Relationship goals: Packers’ Rodgers, LaFleur in sync
Veteran QB, 2nd-year coach have NFC North champs on roll
All the concern about how well Packers coach Matt LaFleur would work with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers have disappeared near the end of their second season together.
LaFleur, who came to Green Bay after one unremarkable season as the Titans offensive coordinator, has teamed with Rodgers to make the Packers one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses.
“We’ve had a great time together,” Rodgers said. “We’ve been laughing all the way to the NFC championship (game) last year and back in the playoffs this year about any question about our working relationship. It’s been a lot of fun working together.”
The 41-year-old LaFleur has emerged as one of the league’s bright young coaches as he prepares to face his former boss Sunday night when the NFC North champion Packers (11-3) host the Titans in a matchup between two of the NFL’s highest-scoring teams. Mike Vrabel has the Titans (10-4) on the verge of a second straight playoff berth.
LaFleur owns a 24-6 record with the Packers and is one of only six coaches in NFL history to win at least 24 of their first 30 games. He’s come a long way since that 2018 season with the Titans, when they ranked 25th in yards per game and 27th in points per game while going 9-7 and failing to reach the playoffs.
Yet LaFleur says he learned plenty from that year working with Vrabel, who held everyone accountable, from his coaches to every player on the roster.
“He was really direct in his communication, laid out the expectations,” LaFleur said. “(They) were crystal clear for everybody. You knew where you stood and what your responsibilities were and what the expectations were. I thought he did an outstanding job with that. It’s something I’ve tried to carry over, as well.”
Last season, the Packers went 13-3 and wonplenty of close games by leaning heavily on its defense.
Whenthe Packers struggled to score last season, it led to questions on how long it might take for Rodgers to get comfortable with LaFleur’s offense. The move from Mike McCarthy to LaFleur after the 2018 season was the Packers’ first head coaching change since Rodgers took over as starting quarterback in 2008.
When the Packers traded up four spots to draft Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round in April, speculation intensified about Rodgers’ long-term future in Green Bay.
Rodgers and LaFleur have responded by helping the Packers (11-3) boast one of the NFL’s most high-powered offenses. They jump on teams early by scoring 31 points per game, up from 23.5 last season.
And Rodgers has produced one of the finest seasons of his Hall of Fame-caliber career by throwing 40 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. LaFleur has praised Rodgers throughout the season and called him the MVP front-runner last week. Rodgers has complimented LaFleur’s play-calling while noting how the team’s offseason Zoom sessions helped them build chemistry. Rodgers also credited LaFleur for assembling a quality group of assistant coaches.
“He’s got a great group of teachers, and I enjoy the working relationship, enjoy the friendship, enjoy the communication,” Rodgers said. “We’ve had a good run so far.”
The Packers offense had one of its few hiccups last week, as they scored touchdowns on their first three drives but gained only 49 yards after halftime in a 24-16 victory over the Panthers.
That gives the Packers plenty of incentive as LaFleur gets ready to match up with Vrabel, whohas noticed how well his former offensive coordinator has fared with the Packers. Sunday night’s game will mark the first time the third-year Titans coach has matched wits with a head coach who once worked on his staff.
“I think Matt’s got a confidence to him about what he believes in,” Vrabel said. “I think he’s a hard worker. I think he’s got a toughness to him, having been in a lot of different places, worked his way up. Not afraid to move his family for another opportunity and then turn that opportunity into something else. Those are all really strong qualities. I do think he has learned from the people that he’s been around, and he’s been around a lot of great coaches.”