GREEN BAY – When Matt LaFleur was hired seven years ago, the Green Bay Packers knew they were steering straight for the abyss.
Aaron Rodgers was showing signs of decline entering his age-36 season. LaFleur’s immediate mission may have been reviving the late stage of a Hall of Fame quarterback’s career, but it wasn’t his most important job. No team in NFL history had ever succeeded two all-time quarterbacks with a third straight franchise starter.
The Packers essentially were asking LaFleur to perform a football miracle.
Seven turbulently successful seasons later, LaFleur may as well have turned the gridiron into water, then walked over it. Even before Packers president and CEO Ed Policy broke his public silence Feb. 7, explaining in his monthly newsletter the reasons for LaFleur’s multiyear extension following a season that ended with five straight losses, it was obvious quarterback pulled considerable weight. The Packers were staring directly at a return to the dark ages – known around Titletown as the 1970s and 1980s – only a few short years ago. Then Jordan Love happened.
“His work with quarterbacks is unparalleled around the league,” Policy wrote on the Packers’ website. “He helped Aaron Rodgers win back-to-back MVP awards and lead our team to two NFC championship games. He is developing Jordan Love into a top-tier quarterback, reaching the playoffs in each of his first three years as a starter. He has also been instrumental in Malik Willis achieving his potential over the past two seasons.”
LaFleur had a lot to do with Love happening. Love has the necessary physical tools to excel at the position. Rodgers’ willingness to mentor instead of shun and quarterbacks coach Tom Clements’ influence certainly didn’t hurt. But Love was LaFleur’s most important project, the mission his job security would hinge on, and the results are stunning. Remember that deer-in-the-headlights quarterback who made his NFL debut against a blitz-crazed Kansas City Chiefs defense in 2021? He’s long gone, replaced by a franchise pillar possessing elite pocket awareness, an acuity for attacking all levels of the field and the talent to retain legitimate contention in Green Bay.
“I thought Jordan played really, really good football,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “Some of his best football. Especially down the stretch, I actually thought he was one of our guys who played very, very well down the stretch. Continues to be an unbelievable leader for our football team. I couldn’t speak more highly of what I think about Jordan and where he’s headed.
“As good as he’s been for us, I think he’ll continue to get better because it’s important to him. He works at his craft. He’s always looking for another edge. I feel really good about that.”
The continuity LaFleur’s extension provided is another reason to expect Love to continue his ascension. It’s easy to see the calculus in Policy’s decision, that now is no time to put a rising quarterback in a different offense, preferring to keep the play-calling coach and quarterback together.
It’s incumbent on LaFleur not to waste this window. A mission can change over the years. LaFleur has developed a disturbing history of big-game issues, most recently the Packers’ second-half collapse in Chicago squandering an all-time performance from Love. It’s not enough to simply develop the quarterback into a franchise starter. Once developed, a coach must win at the highest level with him. Whether that happens will define LaFleur’s tenure.
But coaches who develop premium quarterbacks are the envy of this league, and Love showed the Packers have one. That the Packers quickly turned backup Malik Willis from a seventh-round draft pick trade chip to a likely starter elsewhere next season only confirmed LaFleur’s bona fides. LaFleur may have the quarterbacks to thank for his extension, but the quarterbacks have LaFleur to thank for their careers.
The fan base has LaFleur to thank for not turning back the clock to 1973.
Jordan Love
Keep his jersey clean, and he might someday become third straight Packers quarterback to win an MVP. Elite arm. Makes every throw with an attacking mindset, hunting for big plays downfield. Put to rest concerns about accuracy after sophomore slump, showing issues from 2024 were because of leg injuries affecting throwing base, not regression in development.
Completed career-best 65.1% on 487 throws, including pair of 2-point conversions, his 66.3% regular-season percentage ranking 16th leaguewide. Clip increases to 69.8% if not for 36 passes intentionally thrown away, almost all of them to avoid sack. Only 23 off-target incompletions, 20 fewer than previous season. Ranked fifth in NFL with plus-3.8 completion percentage points above expected, according to Next Gen Stats.
Despite half seasons from his three best pass catchers (Christian Watson, 11 games; Jayden Reed, 8 games; Tucker Kraft, 8 games), finished with 3,708 yards, 27 touchdowns and career-low 6 interceptions in 16 starts, counting playoffs. Ranked sixth in NFL with 101.2 regular-season passer rating, behind MVP candidates Drake Maye (113.5) and Matthew Stafford (109.2), two-time MVP Lamar Jackson (103.8), reigning MVP Josh Allen (102.2) and Jared Goff (105.5). Knocked out of Week 16 game in Chicago with concussion, missing most of that game and all of the next two.
Given time in pocket, operated with machine-like efficiency regardless of instability around him. Completed 257 of 347 passes (74%) for 2,994 yards, 26 touchdowns and 2 interceptions from a clean pocket, an elite 122.33 passer rating, a 22.05-point jump from 2024. MVP-level production. Problem was the pocket broke down too often. Production declined to 60-of-140 passing (42.8%) for 714 yards, 1 touchdown, 4 interceptions and a 49.52 passer rating when under pressure. Most throws under pressure in his career. Managed chaos better than numbers indicate. In third season as starter, game slowed enough to avoid catastrophes. Of 140 throws under pressure, 32 were intentionally thrown away to avoid rush. Took only 21 sacks in regular season, fewest among quarterbacks who started more than 10 games. Making plays under siege is what separates top quarterbacks, and is biggest area of growth needed entering fourth season as starter.
Always aware of his hot routes, mastered underneath throws. Completed 226 of 282 passes (80%) targeted less than 10 yards past line of scrimmage for 1,713 yards, 16 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, a career-best 107.93 rating. Biggest improvement came at intermediate level, completing 63 of 106 passes (59.4%) for 1,102 yards, 6 touchdowns, 1 pick and a career-best 109.8 rating. Completed 28 passes targeted at least 20 yards past line of scrimmage for third straight season, especially impressive given injury situation at receiver. Does not include 39-yard touchdown thrown into tight window for Reed against Commanders nullified by Anthony Belton’s holding penalty.
A 94.6 rating targeting at least 20 yards was a decline from 99.51 in 2024 but higher than 89.7 from 2023. Remained dynamic on money downs, a trend through career, completing combined 86 of 144 passes (59.7%) for 1,250 yards, 11 touchdowns, 3 interceptions and a career-best 104.8 rating on third and fourth downs. Opened season with 15-yard touchdown to Kraft on tightly covered post route converting third-and-9 against Lions. Hit on third-and-9 deep ball to Matthew Golden early at Dallas for 46 yards. Later converted fourth-and-6 in overtime drive with 14-yard stop route to Golden, ensuring tie against Cowboys. Sealed win against Bengals with 31-yard deep over to Golden under pressure on third-and-8. Made game-winning throw to Kraft on fourth-and-2 out route for 15 yards at Cardinals. Converted all three fourth downs in win at Detroit, including 22-yard stop-and-go touchdown to Dontayvion Wicks and 2-yard score on goal-line out to Romeo Doubs. Sealed second win over Lions with 16-yard dig to Wicks on fourth-and-3. Connected twice for deep touchdowns on third downs to Christian Watson in win against Bears.
Used legs much more than in 2024, including run through Commanders cornerback Trey Amos’ tackle at marker to convert third-and-9 with 14-yard run. Finished with 210 rushing yards on 48 carries, doubling his 93 yards on 27 carries in 2024. Made two Bengals miss on 3-yard scramble converting third-and-1. Eight missed tackles on season, 4 broken. Broke 2 tackles on potential sacks. Still has room to make more plays with legs. Threw third-and-2 pass out of bounds from clean pocket in wild-card loss to Bears despite having open space in front of him to run for first down. No rushing touchdowns.
Started season with shaky moments in crunch time. Rare clean pocket interception to Browns safety Grant Delpit on third-and-3 slant route to Wicks, turning momentum in what became first meltdown loss of season. A week later, disastrous on-field management almost expired clock in overtime against Cowboys. Lost two of seven fumbles. Tried to get out of sack attempting ill-advised checkdown to Josh Jacobs against Eagles, but lost fumble in field-goal range before halftime in what became 3-point loss. Otherwise was steady guiding light for offense undergoing consistent turbulence. Induced four penalties with hard counts. Caught Panthers with too many players on field before third-and-9 snap. Led team to 9-3-1 start, including 4-0 in NFC North, before late-season injuries decimated roster. Saved best for last, showing zero rust in playoff return from concussion, completing 24 of 46 passes for 323 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions and a 103.8 passer rating on road in Chicago. “I thought he played his ass off,” LaFleur said after season-ending loss. “I really did. I thought he was out there competing. We obviously didn’t do enough around him.” Will get preseason talk as potential MVP candidate entering 2026.
Grade: B-plus
Malik Willis
In second season as Packers backup, proved strong 2024 debut was no fluke. Even better with additional seasoning in LaFleur’s offense. Outperformed Love in several key categories, though small sample size makes a major difference. Put up video-game numbers, completing 30 of 35 passes (85.7%) for 422 yards, 8.6 yards per pass attempt, 3 touchdowns, no interceptions and an absurd 145.5 passer rating – 20.7 points higher than 2024. Before being selected in third round of 2022 draft, was considered electrifying dual threat but faced concerns about downfield passing accuracy. Completed 7 of 8 passes for 228 yards, 2 touchdowns and perfect 158.3 passer rating targeting at least 20 yards past line of scrimmage. Gorgeous arc on 33-yard touchdown to Doubs on go ball in Chicago, converting third-and-2. Opened lone start against Ravens with 40-yard completion to Doubs on go ball down left sideline, immediately followed by layering post to Watson for 39-yard touchdown. Added third-and-18 corner route to Reed for 30 yards and third-and-2 fade to Bo Melton for 34 yards. “It’s pretty impressive,” LaFleur said, “the power he has behind his arm and how far he can throw the football. He can make any throw on the planet. I’d put him up against anybody.” Completed 23 of 27 passes for 174 yards, 1 touchdown and 105.86 passer rating targeting less than 20 yards downfield.
On season, completed 6 of 7 passes for 105 yards, 2 touchdowns and perfect 158.3 rating on third down. First appearance came mid-drive vs. Giants. Finished touchdown drive with tight-window completion to Watson on third-and-goal from 1-yard line.
Solid pocket presence, completing 23 of 27 passes for 289 yards, 1 touchdown and a 123.6 rating when not pressured. Not quite the same awareness as Love, but compensates with athletic gear Love lacks. Rushed for 123 yards on 22 carries, including pair of touchdown runs against Ravens. When jets get activated, he’s gone. Ran past Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey in open field on 22-yard score. Made Giants linebacker Abdul Carter miss converting third-and-8 with 16-yard run. Beat Bears defensive end Austin Booker around edge on 13-yard run to convert fourth-and-1. Finished with 6 missed tackles, 4 broken. Showed arm is even more dangerous than legs while mobile. Completed 7 of 8 passes for 132 yards, two touchdowns and perfect 158.3 rating when pressured.
Could use legs even more. In contract year, occasionally appeared determined to showcase arm talent. Threw incomplete on third-and-goal into double coverage to Watson against Bears despite having wide alley up middle. Later, tried to change cadence before fourth-and-1 snap in overtime, resulting in fumble exchange with center Sean Rhyan. Those mistakes are fixable as he plays more. In just 98 snaps, likely earned opportunity to be a starter elsewhere next season, something Titans could not have imagined when they sent him away for seventh-round draft pick two years ago. “Obviously, we’d love to have Malik back,” Gutekunst said. “But at the same time, to be realistic, I think he’s going to have a lot of opportunities to maybe play more than he would here.” Will need right situation to flourish, a play-caller capable of mixing dynamic dual-threat talent, but showed key traits required to be high-function starter. Ability to make big plays with arm without throwing interceptions past two seasons bodes well for future. Propensity to run will need to be managed, given length of season. Avoiding injuries will be important. Dropped out of second half against Ravens with shoulder injury and did not play following week at Minnesota. Unproven in large sample size, but film is electric.
Grade: B
Clayton Tune
Signed to Packers practice squad Aug. 27, two days after being released from Cardinals. Spent almost entire year on practice squad but was elevated to active roster for game against Ravens in Week 17. Completed 1 of 4 passes for 8 yards as injury replacement for Willis. First pass was an interception off a Melton drop deflection. Elevated to active roster following week. With Love and Willis out because of concussion and shoulder injury, respectively, became answer to trivia question in Week 18 start at Vikings. Second-career start for the 2023 fifth-round draft pick out of Houston. With no starters on field with him, struggled immensely. Completed 6 of 11 passes for 34 yards and a 60.4 passer rating. Did not lead offense into end zone during loss. Cut from roster following week.
Grade: Incomplete
This article originally appeared on Packers News: Jordan Love’s ascension should continue with Matt LaFleur | Packers QB grades
Reporting by Ryan Wood, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Packers News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
