The Green Bay Packers secured stability last week when head coach Matt LaFleur signed a contract extension that will keep him at the helm for years to come.
But even with the future settled in Green Bay, LaFleur now faces the prospect of a familiar challenge: coaching against his younger brother, Mike LaFleur, who was recently named head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.
When asked what he would say to his younger self if he knew both he and his brother would one day become NFL head coaches, Matt didn’t hold back.
Related:
- Super Bowl 2026: Date, time, location, and everything to know
- Where to watch the Super Bowl 2026? TV channel and streaming
- Super Bowl Halftime Show 2026: Everything about Bad Bunny’s performance
- How much do tickets for the Super Bowl cost in 2026?
- Super Bowl Winners List: All teams that have won the Vince Lombardi
“I’d say you’re full of s**t,” he joked, laughing during the interview, according to Tyler Drake of A to Z Sports.
“It’s just, yeah, it is pretty surreal. Humble beginnings, my dad at Central Michigan. I played, I walked on at Western Michigan and played D2 ball.
“Mike played at Elmhurst College, D3 ball. We have a really great appreciation for guys that are essentially playing for the love of the game. I think that is kind of in our core who we are.”
The similar path of the LaFleur brothers
Mike LaFleur‘s path to the NFL mirrors that of his older brother in many ways.
He started as an offensive intern with the Cleveland Browns in 2014 and gradually worked his way up the coaching ladder, serving as the Rams‘ offensive coordinator from 2023 to 2025 before earning his first head coaching job in Arizona.
For Matt, the journey has also been shaped by relationships and mentorships forged along the way. “We’ve been so fortunate to be around so many great people,” he said.
“I say it all the time, I don’t think I’m standing here today if I hadn’t developed a relationship with Robert Saleh when we were cutting our teeth at Central Michigan University as [graduate assistants]. Just living in not the best situation, but those are great memories.”
Although the Packers and Cardinals aren’t scheduled to meet in the 2026 regular season, the LaFleur brothers could eventually square off in the playoffs, setting up one of the NFL‘s most intriguing sibling rivalries.
When will the LaFleur brothers face off?
Fans may get to watch a strategic chess match where both sides share a deep understanding of football philosophy, honed over years of parallel journeys from smaller colleges to the NFL spotlight.
For the LaFleur family, it’s a surreal moment, a testament to the combination of hard work, mentorship, and a love of the game that started long before either brother stepped onto an NFL sideline.
And for the league, it’s a reminder of how personal storylines can intersect with professional success, creating drama, excitement, and a touch of humor along the way.
No matter when it happens, seeing Matt and Mike LaFleur face off on the NFL stage promises to be a unique spectacle – one rooted in family, football, and years of dedication to the sport.
Read the full article here
