The Green Bay Packers are ready to take that next step. After moving on from Aaron Rodgers in favor of Jordan Love, Green Bay has made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. They also increased their win total from 9 to 11 in those years.
However, general manager Brian Gutekunst got some troubling news before the start of the season.
According to new Packers president Ed Policy, head coach Matt LaFleur and general manager Brian Gutekunst won’t be extended before the season:
LaFleur and Gutekunst each have two years remaining on their contracts.
Policy said he is “generally opposed” to the head coach and General Manager working as lame ducks.
That means LaFleur and Gutekunst are expected to either have contract extensions this time next year or the Packers will fire them after the 2025 season.
“I think normally, you have a pretty good idea of where that relationship is going when you have two years left — not always, but normally,” Policy said. “But it creates a lot of issues because they also have to hire a staff. . . . Generally speaking, I would avoid lame-duck status. It’s oftentimes difficult on everybody involved, but there are certain situations that probably call for it. So I would not say never.”
Policy takes over as Packers president and CEO on July 25 after Mark Murphy reaches his mandatory retirement age of 70. He has been with the team for 13 seasons and was on the hiring panels for both Gutekunst and LaFleur.
“You’ve got three exceptional people doing an exceptional job right now and working well together,” Policy said of LaFleur, Gutekunst and executive vice president/director of football operations Russ Ball. “I feel very good about all three of those individuals. I love them. I trust them. I respect them. . . . I have terrific relationships, both working and personal, with them.”
Here is a look at Gutekunst’s career:
As a staff member / executive: |
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