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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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The 2026 offseason was a crucial one for the Green Bay Packers.
The bulk of the team’s moves came on the defensive side of the ball.
They signed defensive tackle Javon Hargrave and cornerback Benjamin St-Juste in free agency, and they added cornerback Brandon Cisse (Round 2), defensive tackle Chris McClellan (Round 3), edge-rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton (Round 4), and cornerback Domani Jackson (Round 6) in the draft.
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But according to ESPN’s Mike Clay, the move Green Bay made that will have the biggest impact on next season was the one it made about head coach Matt LaFleur.
“The one they didn't make,” Clay wrote. “Despite another early playoff exit, there was no head coaching change. LaFleur not only was retained but received a contract extension that was believed to add three years to the remaining one year he had on his old deal.
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“Perhaps it will give LaFleur the security he sought, but it also will ramp up the expectations for him to take this team on a deep playoff run.”
The Packers signed LaFleur to a multiyear extension back in January after weeks of speculation about whether or not the team would cut him loose following a 9-7-1 season and heartbreaking loss to the division rival Chicago Bears in the playoffs.
In seven seasons, LaFleur has a 76-40-1 record with six playoff appearances, but Green Bay hasn’t made it out of the divisional round since 2021.
Many believe that lack of recent postseason success will light a fire under LaFleur next season.
With quarterback Jordan Love in his prime, a young and hungry offense built around running back Josh Jacobs, wide receivers Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, and Matthew Golden, and tight end Tucker Kraft, and a top-10 defense centered around star pass-rusher Micah Parsons, the expectations are high for Green Bay — as is the pressure on LaFleur to produce results.
The Packers have all the roster pieces in place, seemingly the only thing holding them back is LaFleur.
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