GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers are signaling a long-term commitment to their leadership team, announcing multiyear contract extensions for General Manager Brian Gutekunst, Executive Vice President/Director of Football Operations Russ Ball, and Head Coach Matt LaFleur on Friday.
Packers Secure Future with Key Leadership Extensions
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The moves come after a 9-8-1 season and the team’s sixth playoff appearance in the last seven years, despite a recent postseason skid.
- Gutekunst and Ball joined LaFleur in receiving contract extensions.
- The extensions follow a season where the Packers reached the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
- Despite a disappointing playoff loss to the Chicago Bears, the organization expressed confidence in its current leadership.
Packers President and CEO Ed Policy stated, “We are excited to extend our commitment to Brian, Matt and Russ as the leaders of our football operations.” He emphasized their “steadfast dedication, passion and collaboration” as crucial to the team’s pursuit of championship contention. Policy acknowledged the disappointment of the season’s end but affirmed the organization’s alignment and collaborative efforts toward a future path.
“I am exceedingly confident we have the right people to achieve our goal,” Policy added. “The entire Packers organization looks forward to supporting every effort to bring our community and fans another championship that they very much deserve.”
LaFleur’s Consistent Success
Matt LaFleur has compiled a 76-40-1 regular-season record during his seven years as head coach, leading the Packers to the playoffs in all but one season. His tenure includes appearances in the NFC championship game in both 2019 and 2020. Notably, the Packers have secured the NFC’s seventh and final playoff seed in each of the last three seasons.
Gutekunst has been a member of the Packers’ front office for 27 seasons, while Ball is entering his 38th NFL season and 19th with the Packers. Both were appointed to their current positions in January 2018, preceding LaFleur’s arrival by one year.
Bold Moves and Future Outlook
Gutekunst demonstrated a willingness to plan for the future when he orchestrated a trade in the 2020 draft to select Utah State quarterback Jordan Love, even while Aaron Rodgers was still the team’s starter. Following Rodgers’ subsequent MVP awards in 2020 and 2021, Gutekunst traded him to the New York Jets in April 2023, officially handing the reins to Love.
Under Love’s leadership, the Packers have reached the playoffs in each of his three seasons as a starter, though they have yet to advance past the divisional round. The Packers’ 2023 and 2024 teams were recognized by the Elias Sports Bureau as the youngest teams, in terms of weighted age, to reach the playoffs since 1980.
In a significant 2025 trade, Gutekunst acquired All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons from Dallas. The Packers traded veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark and their first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027 to secure Parsons, who unfortunately suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Dec. 14, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
The Packers’ 2023-2024 season concluded with a 31-27 road loss to the Chicago Bears in an NFC wild-card playoff game on January 11, 2026, marking a five-game losing streak. One of those defeats occurred in the regular-season finale when the Packers rested their starters.
