Matt LaFleur - Head Coach, packers Event: Press Conference | Date: 2026-09-16 | Full transcript (primary source).
Matt LaFleur, Head Coach of the Green Bay Packers, addressed the media during a press conference on September 16, 2026, following the team's recent game. The session focused on the performance of players and strategies as the Packers prepare for their upcoming matchups in the NFL season.
Transcript
LaFleur: Yeah, we've only gone against him a couple of times. Last time was in Seattle, and he ended up having to leave the game. But he's a guy that has certainly just is battle tested. He's fought through some adversity, and he's come out the other side. I mean, he's a really good quarterback. And yesterday, all the different ways you can utilize Adrian Cooper from an offensive perspective when you're facing a linebacker who can do so many things. Just what's the challenge?
LaFleur: Yeah, that presents a lot of challenges in regards to where is he going to line. And then he's just a playmaker out there. So just trying to get to him on the second level in the run game can be a challenge. He's just a really talented player that I think is just scratching the surface.
LaFleur: I just loved how he competed. And it was down in and down out. And there were some tough competitive catches that were made on him. But he was there in coverage in a good position. And sometimes that's just how life is in the NFL. But I thought he had one of his most complete games, I would say, in my time here.
LaFleur: Well, I think there was a ton of opportunities, right? I think it was 20 rushes or whatever it was. So I just think getting more ops. And obviously, in order to do that, you've got to stay ahead of the sticks. You've got to be out of those second and really long situations or third and long situations. And you've got to move the chains.
LaFleur: I think every game is going to be a little bit different. It just depends a lot on kind of what you're facing, what the situation could be. Certainly, it would have been nice to be able to lean on on that later in that game, right? And we didn't do that. And then you saw what happened. So I think it's always important. I think when you can establish a running game or be willing to run it, it opens up a lot of things in the passing game.
LaFleur: Yeah, I think they've got good edge rushers and they're big inside. And so, you know, McDonald and Bailey obviously are very talented. JJ had a sack versus Tennessee. So I think they've definitely upgraded the talent on that defense. We saw them last year in the preseason, but it's really tough to get a great evaluation on that. But I think they're a complete football team. I don't see any glaring weaknesses. I think they're just really sound. They play really hard. I think it's a complete team.
LaFleur: Yeah, I think it's early on in the season. So I think you have to lean into that a little bit in terms of just you definitely see the same style of play, whether the coverages or some of the fronts and pressures may be a little bit different. But one thing you know you're going to get, you're going to get a team that plays extremely hard. They're going to be very physical. They take on his mentality.
LaFleur: Well, he'll be back out there at practice and we're trying to get him ramped up, ready to go. But again, that's a process that we'll kind of, we'll take through the week.
LaFleur: Well, I think that's to be seen, but I would expect them to react positively. I think they're going to take the coaching. They're going to take it to heart. I know that's a prideful group. And we're just looking to get a little bit better each and every day.
LaFleur: Well, I think we've seen enough exposure of that group individually to go out there and collectively play good as a whole.
LaFleur: Yeah, I think both backs are extremely explosive. Obviously, Allen's a bigger back. Breeze is, I mean, we've seen him a couple of years ago and saw what he was capable of doing. I think you saw, I think he's back to who he is. Just based on that one game exposure this year, just super explosive, very powerful, can make you miss in the hole, has the speed to get around the corner. I think their old line is a really good unit. I think it's one of the better ones we'll probably see all year. So I think it's a pretty good challenge for us.
LaFleur: The one thing you know about Jordan Love, he is right here every day. He's so consistent and he's just ready to get back to work.
LaFleur: I think every player can. Each and every week's a new week in this league. That's why you're only as good as your last game. So he's a guy that I don't worry about. He comes to work every day with a great attitude, great energy, and he goes out there and performs. And so it's not a surprise to me what he's been able to do.
LaFleur: I think I just kind of explained that in terms of they're going to fly around, they're going to hit you, they're going to play aggressive, they're going to get hands on you at all three levels, and they're just a really scrappy, competitive group. And I think he does a good job schematically presenting different challenges. And so we just got to, we definitely got to focus on us in regards to making sure that we're on all our details so we can go out and play at the level that I think we're capable of playing.
LaFleur: Yeah, I think it was great. I mean, we had a couple of explosives out of 13 personnel, not only in the past game, but in the run game as well. And just his ability, he's played a lot of football. And so you can move him around. He still has a lot of juice in his legs, I think. And I mean, you saw it on the big completion, on the keeper. So, and he's just, he's a pro's pro. Like the guy, he's a great guy for everybody in the locker room to see how he goes about his business.
