The Green Bay Packers are already hearing the noise again after Week 1, and it’s loud for a reason. Matt LaFleur once more watched a late lead slip away, and this time it came in a 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings that left Green Bay empty-handed after controlling most of the game.
Jordan Love did his part. Even with pressure showing up seemingly every other snap, he threw for 387 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception while completing 21 of 42 passes. But the Packers still got outscored 22-0 in the fourth quarter, turning what should have been a season-opening win into another loss that doesn’t make much sense.
That kind of collapse has kept LaFleur on the hot seat since last season, and the frustration is back in full force. Green Bay could still steady itself as 2026 rolls on, but if it doesn’t, Ed Policy may eventually have to make a move. If that happens, there are five names worth keeping an eye on.
Marcus Freeman is one of them. The Notre Dame head coach has been a popular name in NFL circles for the past couple of years, though he has stayed with the Fighting Irish so far. Since taking over in 2021, Freeman has put together a 45-12 record, and while there’s no guarantee he’d want the Packers job, he’s clearly on the radar.
Brian Flores is another possibility, and he’s a familiar one after Green Bay just saw him up close. The Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator has long been viewed as one of the league’s top defensive minds. He drew plenty of attention during the last coaching carousel, but he never landed a job, and he’s still a name the Packers would have to consider.
Davis Webb brings a different kind of appeal. The Denver Broncos offensive coordinator would give Green Bay another young offensive voice, which could fit with Love already being one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks. The Packers would probably prefer someone with head coaching experience, but if they go the first-time route, Webb belongs on the list.
Steve Sarkisian could also enter the conversation if Green Bay looks beyond the NFL. Last offseason, the Texas head coach was mentioned as a possible pro candidate, and his run with the Longhorns has been strong.
Since 2021, he has guided Texas to a 50-20 record. Whether he’d leave for the NFL is another question entirely, but he’s a name to watch.
Then there’s Sean McDermott, the most intriguing option of the group. The former Buffalo Bills head coach is taking 2026 off after an accomplished stretch in Buffalo, where he helped turn the franchise into a contender.
The Bills never got over the top with him, but his record says plenty: 98-50 over nine seasons, with the playoffs missed only once. He hasn’t won a championship, but he got closer than LaFleur has lately.
In Other News...
Jordan Love Had A Brutally Honest Reaction To Packers Collapse
The Packers had control at halftime in their Week 1 meeting with the Vikings, but the game slipped away in the second half and left Green Bay staring at a 39-22 loss. Jordan Love was at the center of the turn, with a fourth-quarter interception helping swing momentum toward Minnesota as the Vikings finished the rally and handed the Packers an opening-night setback.
Love did not hide how tough the finish felt, and his frustration matched the mood around a team that expected more after building that early lead. Green Bay now has to move quickly from disappointment to correction, with the next chance to steady things coming against the Jets and a lot of attention on how the offense responds after a collapse like that. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Suddenly Have A Jordan Love Problem They Need To Solve
Jordan Love spent far too much of the Packers recent game dealing with heat instead of reading the field, and it showed in an offense that never really settled in. The Vikings blitzed heavily, the pocket kept collapsing, and Green Bays protection issues were magnified by a guard situation that has been thin, inexperienced and banged up for a while now.
The result was a rough night for a quarterback who needed cleaner answers from the people around him. Love finished with a completion rate of 46 percent, and when the pressure kept coming late, Minnesota was able to turn that into a scoring run that widened the gap. The Packers know the issue is bigger than one off night, because until the line gives Love more stability, every defense will keep testing the same weak spot. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Rodgers Sent A Message Steelers Fans Will Love After Week 1
After the Steelers and Falcons opened the season, Aaron Rodgers made sure to reach out to a familiar face from his Packers days. Rodgers sent ZaDarius Smith a handwritten note praising his energy and the way he came back into the game, a small gesture that said plenty about the respect between the two former Green Bay teammates.
Smiths path back to the field has been anything but straightforward, with a brief retirement behind him before signing with Atlanta and then playing through a shoulder issue in Week 1. For Steelers fans, the message is the kind of reminder that Rodgers still keeps close tabs on players hes shared a locker room with, especially one who found a way to answer right away after a long road back. [Read more 🡒]