Ex-Packers QB Calls for Big Changes From HC Matt LaFleur
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Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers.
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Kurt Benkert has never been shy about critiquing his old team, and after the Packers’ ugly 16–13 home loss to the Carolina Panthers, he’s doubled-down on his assertion that head coach Matt LaFleur should give up playcalling.
Green Bay’s offense looked flat and predictable against the Panthers, especially in the red zone, where they went 1-for-5. They also turned the ball over twice on offense, which is uncharacteristic.
Benkert spent 2021 and part of 2022 in Green Bay as a practice squad QB. He became a preseason fan favorite, and played on the scout team behind Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love before he was released in June of 2022. He never threw a pass in a regular season game, but did appear once, kneeling down to end a 2021 matchup.
The ex-Packers QB had previously stated on his former “Benkert and Blevins Bros” podcast back in 2023 that he “butted heads” with LaFleur, so there could be some sour grapes involved here, too.
More on Why Ex-Packers QB Kurt Benkert Wants Matt LaFleur to Stop Calling Plays
GettyFormer Green Bay Packers QB Kurt Benkert thinks coach Matt LaFleur should give up playcalling.
“He was just unloading on me every day, and I didn’t take it anymore, and that’s why I ended up getting cut,” Benkert said about LaFleur and his time with Green Bay during the 2022 offseason (h/t Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).
“Transparently, that’s why I ended up leaving the Packers. It was one of the least enjoyable work situations I’ve ever been a part of and I did not want to play there anymore. And it kind of left a really sour taste in my mouth, because I freaking loved Green Bay.”
Since his playing days, Benkert has kept busy working as an NFL analyst and podcaster, and he doesn’t keep his criticisms limited to the folks in Green Bay. That said, should his thoughts about his former team carry more weight because of his inside knowledge of LaFleur and company? Maybe.
But Benkert’s argument falls a tad flat when you consider the Packers have converted 49 of 100 third-down attempts this season, which ranks second in the NFL currently.
The Packers have also piled up 2,883 total yards, averaging a healthy 360.4 yards per game. They’ve scored 206 points, averaging 25.8 per game, which should be enough to win most Sundays. Love had already thrown for 2,071 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Who Could Take the Reins From LaFleur if it Goes That Way?
So, let’s say LaFleur actually does what Benkert suggests, and gives up playcalling. Who would take over? The most obvious answer is offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich. He’s been LaFleur’s right-hand man and already knows the system front to back. Handing duties over to him likely be the smoothest transition.
There’s also a sneaky second option in Luke Getsy, who is back in Green Bay as a senior assistant after serving as OC in Chicago and Las Vegas. He has recent playcalling experience, he knows LaFleur’s base offense from his first Packers stint and he could give the scheme a slightly different rhythm without blowing things up.
Benkert initially called for LaFleur to relinquish playcalling duties on October 19, after the Packers squeaked past the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23. Now, after their second ugly loss of the season (the first came at the hands of the Cleveland Browns), the ex-QB is back to calling for his former coach to give up the call sheet once again. We doubt LaFleur is listening.
Ravens' deadline day silence will frustrate fans (but it might be the right move)
The Baltimore Ravens did not cross the finish line on any deal ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. They had already made three moves ahead of deadline day, and despite the frenzy that went on Tuesday, General Manager Eric DeCosta and Baltimore’s front office stood pat.
The decision to stay out of the action certainly angered some fans. As the team sits at 3-5, it is clear they need more help. The Ravens are on a two-game winning streak and are once again favored to win the AFC North in 2025, but struggling play of the interior offensive and defensive lines have been obvious even through their recent success.
Still, it may have been a smarter idea to stay out of the frenzy than to enter the bidding wars.
Ravens make smart move, steer clear of overpays
The most notable player that fans will say the Ravens should have traded for is new Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Baltimore finds themselves in a deep need for interior defensive line help with Nnamdi Madubuike out for the year, and while DeCosta likely did his due diligence inquiring about the three-time Pro Bowler, the price was simply too high.
The Cowboys could outbid nearly everyone on Tuesday. Even if Baltimore were to meet the luxury price of a first-round pick, a second-round pick, and a player like defensive tackle Mazi Smith, Dallas would have easily been able to outbid them.
While the Ravens are expected to have a ton of picks by the time the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around, most of those are late day three selections. Seeing how most effective contributors moved cost earlier day three capital at minimum, and in several cases, far more than that, it was wise to move forward with the current 53-man roster, and let the earlier acquisitions of safety Alohi Gilman and outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones make their impact.
For some targets, including seemingly perfect fits of defensive lineman Calais Campbell and offensive guard Kevin Zeitler, Baltimore would have had to fork up a projected comp pick in addition to the pick(s) they would have traded in a potential deal. That would have unnecessarily doubled the price on some trade candidates.
Overall, the move will likely be to focus on positional upgrades to the offensive and defensive lines in the offseason. The trade deadline always drives up the price to an extreme, and with such a slow start to their 2025 campaign, it would have been a major risk to go all-in at the trade deadline. The deals they already finalized should work out fine. Fans will have to wait and see how it plays out.
