The Green Bay Packers are following the NFL trend by hiring what they hope is the next, young, up and coming offensive mind.
39-year-old Matt LaFleur is expected to be formally introduced as the 15th Head Coach in franchise history this week after multiple outlets reported late Monday afternoon that President and CEO Mark Murphy and General Manager Brian Gutekunst decided to hire LaFleur after a whirlwind weekend of candidate interviews.
LaFleur spent last season as the offensive coordinator and primary play caller for the Tennessee Titans under first-year Head Coach Mike Vrabel.
The Mount Pleasant, Michigan native has climbed the ranks rapidly over the past couple of seasons. He got his first NFL job as a quality control assistant with Houston in 2008 where his paths crossed for the first time with former Denver and Washington Head Coach Mike Shanahan and his son Kyle.
LaFleur was asked to join the Shanahans in Washington where he was an offensive assistant and quarterback coach from 2010 to 2013. He helped guide Robert Griffin III to the NFL's offensive rookie of the year award in 2012.
After a one year stint with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2014, LaFleur reunited with Kyle Shanahan in Altanta as quarterbacks coach and helped Matt Ryan earn his only MVP award as the Falcons reached the Super Bowl. He followed Atlanta's offensive coordinator Sean McVay to Los Angeles to become the OC with the Rams, tutoring rookie Jared Goff in 2017.
Wanting to be a play caller, LaFleur joined Vrabel's staff after being interviewed for the Head Coaching job in Nashville.
The Packers interviewed LaFleur on Sunday and he was the last of eight candidates considered. Details of the contract are now being worked out but part of the deal reportedly will have LeFleur retain much of Mike McCarthy's defensive staff including coordinator Mike Pettine.
So what kind of coach is LaFleur?
I've called on two colleagues from Nashville, including Jim Wyatt, the lead writer for TitansOnline who says LeFleur appears to be cut from the same Shanahan and McVay cloth.
(Audio: Jim Wyatt)
Also sharing thoughts on the Packers new coach is former Oiler and Titan safety Blaine Bishop who admits the Packers may have signed away the next young gun Head Coach:
(Audio: Blaine Bishop)
While the Titans offense under LaFleur ranked 25th overall, as you heard, injuries to the quarterback, top tight end and others derailed his plans. Don't forget, the San Francisco 49ers offense in 2005 was ranked 31st in the league but the Packers brought aboard another young, first time Head Coach in Mike McCarthy and come to think of it, that worked out pretty well.