The Green Bay Packers stormed into 2025 like kings. Back in late August, Green Bay pushed all its chips in by trading for Micah Parsons, a move that had Cheeseheads talking Super Bowl all season. However, fast forward 135 days, and the mood flipped hard. On Saturday night at Lambeau Field, the season ended with another gut punch. Worse still, it came against the Chicago Bears, the century-old rivals, in a wild-card collapse that felt painfully familiar.

As a result, the fallout was instant and loud. Bill Simmons did not dance around it when he went after Matt LaFleur.

“Matt LaFleur’s second half has to be on the short list of worst playoff coaching performances this century,” he wrote on X.

Moreover, the take spread fast because many Cheeseheads were already thinking the same thing.

“GB coaching this half could be worst half of coaching I have ever seen,” former ESPN analyst Joe Banner wrote on X

Meanwhile, the loss carried extra weight. It marked the Packers’ fifth straight defeat. Even more, it became their longest season-ending losing streak since 1990. That sting felt deeper considering how the night started. By halftime, the Packers held a commanding 21-3 lead. The defense flew around early, hit first, and looked faster than anything the Bears could answer.

The plan worked in the first half, and the tone felt right. However, everything shifted after the break. The offense failed to string together drives. Because of that, the clock stopped working in their favor. The defense fought, stalled, and bent, but it could not hold forever.

Green Bay opened the third quarter up 21-6. Still, Caleb Williams and the Bears offense flipped the script late. Chicago poured on 25 points in the fourth quarter alone. To make matters worse, kicker Brandon McManus missed two field goals and a point-after. Every miss tightened the pressure.

But why is everyone blaming Matt LaFleur? Former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert explained that perfectly.

“Terrible timeout usage,” Benkert added in his complaint about LaFleur. “Terrible second-half gameplan. Blown 21-3 lead. Taking the ball out of Love’s hands all 3rd quarter. Get him out of here.”

NFL analytics expert Warren Sharp also added fuel during the collapse.

As the fourth quarter unfolded, Sharp posted on X, “no idea what Matt LaFleur is trying to do in the 2nd half … up 21-3 with the ball to start the half … 4 possessions and a net of 9 yards… 0.64 yards per play… punt… punt… punt… punt.”

Because of that meltdown, LaFleur and the Packers now face a long offseason filled with hard questions and louder criticism. And maybe a question on his future.

Is Matt LaFleur’s future with the Packers at risk?

This season could not have ended in a worse way for Matt LaFleur. The playoff loss did more than hurt in the moment. It reopened real questions in Titletown. With LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst both entering the final year of their contracts, the Packers now face a big fork in the road. As a result, the front office must decide whether to commit to one, both, or hit reset entirely after another brutal ending at Lambeau Field in the heart of Titletown.

At the same time, LaFleur’s resume still demands respect. He has stacked wins at a rare pace and currently ranks 16th all time in winning percentage. Notably, nine coaches ahead of him sit in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. However, playoff scars keep piling up. After deep NFC title runs in 2019 and 2020, the Packers crashed early in 2021. Then came one playoff win in 2023, followed by quick exits in 2024 and 2025. That recent 1-4 stretch weighs heavy on Cheeseheads.

Meanwhile, clarity may come soon. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport said the Packers and LaFleur will begin contract talks “shortly after the season ends.” He added that one game will not decide LaFleur’s fate. Still, everything now feeds into the final evaluation.

Top Stories

Sean McDermott Announces Bad News for Josh Allen as Bills QB Rings Alarm Bells

Troy Aikman Makes Decision on NFL Job as Cowboys Legend Announces Stance on ESPN Exit

Baltimore Ravens Make Kevin Stefanski Announcement After Firing John Harbaugh for Lamar Jackson Fallout

Tom Brady’s Commitment to Raiders Questioned After Mark Davis Confirms Minority Owner’s Role

Finally, Rapoport offered context that matters.

“If everything goes well, the hope is that remains for a long time,” he wrote about LaFleur’s run.

That said, an extension is far from automatic after what the Bears did to Green Bay. Ultimately, if LaFleur stays, change may be required. And honestly, he might already know that.