.
The loss itself followed a familiar script. The Packers were sharp early, controlled tempo, and looked comfortable through two quarters.
After the break, momentum flipped. Drives stalled. Adjustments favored Chicago. A season that showed flashes of progress ended with frustration.
“Everybody knows what the situation is,” Love said. “It’s disappointing. We let one get away from us. Not much to say. We’ll get back to it and go from there. Attack the offseason. The same message that comes with any offseason is to try to find ways to get better and get back to work. But it’s very disappointing right now.”
Why LaFleur’s future keeps returning to the spotlight
The debate around LaFleur did not start Saturday night. It has lingered since last offseason, when team president Ed Policy opted not to extend LaFleur or general manager Brian Gutekunst ahead of the year. Both are under contract through 2026, but the decision signaled that results, particularly in January, would carry extra weight.
On paper, LaFleur‘s rsum remains strong. He has led the Packers to the playoffs six times in seven seasons, including three straight appearances with Love at quarterback. Consistent winning has rarely been an issue. The sticking point is what happens once the postseason begins.
Back-to-back wild-card exits, especially losses that follow blown leads or second-half collapses, have made it difficult to quiet critics. For a franchise accustomed to measuring success by deep playoff runs, merely getting in has never been enough.
