Brian Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur have been the foundation of the new Green Bay Packers. They have made mistakes — like everybody in the NFL — but their consistency and ability to build and extract value from the roster, plus their capacity to work in harmony, are more than enough to justify contract extensions.
The Packers frequently sign some extensions right before or during training camp. This year, though, Elgton Jenkins is injured and is a positional question mark, factors that make it difficult to define his precise value. Plus, Rashan Gary still is under contract for two more years. Therefore, it’s easier to invest in the front office and coaching staff.
General manager Gutekunst signed a five-year contract when the Packers hired him in 2018. (The salary wasn’t officially released or reported.) That means this season is the last of his current deal. Green Bay hired LaFleur under a four-year contract in 2019, with an annual salary of $5 million. However, the Packers have an option for 2023.
As they both approach the final part of their deals, the Packers need to give the two security as the team enters a decisive phase of their history, with the eventual retirements of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and president Mark Murphy looming.
In 2020, the Buffalo Bills extended general manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott through 2025. The Bills did not extend them simultaneously, but they aligned their contracts. If Green Bay gives Gutekunst and LaFleur extensions that make their deals go through six more seasons, they will be under contract until 2027. They would be the responsible leaders for the transition from Aaron Rodgers to the next signal caller. Moreover, team president Murphy is set to retire in 2025, and it would be important to have a solid structure in place for the next president so he can enter his tenure with stability.
Gutekunst’s biggest mistake was the selection of quarterback Jordan Love in 2020. But even considering that, Gutekunst’s track record is impressive. He has added impact players like Jaire Alexander, Rashan Gary, Elgton Jenkins, Darnell Savage, and Eric Stokes in the draft. He has also done a good job signing free agents and improving the team on the margins. It’s notable how much better the roster is now compared to the 2017 season.
LaFleur also has received some criticism, especially for Packers playoff losses at home in the last two years. Still, his effectiveness is undeniable. LaFleur has the best three-season start for a Packers coach in recent history. His regular-season winning percentage is the highest of all time among Green Bay coaches — yes, better than Vince Lombardi’s record. Under his offensive system, Rodgers returned to his MVP-level days, earning two Most Valuable Player Awards in a row after some down years from 2015 to 2018. Also, LaFleur is viewed as a good leader and has the respect of his players and assistant coaches.
Together, Gutekunst and LaFleur successfully navigated through the Aaron Rodgers crisis last season with aplomb. It’s fair to argue that the Packers created their own problems by drafting Jordan Love. Still, the general manager and head coach treated the situation in a perfect way to solve any remaining questions. Rodgers has spoken about how his relationship with the front office improved after tension times in 2020 and early 2021.
During Ted Thompson‘s final years as a GM, one clear problem was the lack of alignment between the front office and the coaching staff. While Thompson liked to build through the draft with young players, defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ system was too complex and better run with veterans. Sometimes, even former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy complained about Thompson’s lack of motivation to improve the roster in free agency. The misalignment possibly cost the Packers during Rodgers’ prime.
Now it’s time to reward Gutekunst and LaFleur for their good performances and ability to work together.
