When six non-Ravens HC openings existed, a report indicated seven teams reached out to John Harbaugh within minutes of his firing. Seven non-Baltimore openings are now present, with the Dolphins firing Mike McDaniel today. Another report, however, indicated as many as nine teams had contacted Harbaugh before the Miami development.
A Wednesday report indicated a push from a team playing in the wild-card round is a rumor floating out there, and Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio pinpoints two potentially interested clubs. The Bills and Packers are viewed by some around the league as teams to monitor with regards to lurking Harbaugh suitors.
Some other teams playing in the first round should not be completely disqualified from Harbaugh pursuits in the event of one-and-done playoff journeys, but Florio mentions Buffalo and Green Bay as the two being discussed the most. The Bills have employed Sean McDermott since 2017, and he has guided them to eight playoff berths. Matt LaFleur was a 2019 hire; he has missed the playoffs only one time since coming over from Tennessee.
LaFleur, though, may not be completely safe. The seventh-year Packers HC may need to win his first-round game to feel “completely” safe, per Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano, citing a feeling around the NFL on this situation. LaFleur is under contract through 2026, via the extension he signed in July 2022. New Packers president Ed Policy came out against lame-duck HCs, meaning a decision will need to be made on an extension before the 2026 season — and likely much earlier. Neither LaFleur nor GM Brian Gutekunst were extended before this season.
Green Bay successfully transitioned from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love under LaFleur. While Love has not flashed MVP-level form like Rodgers did by his third season at the controls, the successor has accounted himself well. Love finished third in QBR this season, finishing with 23 touchdown passes and six interceptions while averaging 7.7 yards per attempt. This came as the Packers played much of the season without Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft. The fast-emerging tight end’s unavailability has hurt the team’s passing attack, and the Packers’ defense has been without Micah Parsons since Week 15. LaFleur’s bunch sunk to 9-7-1, though the team did not play starters in Week 18.
The Pack booked three straight playoff byes from 2019-21 under LaFleur, venturing to two NFC championship games in that span. LaFleur’s decision to kick a field goal down eight in the final minutes of an NFC title game loss to the Buccaneers backfired, and his team went one-and-done as the No. 1 seed a year later. Although the Packers upset the No. 2-seeded Cowboys in Love’s first playoff game and then pushed the No. 1-seeded 49ers a week later, they lost to the Eagles in Round 1 last year. Though, the Eagles stampeding through the playoffs to a Super Bowl title did not make that loss look too bad.
The Bills are in a somewhat similar situation. LaFleur actually has as many conference championship game appearances as McDermott, despite the latter leading Josh Allen-led rosters for eight of his nine seasons. The Bills lost divisional-round games in three straight years before edging the Ravens to reach the AFC championship game last season.
Buffalo’s defense has regularly underwhelmed in marquee games against Kansas City, despite the AFC East powerhouse dominating that series in the regular season, and Allen (25:4 playoff TD:INT ratio) faces the prospect of turning 30 next year without a Super Bowl berth on his resume.
Harbaugh, 63, would seemingly be a fit for both teams due to neither being in rebuilding mode. The same cannot be said for a handful of the current lot of HC-needy teams. He will not take any interviews until next week, with Florio pointing to that timetable as matching up with the potential openings that could emerge after this weekend’s games. Harbaugh’s looming presence adds intrigue to the Packers and Bills’ opening-round contests.
As for the latest team to create a coaching vacancy, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson note the Dolphins have not reached out to Harbaugh yet. It would stand to reason that it is only a matter of time before that happens, however. But the Bills and/or the Packers entering this race could throw a wrench into other, less successful teams’ HC plans.
The Packers would be nuts to move on from LaFleur and he would immediately be the best HC candidate available.
Nope … underachieves. The perfect job for Harbaugh
He might be the most overrated. Compare him to his direct peers McVay and Shanahan. Both have been to multiple SBs and championship games. McVay won a sb. They each had multiple qbs who are not considered the best.
LeFleur had Aaron at the top of his game and got to 1 championship game. He get beat by the 2 peers often too. Didn’t beat Siranni who has also done more than him in a short time.
He got Rodgers to play at an MVP level when he’d been in decline and stagnation. He got Jordan Love playing at a high level. He got Malik Willis looking like a potential starter. I think he’s a top ten coach in the league and a precious commodity in a league where everyone wants a quarterback whisperer.
I simply dont think he wins enough big games to stay HC. Yes Harbaugh has underachieved as well but he would get more out of these players imo …
What big games has Dan Campbell won? How about Kevin O’Connell? Very few coaches actually make it to the Super Bowl and a lot of them “don’t win enough big games” until they break through and do.
Exactly. There is no way the Packers replace Lafleur and end up better. Who the F would they get?? Harbaugh would absolutely not be the answer.
9-7-1 says differently about what type of coach LaFluer is. They struggled badly a good portion of the season with a great roster.
If 9-7-1 is disappointing, especially in a very competitive division, then you must have set a very high baseline.
With the roster he has? Yeah, 9-7-1 is disappointing any way one slices it. Do I think he should be fired? No. But it might be time to bring in an offensive coordinator that calls the plays so the Head Coach can actually oversee the entirety of the game. Instead, I’ve watched LaFleur spend entire defensive drives sitting off to the side scribbling notes on his playsheet with his back to the action.
Their offensive line and outside corners desperately need reenforcing. LaFleur didn’t have his best season, but I’m seeing some wild overreaction here.
Not sure thinking he should bring in an offensive playcaller is a wild overreaction.
Seriously? Who would they bring who is better than Lafleur??
Is this really the kind of thing you want your HC to be reading 2 days before your Playoff Game? The Packers must be nuts to even let this story out in any form. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it. Wow
Injuries played a massive role..
Let’s compare. Harbaugh hasn’t been to a Super Bowl in more than decade and hasn’t been able to get it done with prime Lamar.
Prime Lamar isn’t saying much besides an oft injured (on his own accords) crack under pressure EVERY TIME qb. Lamar has show time and time again his football IQ is quite low for a supposedly elite qb.
@ ancient one- You lost me when you said he had Rodgers at the top of his game. That’s complete revisionist history. Rodgers was 36 when LaFleur arrived, and his prime ended 3 years prior.
It wouldn’t be nuts if they got Harbaugh
Harbaugh is a HUGE upgrade from LaFleur.
I’ve never seen such a perfect circle of fans thinking the grass is greener with each other’s coaches as this offseason.
@bronyaur- Harbaugh, who has won 1 playoff game in something like the last 8 seasons, is an upgrade over LaFleur?
MLF does not develop players. Period. He’s a terrible HC mostly because he can’t hire and his game management is atrocious.
So Malik Willis just magically went from garbage to starting-caliber quarterback by that logic?
Im in an increasingly small minority – but McDermott is a good coach. Im not ready to move on.
Thats not to say he’s perfect or even top tier, but the Bills roster isnt deep at all and we still somehow arrive at 12 wins.
He takes alot of unfair criticism.
Yes, Allen helps. But name a coach who doesn’t benefit from a top tier QB.
I agree with what youre saying but McDermott doesnt get enough out of his defenses and personnel. I know its tough to stop Patrick Mahones but Allen deserves more clutch players around him.
“More clutch players…” is a Beane issue. Perhaps its time for a different philosophy on roster construction.
Rousseau, Epenesa, Miller, now Bosa, were all paid by Beane to get to the QB. They really couldnt do it. They have to hope Bosa can generate a rush on Lawrence on sunday. Nobody could cover Kelce or the receivers as well. Defenders have to find a way.
The defensive injuries during the playoffs every single year really cloud the performance evaluation of the defense during those games, bur McD’s defenses (or his DC) never show up and close when needed. I agree McD is probably underappreciated, but he’s yet to out-coach another top coach in a big playoff game from what I’ve seen.. it’s always Josh trying to come back or stay ahead.
Again, if we’re pinning that on untimely injuries or roster construction (plenty of issues can be pinned to Beane), then ok – but simply getting a lot out of players in the regular season won’t get this team to a Superbowl.. let’s see if McD can do it this year without Big Ed and maybe Hairston/Bernard for a period.
I don’t think McDermott is a bad coach, but he seemingly finds a way to lose every big game. So many of his late-game schemes and calls are questionable. You can also justifiably wonder how much of his success is due to Josh Allen being so good (but you could also give him credit for Allen). This is his 9th year with the Bills and 8th with Josh Allen. Two AFC Championship games, both losses, so no Super Bowl appearances.
I don’t think he’s getting fired unless A) the Bills lose and B) it’s because of a McDermott blunder. Bills roster needs some work and their GM doesn’t have the best track record lately. Unless there’s a major error by McDermott this weekend, I think his job is safe.
I also like McDermott, I believe Beane is far more responsible for the Bills “troubles.” McDermott has established a winning culture and he is better than 90% of his contemporaries. That said, It is also undeniable that McDermott has made some memorable and game changing decisions that have massively contributed to Bills playoff losses. For whatever reason, the Bills have not gotten over the hump.
Josh’s prime is running out of time. If, and only if, there’s an option out there that you think can get just an extra ounce more from this bunch than Sean has, then you maybe have to take the leap. You know what you’re getting out of McDermott, and for the most part it’s been amazing. The trouble is it hasn’t been quite good enough.
The WR room.
Jordan Poyer and Jordan Phillips, Mathis playing real time. Groot has disappeared almost completely. DTs playing edge.
Defensive captain has been hugely under whelming (and hurt)
Broken down Tre White is still starting.
Still 12 wins. Second best pass defense – almost yearly. Still a leading offense.
If/When Sean goes, some Bills fans are gonna see the other side.
Its Beane who built this roster. McD hasn’t been as bad as some believe.
We are fully in agreement that Beane has put McD and the team into a position that’s less than ideal given the head start it has on talent with Allen, who Beane is obv also responsible for. And you’re absolutely right about the pass defense being strong annually.. except for when it matters most, unfortunately. It feels like he gets out-coached or the team gets out-played in the biggest moments.
Especially if it happens again, that’s the only reason I can see McD getting canned. And I also agree that the grass very well may not be greener on the other side.. but if he can’t get this team over the hump, they may need to take a swing on someone who can give Josh and the guys the best chance to win the last game of the year.
If Tomlin wants out and LaFleur became available, he should be the Steelers first call
Would love to see him replace his brother.
LaFleur Coached the worst game I’ve ever seen against the Bears on 11/17/2024. The Packers should have won by multiple scores but thanks to his atrocious decisions, they only won because they got lucky and blocked a would-have-been game winning field goal as time expired.
His decisions, instincts, offensive calls, etc. are simply not very good to just plain baffling. LaFleur has underachieved with the teams he’s had.
His worst game was the championship game against TB. How do you not go for the TD? King cost them the game …
I could’ve guaranteed that this would be a Florio claim
Florio looking for clicks. There’s zero chance the Packers move on from LeFleur. That’s the problem with these click bait clowns. When they use “anonymous” sources there’s zero accountability. They can make stuff up all day long.
Equally small chance the Pegulas move from Sean.
When I saw Florio, I rolled my eyes.
We will see if the Bills get whipped. I believe they win however. The Jags are hot, but due to lose. Hard to keep a long win streak into the playoffs.
If the Bills flame out, most fans expect Beane to get the boot before McDermott. The GM just doesn’t understand the value of a WR1 (or WR2), has whiffed badly in early rounds (Elam, Coleman) and has created the worst cap situation in the league. Then there’s his trade deadline fiasco.
Are we talking about Gutekunst here, or Beane?
Nope. He gets guaranteed money and doesn’t post to x much. Nice try
Harbaugh agent is Brian Harlan son of Retired Packers President Bob Harlan. Yes Kevin’s brother
To suggest that Florio is not a click bait king is to deny reality.
Florio is the Jon Heyman of football.
I disagree. People pay to see Heyman.
Yep, Florio loves crumbs from ESPN reporting.
Florio is an entertainer in a league that is no longer a sport but entertainment. Some folks are delighted to have a little NFL urine trickle down on them.
Haha … he looks at football and the players more like baseball or basketball players, than a pure game of collision and attrition.
MLF isn’t going anywhere. And Rodgers third year was 2010. Yes they won it all and he was amazing down the stretch. But he want mvp level until 2011. Love was every bit as hot in 2023.
McDermott will be safe when Bills win AFC this year.
It’s in the cards for Josh to shine.
As for Packers, coach on hot seat if lose to Bears again. Harbs could get that job then, with connection to team hierarchy.
Lefluer is getting an extension. The length of that extension may be affected by a loss though.