Packers HC Matt Lafleur Embraces Sibling Rivalry with Brother Mike

The two brothers will face off as head coaches in the NFL for the first time.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:22pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a football game between the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes in a palette of forest green, cardinal red, and steel grey.The sibling rivalry between Packers and Cardinals head coaches Matt and Mike LaFleur adds an extra layer of intensity to their matchups on the field.Green Bay Today

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expressed his excitement and competitive spirit about his brother Mike LaFleur becoming the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Matt said he wants to 'help him' but also 'kick his ass' when the two teams face off, embracing the sibling rivalry that will now play out on the NFL stage.

Why it matters

The LaFleur brothers joining the ranks of NFL head coaches is a unique and intriguing storyline for the league. Their matchups will draw extra attention and intrigue as fans and media watch the family dynamic unfold between the two sidelines.

The details

Matt LaFleur said he looks forward to joint practices between the Packers and Cardinals, where the brothers can compete against each other's teams, but also acknowledged the need to 'hug it out' after the competitive battles. The two coaches have already started collaborating, and a regular-season matchup between their teams is likely in the works.

  • The NFL league meetings, where Matt LaFleur made his comments, took place on March 27-30, 2026.
  • Mike LaFleur was hired as the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in January 2026.

The players

Matt LaFleur

The head coach of the Green Bay Packers, who is excited to face off against his brother Mike as fellow NFL head coaches.

Mike LaFleur

The newly hired head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, who is Matt LaFleur's younger brother.

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What they’re saying

“I want to help him. I want to kick his ass at the same time.”

— Matt LaFleur, Head Coach, Green Bay Packers

“I love joint practices, because you get to hit somebody else, you get to see somewhat of a different scheme, all that. But we're going against different players, different corners, different D, we're blocking different guys. Training camp is long, and so for the same team to be hitting each other for that many weeks in row, you've got to break it up.”

— Matt LaFleur, Head Coach, Green Bay Packers

What’s next

The NFL schedule will be released in the coming months, and fans will be eager to see when the Packers and Cardinals will face off in the regular season, allowing the LaFleur brothers to compete against each other as head coaches for the first time.

The takeaway

The sibling rivalry between Matt and Mike LaFleur adds an intriguing personal storyline to the NFL landscape. Their matchups will be must-watch events as the two brothers aim to outcoach each other while also supporting one another's success.