With the Green Bay Packers leading 21-6 entering the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Wild Card game, head coach Matt LaFleur probably felt pretty good about his team.
The Packers, however, completely fell apart in the fourth quarter, as the Bears, led by quarterback Caleb Williams, scored 25 points and defeated Green Bay 31-27 to advance in the NFL playoffs.
After watching the Packers’ collapse, the NFL world erupted into calls for LaFleur to be fired.
NFL World Called For Packers HC Matt LaFleur To Be Fired
Former Packers quarterback Kurt Benkert, who played five seasons in the NFL, had a short, tight message after watching Green Bay fall apart. “This is 100% on LaFleur,” he wrote on X.
Bill Simmons, who hosts “The Bill Simmons Podcast” on Ringer, was even clearer about who should be blamed for the collapse. “Matt LaFleur’s second half has to be on the short list of worst playoff coaching performances this century,” Simmons posted on X.
Matt LaFleur’s second half has to be on the short list of worst playoff coaching performances this century.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) January 11, 2026
While watching the Packers’ game, former Packers great James Jones appeared on “Speakeasy,” a podcast hosted by former NFL player Emmanuel Acho. On the clip, Jones wondered if talks about a contract extension for LaFleur are now up in the air.
“After this game, they were supposed to meet about a contract extension,” Jones said. “I don’t know how you still have that meeting and talk about an extension. LaFleur’s my dog, LaFleur’s a heck of a head coach. Since he came in there, he’s won games.
“I don’t know how you let Matt LeFleur walk back in the room”
– @89JonesNTAF on Matt LeFleur’s scheduled contract extension that was scheduled to happen after the Packers vs Bears game
WE ARE LIVE RIGHT NOW, SO COME JOIN THE DISCUSSION ➡️ https://t.co/f4H3dQB55c pic.twitter.com/3z9c9jwSu6
— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) January 11, 2026
“But the way the Packers have finished the past couple of years, losing so many close games, you get into the playoffs. At halftime, you have a 21-3 lead. Not against a team that’s better than you. A team that you are better than,” Jones continued.
“You wasn’t playing the champions, the Philadelphia Eagles,” Jones said. “You wasn’t playing the Patty Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs. You were playing Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears in Ben Johnson’s first season and a team that you are better than and you give up a 21-3 lead at the half?”
Eli Berkovits of 247Sports wrote after the game ended, “I don’t give a **t about regular season records… If Matt Lafleur is still the coach of this team come Tuesday, then we know they have zero intent on being a real franchise.”
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Later on, Berkovits added more thoughts after the game was over. He posted on X, “I’ve never been more embarrassed to be a #Packers fan. Matt Lafleur shouldn’t be on the team plane home tonight. The worst loss I’ve ever witnessed.”
Matt Verderame, who writes about the NFL for Sports Illustrated, wondered what would happen to LaFleur if the Packers lost. Verderame posted on X, “If the Packers lose this game, I have no idea how LaFleur survives. This is an inexcusable disaster.”
If the Packers lose this game, I have no idea how LaFleur survives. This is an inexcusable disaster.
— Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) January 11, 2026
So, while quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense, which is ranked seventh in the league according to PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, were rolling in the first half, they just could not put things together in the second half.
LaFleur exchanged a very short postgame handshake with Bears head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson and LaFleur have not had the greatest history between them.
With an offseason now staring them in the eyes, the Packers’ organization has to make a decision. Will they keep or fire LaFleur? Packers fans will be watching closely to see what the team does, especially if a contract extension is on the table.
