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...
Cooper Pratt Missed The Brewers Celebration For A Reason Fans Will Notice
Cooper Pratt was part of the Brewers big night in spirit, even if he wasnt there for the postgame scene. The rookie shortstop missed Milwaukees National League Central clinching celebration because of illness and was told to stay back at the team hotel, leaving him to follow the game through an audio feed instead of being in the middle of the clubhouse buzz.
Pratt still got a taste of the moment when the Brewers made sure he had the keepsakes every player wants from a division title run, including a Division Champs T-shirt and sparkling cider. It was a small consolation for missing the party, but it also fit the strange, fitting reality of a long season finally reaching a celebration he could only watch from a distance. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Just Sent A Brutal Message To The Cubs And NL Central
Drake Baldwins timely home run gave the Brewers exactly the kind of finishing touch that has defined their surge, and it came with enough runway left to make the message land even harder around the NL Central. Milwaukee clinched the division with 11 games still on the schedule, turning what had been a race into a runaway and putting the focus squarely on how dominant this club has been down the stretch.
For the Cubs, the timing only sharpened the frustration, especially with injuries already thinning out their pitching depth as they try to piece together a playoff rotation. For Milwaukee, the spotlight now shifts to bigger goals, including a first 100-win season and the chance to secure a postseason bye, with Baldwins impact serving as one more reminder that this team is peaking at the right time. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Hand Kyle Harrison A Rotation Chance He Can't Waste
The Brewers are reshuffling their rotation and giving Kyle Harrison a fresh look in a spot that suddenly matters. The left-hander will start Thursdays series finale against the Pirates, a notable turn after a rough recent stretch, but also a reminder that Milwaukee still sees enough in him to keep working him back into a starting role. Dustin Mays next outing has been pushed to Friday against the Orioles, clearing the way for Harrison to get the ball.
It is a chance Harrison probably needed after his last three appearances went off track, especially compared with the stronger run he put together earlier in the season. Before the slump, he had given Milwaukee a useful stretch over 21 appearances, and now the Brewers are asking him to show that version again. For a team trying to keep its pitching plan moving in the right direction, this is the kind of opportunity that cant be wasted. [Read more 🡒]