If you are a fan of the National Football League (NFL), you might have heard of two coaches with the same last name: Mike LaFleur and Matt LaFleur. Are they related? The answer is yes, they are blood brothers. Mike is the younger sibling of Matt, who is the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. Mike is currently the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, after serving as the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 2021. Here are some facts you need to know about the LaFleur brothers and their coaching careers.
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A Family of Coaches
The LaFleur brothers hail from a family with a rich background in Michigan coaching. Their father, Denny LaFleur, was a football coach at Mount Pleasant High School for 25 years, where he won three state championships. Their mother, Kristi LaFleur, was also a teacher and coach at the same school. According to Heavy.com, both Mike and Matt played quarterback and safety for their father’s team. They also have a sister, Maggie, who played basketball at Central Michigan University.
College and Early Coaching Years
Mike and Matt both attended Elmhurst College in Illinois, where they played football for the Bluejays. Mike was a team captain and a three-time letter winner as a quarterback and safety, while Matt was a two-time letter winner as a quarterback and wide receiver. They both graduated with bachelor’s degrees in physical education in 2009.
Mike started his coaching career as an offensive assistant at Elmhurst College in 2009, working with the quarterbacks. He then moved to Saint Joseph’s College in Indiana, where he coached the quarterbacks in 2010 and became the offensive coordinator in 2011-2012. He also served as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at Davidson College in 2013.
Matt began his coaching career as an offensive assistant at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan in 2003. He then coached at Central Michigan University, Northern Michigan University, Ashland University and Houston Texans before joining the Washington Redskins as the quarterbacks coach in 2010-2013.
NFL Coaching Careers
Mike got his first NFL position as an offensive intern for the Cleveland Browns in 2014, under offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. He followed Shanahan to Atlanta Falcons as an offensive assistant in 2015-2016, where he worked with Matt Ryan and Julio Jones. He then joined Shanahan again at San Francisco 49ers as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2017-2020, where he helped develop players like George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. He also helped the 49ers reach the Super Bowl LIV in 2019.
Matt also worked with Shanahan at Washington Redskins as the quarterbacks coach in 2010-2013, where he coached Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins. He then became the quarterbacks coach for Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2014, before returning to the NFL as the quarterbacks coach for Atlanta Falcons in 2015-2016. He was part of the Falcons team that reached the Super Bowl LI in 2016. He then became the offensive coordinator for Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and Tennessee Titans in 2018, before being hired as the head coach of Green Bay Packers in 2019. He has led the Packers to three consecutive NFC North titles and two NFC Championship games.
The Brothers’ Relationship
According to The Los Angeles Times, Mike and Matt have a close but competitive relationship. They often talk on the phone and exchange ideas about football. They also support each other’s teams, unless they are playing against each other. They have faced each other twice as coaches: once in 2019, when Matt’s Packers beat Mike’s 49ers 34-17; and once in 2020, when Mike’s 49ers beat Matt’s Packers 37-8.
Mike has described himself as more laid-back than Matt, who is more emotional and intense. He also said that he looked up to his older brother growing up and wanted to be around him all the time. Matt has joked that he saw his younger brother as a “pest” at times growing up, but also praised him for his football knowledge and creativity.
The LaFleur brothers are among the rising stars of NFL coaching, with impressive resumes and achievements. They are also proud of their family ties and their shared passion for football.
