Back in 2019, now to be known as the former CEO of the Green Bay Packers, Mark Murphy brought in Matt LaFleur as the head coach of his team. At the time, LaFleur was a relative unknown, but Murphy saw something in him. And in their five years of journey together, LaFleur didn’t disappoint. The team recorded three consecutive 13-win seasons, and under LaFleur, the Packers were particularly strong at home. In 2025, as LaFleur fights to keep his position under the incoming President Ed Policy, he has taken time to publicly recognize the man who gave him his first shot at leading an NFL team, offering a heartfelt tribute that doubled as a subtle reflection on the uncertainty ahead.

Together, LaFleur and Murphy prided themselves on stability: on being a franchise where legacy, loyalty, and leadership matter as much as wins and Super Bowls. But with the President and CEO officially entering retirement, that sense of institutional continuity is now being tested. Murphy’s tenure, spanning 18 years, was marked not just by operations but by character. As Mayor Eric Genrich proclaimed July 25, 2025, ‘Mark Murphy Day,’ praising him as “humble” and “thoughtful” and underscoring his role in community transformation, including developing Titletown and landing the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.

In his final season at the helm of one of the NFL’s most iconic franchises, Mark Murphy is receiving the praise he’s long earned, yet none have words more poignant than from LaFleur himself. The GreenBay Bay Press-Gazette’s Ryan Wood shared the words LaFleur said to the media as Murphy spent his last day in the office. The Packers’ head coach reflected on his time with Murphy.

He told the media, “I think for me personally, just the opportunity and the support he’s given us to allow us to do not only our job, but look at all the resources that the organization has invested back into this team. It’s pretty incredible. I’ve never been a part of anything like this. The facilities are first-class. I would say how we travel, how we operate on a daily basis has been nothing short of first class.”

It wasn’t just sentiment. Under Murphy’s watch, Green Bay’s facilities, travel, and daily operations became elite factors LaFleur credits for enabling early success. And each of those foundations helped GM Brian Gutekunst land key talent and draft picks. His tenure ended this month, as he has reached the Packers’ mandatory retirement age of 70 for the board of directors, of which Murphy serves as the head.

But as LaFleur’s heartfelt tribute to Mark Murphy echoed through Green Bay, a more pressing reality emerged, one that puts less weight on gratitude and far more on performance. With a new season right on the horizon, LaFleur finds himself in a lot of pressure, and Ed Policy is looking at each of his steps with a microscope.

Matt LaFleur’s job is under threat in the reign of the new President, Ed Policy

According to a detailed CBS Sports report, both Matt LaFleur and GM Brian Gutekunst enter the 2025 season with no contract extensions on the table. The reason? The new President Ed Policy has made it clear: leadership decisions will be based on results, not legacy. Policy said, “I’m generally opposed — I’d never say never — [but] I’m generally opposed to a coach or GM going into the last year of their contract. That creates a lot of issues. 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. So I think 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.” 

In the same presser where he bid farewell to Murphy, LaFleur also talked about Policy, he said, “We’ve got a great relationship. He’s a guy that I certainly have a lot of respect for. We’ve dealt closely working together through some of the coaching contracts and whatnot. What a great opportunity for him. Certainly going to miss Mark and everything he’s done for this place, but feel like we’re in great hands with a guy like Ed Policy.” A show of respect indeed, but respect doesn’t mean security. Policy brings a different approach—more business, less football. And unlike Murphy, he’s not handing out extensions early.

The standards are high, and the cushion is gone. CBS Sports outlines what must happen for LaFleur to remain the Packers’ HC for the 2026-27 season. For one, A 10+ win season, and preferably another playoff berth, seems necessary. Their star quarterback, Jordan Love, must continue his growth. In 2024, he threw for 3,389 yards, 25 TDs, and 11 INTs with a passer rating of 96.7, but struggled in big moments. Furthermore, free-agent investments like WR Matthew Golden and CB Nate Hobbs must pay off immediately. Talking about the stakes for the Packers, Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports, said, “If this group doesn’t take another step forward… LaFleur and Gutekunst will feel the heat.”

Matt LaFleur’s emotional farewell to Mark Murphy underscored just how much stability and support the former Packers president provided during a critical era of transition. But as Ed Policy steps in with a more results-driven approach, LaFleur’s future, along with GM Brian Gutekunst’s, hangs in the balance. With no contract extensions offered and postseason success now the measuring stick, the 2025 season becomes more than just another chapter. It’s a defining test of leadership, development, and whether the promise of the Love era can finally deliver when it matters most.