For the LaFleur’s, coaching runs in the family. Their father, Denny, was a longtime assistant football coach. Meanwhile, their mother, Kristi, coached track and cheerleading. It is not a surprise that Matt and Mike’s careers led them to coach.
The odds of two brothers not only coaching in the NFL but also becoming head coaches are extraordinarily slim. Yet that’s exactly the situation the LaFleur family finds itself in.
Matt became the head coach of the Packers in 2019, successfully leading the franchise from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love. Now, Mike has been hired as the head coach of the Cardinals.
Despite years of coaching overlap, this is the first meeting between the two as head coaches. Both teams have an opportunity to show progress and provide their fan bases with hope ahead of the regular season.
The LaFleur’s Outlook: Analyzing the Packers and Cardinals for 2026
Matt and Mike couldn’t find themselves in more opposite scenarios this season. Matt is trying to get the Packers back on top of the NFC North and has a legitimate shot at a Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, Mike finds himself in a more impossible situation. The Cardinals have long been dysfunctional and have not had recent success. In a results-based business, first time head coaches rarely solve all the issues in the first year.
Matt couldn’t have landed in a better organization to begin as a head coach. Surely, Matt will have plenty of wisdom to give Mike coming into this role.
The last game of the preseason seems fitting for the first time to face as head coaches. Rosters will be coming into shape, playbooks finalized, the focus will be on the season ahead.
The Cardinals are coming off a sloppy preseason game against the Cowboys. Mike did not mince words on the team’s performance. Meanwhile, the Packers are coming off a solid all-around win in Denver.
Friday at Lambeau Field will be a surreal moment for the LaFleur family. However, we know for coaches there is one thing that matters and that is winning. Preseason or not, expect to see the competitive nature of two brothers who are now both Head Coaches in the NFL.
