Matt LaFleur isn’t exactly in the holiday spirit right now. The Packers head coach made that abundantly clear Friday when the topic of Halloween came up during his press conference.
There’s been some back-and-forth about Halloween celebrations in the coaching offices, involving LaFleur and Darryl Franklin (his chief of staff). The team’s VP of communications, Jason Wahlers, appeared to deliberately prompt the question – a move that triggered LaFleur’s unfiltered response.
“[It’s] Halloween, huh?” LaFleur fired back. “We’ve got a big discussion with my assistant Darryl. I was like, ‘I don’t give a s— if it’s Halloween, all right? We’re trying to win a game. Period.’ Well done, Wahlers. It’s a Friday in the National Football League, that’s what day it is.”
That’s it. Press conference over.
LaFleur’s laser focus isn’t surprising given what’s at stake. The Packers are riding high at 5-1-1, sitting atop the NFC North and preparing to host the Panthers (4-4) at Lambeau on Sunday.
While kids across Wisconsin plan their trick-or-treating routes, LaFleur’s only concerned with routes his receivers will be running against Carolina’s secondary.
Green Bay enters as favorites, but Carolina has won two straight and shown improvement under Dave Canales. The Panthers’ defense has been particularly stingy lately – something LaFleur’s offense will need to account for, Halloween decorations or not.
The coach’s no-nonsense approach mirrors the businesslike attitude that’s helped the Packers exceed expectations through seven games. With Jordan Love playing at an MVP level and the defense creating timely turnovers, Green Bay has positioned itself as a legitimate contender in the NFC.
Perhaps LaFleur will find time for candy and costumes after Sunday’s game. For now, it’s just another workday in the NFL.