The Patriots are one of the lucky teams this offseason not having to deal with a head coach search for the first time in three years, and boy, are they fortunate. The decision to bring in Mike Vrabel has already paid off, and although there are some reputable names now available for teams to hire, there's no reason for New England to regret their decision.
They might, however, have to deal with some of their immediate competition hiring one of the most notable coaches available, like John Harbaugh, whom the Ravens fired after 18 seasons. And now, the latest rumors suggest an established coach could join the division, depending on how ownership views his future with his current team.
That's the latest rumor surrounding Packers' head coach Matt LaFleur, after Green Bay blew a big lead and ultimately lost to the Bears on Wild Card Weekend.
Because he doesn't have the best playoff record since joining the staff, NFL insiders have thrown out the possibility that higher-ups might move on, and his connection to the Dolphins means he could be coming to the AFC East.
The Packers' decision on Matt LaFleur could determine how competitive the AFC East becomes
While discussing the most likely landing spots for LaFleur after Saturday's loss, NFL insider Jordan Schultz listed three teams that have connections to the coach that might pursue him if he becomes available.
The Dolphins are one of them because of their new general manager, and that's not great news for the Patriots, who want to remain at the top of the division after the 2025 season.
If Matt LaFleur is let go — and that’s a big if — there are several connections to keep in mind:
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 11, 2026
• Falcons: New president Matt Ryan. LaFleur was Ryan’s QB coach during his MVP season.
• Dolphins: New GM Jon-Eric Sullivan just came over from Green Bay after 20+ years with the… pic.twitter.com/qf35ukhIEe
Although the Dolphins appear far from being a competitive team, hiring a coach as well respected as LaFleur would put them on the fast track to success, especially after the failed tenure of Mike McDaniel and the likelihood that they're done with QB Tua Tagovailoa.
LaFleur's experience with a franchise as historically successful as Green Bay, on top of rebuilding a team after the franchise quarterback left, shows he could remodel the Dolphins into a legitimate team much sooner than the Patriots or even the Bills would like to see.
There's also a chance, albeit a small one, that Harbaugh could consider Miami as his next destination, which might be even worse for New England, considering his postseason experience.
Regardless, it would be much better if they hire someone more questionable than these two if LaFleur is fired and Harbaugh keeps the door open for Miami.