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When Matt LaFleur was hired as the Green Bay Packers’ head coach just over a a year ago, the common line in the national media was that he was brought in to reinvent the offense and make Aaron Rodgers an MVP again.
In reality, he was brought in to revive an entire franchise.
By all accounts, LaFleur succeeded far beyond anyone’s expectations except maybe former Packers receiver and current NFL Network analyst James Jones.
He made physical changes to places like meeting rooms including big changes like adding photos of current players next to the team’s legends of the past to smaller ones like adding a basketball hoop.
He even played a role in changing the gameday atmosphere at Lambeau Field by adding the flickering lights whenever the Packers scored a touchdown among other things. He upped the music volume at practice and even utilized an app to allow players to make music requests.
LaFleur also held himself accountable first in front of players before turning to them, letting the team know he was still in charge but he was with them in the battle that is an NFL season.
In other words, LaFleur modernized a franchise that perhaps clung a little too much to the past.
To paraphrase something LaFleur said when he was hired, the Packers will always cherish their history but he and his players are there to make their own.
If 2019 is any indication, he’s going to make his own mark sooner than later.
Now for today’s curds.
All offseason the focus was on LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers. Not only was that overstated but people seemed to forget the other 52 players on the roster. Every single person bought in, including the quarterback. The culture created by LaFleur speaks well for the Packers’ future.
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