The Green Bay Packers blew an 18-point lead to the Chicago Bears on Saturday in what could be the final game of the Matt LaFleur Era. The longtime head coach was reportedly on the hot seat entering the Wild Card matchup, and this loss will not do anything to help his job security.
Top Matt LaFleur Team Fits, Ranked
As of this posting, the Packers have yet to decide on the future of Matt LaFleur. However, if they fire him, he should quickly find a new home as a head coach. Despite his postseason shortcomings, he’s 79-46-1 in the regular season and helped develop Jordan Love into one of the game’s better passers. As of this posting, eight franchises are looking for their next head coach, and Matt LaFleur makes sense for some organizations more than others.
Main Photo: Mark Hoffman – Imagn Images
8. Arizona Cardinals
Matt LaFleur makes the most sense for teams that either have a franchise quarterback or are in a position to land one. Unfortunately, the Arizona Cardinals do not fit this description. The team will almost certainly move on from quarterback Kyler Murray in the offseason, and the 2026 NFL Draft class doesn’t hold much hope for Arizona.
The Cardinals currently have the third-overall pick and, as of this posting, there are only two prospects with first-round grades in Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and Alabama’s Ty Simpson. Ultimately, the Cardinals don’t have the quarterback or roster to compete, so why would Matt LaFleur come here?
7. Cleveland Browns
If Matt LeFleur liked what he saw from Shedeur Sanders, then he might want to join the Cleveland Browns. However, there’s a good chance Sanders keeps him away from the job. Despite the off-field hype, the Colorado product played like a fifth-round pick. Starting seven games, the rookie completed just 56.6% of his passes for 1,400 yards, seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 44.1 PFF grade, the worst mark out of 39 eligible quarterbacks.
Just like the Cardinals, the Browns don’t have a clear way to upgrade the quarterback position in the 2026 NFL Draft. Sanders and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel don’t look like long-term answers, Deshaun Watson is still on the books, and the offense needs more building blocks. On the bright side, the defense is talented.
6. Miami Dolphins
Much like the Cardinals and Browns, the Miami Dolphins will likely change quarterbacks in the upcoming offseason. Even with Mike McDaniel gone, Tua Tagovailoa will probably not stick around for the 2026 season, and seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers didn’t do enough to earn the starting job next year.
While the quarterback is a major question mark, this roster has the talent to push for a Wild Card spot next year. If impending free agent Malik Willis follows Matt LaFleur to Miami, this team could put up a fight in a competitive AFC East.
5. Atlanta Falcons
This one will ultimately depend on what Matt LaFleur thinks of first-round pick Michael Penix. His overall body of work left a lot to be desired last year, but the team may be stuck with him for at least one more season. Atlanta traded their first-round pick last year, so the Falcons will either roll with Penix fresh off a knee injury or a journeyman free agent.
If LaFleur likes Penix (or believes he can sign Malik Willis), then the Falcons are a phenomenal fit. The rest of the roster is remarkably talented, and it shouldn’t be too hard for this team to compete in a wide-open NFC South.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
The most important part of any rebuild is the quarterback position, and the Raiders will have their pick of the litter in 2026. Armed with the first-overall pick and over $88.9 million in cap space, Vegas has the opportunity to reinvent itself if it makes the right moves in the offseason.
Don’t be mistaken, there is a lot of work to be done for this team. However, Matt LaFleur could welcome the opportunity to rebuild a team in his image from the ground up. Vegas has the resources to do this and becomes an exponentially better fit if LaFleur believes in either of the two big-name quarterback prospects.
3. Tennessee Titans
Once again, this one depends on what Matt LaFleur thinks of the established quarterback under center. First-overall pick Cam Ward didn’t have the most impressive numbers as a rookie, but it’s hard to blame him for not putting up star numbers in a disastrous environment. Nobody could succeed with terrible coaching, bad blocking, and poor weapons, but Ward had no shortage of highlights despite the surroundings.
Some stability could go a long way for Cam Ward, and Matt LaFleur could be the coach to bring that to the Miami product. Armed with a top-five pick and $96.7 million in cap space, the Titans could turn it around quickly with the right offseason moves.
2. New York Giants
Jaxson Dart is a fun player and looked like he had the tools of a franchise quarterback when healthy. However, he couldn’t stay out of harm’s way and would likely benefit from a coach who can create easy reads and quick throws.
Matt LaFleur excels at creating that type of offense and could be the best thing to happen to Dart. Despite their record, the Giants have some pieces on offense, and a coach like LaFleur could help Dart take the Year 2 leap and compete for a Wild Card spot.
1. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are easily the best landing spot for any head coach, and it’s safe to say Matt LaFleur would love to land there if the opportunity presents itself. Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks in the game, and everyone should be terrified of what he could do with an above-average offensive mind like LaFleur leading the charge.
The quarterback is the most important part of any roster, but the rest of the team still matters. Fortunately, Baltimore boasts a remarkably strong group of players and stable ownership to help this team reach its ceiling. If they land LaFleur, they should be Super Bowl favorites.
