The silence in the visitor's locker room at Soldier Field last Saturday night was basically deafening. You could hear a pin drop, if that pin was made of pure, unadulterated heartbreak. The Green Bay Packers didn't just lose a football game; they handed over a 21-3 halftime lead to their oldest rivals in a way that’s going to haunt the frozen tundra for a long, long time.
Honestly, it feels a bit surreal. One minute, Jordan Love is carving up the Chicago secondary like a seasoned vet, and the next, Caleb Williams is leading a 25-point fourth-quarter explosion that sent the Packers packing.
This isn't just another early exit. This one feels different. The Green Bay Packers latest news isn't just about a final score of 31-27; it’s about a franchise suddenly standing at a massive crossroads with its head coach, its special teams, and a roster that looks a lot more fragile than we thought.
The Matt LaFleur Situation: Is the Seat Actually Hot?
If you asked this two weeks ago, people would’ve called you crazy. Matt LaFleur has 76 wins. He’s the fourth-winningest coach in the history of a team that literally has a statue of Vince Lombardi outside the stadium. But the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" business, and lately, the Packers keep blowing second-half leads.
Four times this season. Four.
They had double-digit leads in the second half of four different games this year and lost all of them, including the big one against Chicago. That’s not just bad luck. That’s a pattern. Now, rumors are swirling that LaFleur’s contract extension talks have hit a snag. ESPN’s Adam Schefter even dropped the "up in the air" bomb, suggesting that if a deal doesn't get inked soon, other teams might actually call the Packers to trade for him.
Could you imagine?
There’s even wild chatter about John Harbaugh being a potential target if the Packers decide to move on. Harbaugh just left Baltimore after nearly two decades, and his agent is the son of former Packers president Bob Harlan. The ties are there. It’s probably a long shot, but the fact that we're even talking about it shows how much that Wild Card collapse shook the foundation of the front office.
That Kicking Curse Just Won't Die
We have to talk about Brandon McManus. Look, being an NFL kicker is a brutal job, but the math is getting ugly. McManus missed two field goals and an extra point on Saturday. One of those was a 44-yarder with less than three minutes left that would’ve basically iced the game.
He missed six field goals in the regular season, too.
The Packers are on the hook for a decent chunk of change with him—he has two years left on a $15.3 million deal—but Brian Gutekunst might just swallow the $5 million dead cap hit to find someone who can actually hit a pressure kick. They already signed Lucas Havrisik to a reserve/future contract. Havrisik was solid when he filled in earlier this year, even nailing a 61-yarder. Don't be surprised if there's a full-blown kicking competition in training camp.
Jordan Love and the "What If" Season
Jordan Love's stats from the Chicago game look great on paper. 323 yards. 4 touchdowns. No interceptions. But that final play? The fumbled snap? It was a messy ending to a season where Love proved he’s "the guy," even if he couldn't pull out the miracle finish.
He finished the 2025 regular season with 3,381 yards and 23 touchdowns against only 6 picks. That’s elite efficiency. But he’s also lost a lot of his help. The injury list at the end of the year was a CVS receipt of pain:
- Micah Parsons (The big trade acquisition who went down early)
- Tucker Kraft (Potential historic season cut short by the knee)
- Elgton Jenkins (The anchor of the line)
- Zach Tom (Now looking at surgery for a torn patellar tendon)
When you lose your best pass rusher, your best blocker, and your breakout tight end, the margin for error disappears. Love was playing hero ball because he had to.
Moving Toward the 2026 NFL Draft
Because of the Micah Parsons trade with Dallas, the Packers don't have a first-round pick this year. That’s the price of poker. They are currently slated to pick at 52nd overall in the second round.
Gutekunst is going to have to be a wizard on Day 2. The needs are pretty obvious:
- Interior Defensive Line: They need a "glass eater" in the middle. Someone like Caleb Banks from Florida if he falls, or maybe Zane Durant from Penn State later on.
- Running Back: Josh Jacobs is a stud, but he’s getting older. MarShawn Lloyd hasn't quite blossomed yet. Keep an eye on Le'Veon Moss from Texas A&M as a Day 3 sleeper.
- Offensive Line Depth: With Zach Tom’s surgery and pending free agents like Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan, they need bodies. Drew Shelton from Penn State is a name that fits the Packers' zone-blocking profile perfectly.
Is Jeff Hafley Leaving Too?
As if the LaFleur drama wasn't enough, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is a hot name for head coaching vacancies. He’s already got an interview lined up with the Tennessee Titans, and the Falcons and Raiders are reportedly interested too.
The players love him. Xavier McKinney and Keisean Nixon have been vocal about wanting him back. But LaFleur himself said he "fully anticipates" Hafley getting a head job. Losing your DC right after a playoff collapse usually means a total system reset, which is the last thing a young defense needs.
What Happens Next
The "we ain't goin' nowhere" mantra from the locker room is nice, but the roster is going to look very different by August. Romeo Doubs, Quay Walker, and Kingsley Enagbare are all heading toward free agency or contract crossroads.
Actionable Insights for the Offseason:
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- Monitor the LaFleur Extension: If there’s no news by February, start taking those trade rumors seriously.
- Watch the Kicker Market: The Packers will likely bring in at least two more legs to compete with Havrisik.
- Free Agency Focus: Expect Gutekunst to prioritize cheap, veteran offensive line depth to protect Love while Tom recovers from surgery.
- Draft Strategy: Without a first-rounder, look for the Packers to potentially trade back from 52 to recoup more middle-round picks to fill the holes left by departing free agents.
The 2025 season was a wild ride that ended in a ditch in Chicago. How the front office reacts to this specific failure will define the Jordan Love era in Green Bay.