The Green Bay Packers’ 2026 opener against the Minnesota Vikings felt painfully familiar. The Packers controlled the first three quarters, Jordan Love threw for 387 yards, and then the fourth quarter arrived and the lead evaporated in a 22-0 collapse that ended 39-22.
Another late-game failure under Matt LaFleur has fans and observers wondering how much longer the organization can tolerate the same script.
Evan Massey of Packers Roundtable recently listed Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman among five names worth watching if president Ed Policy and/or general manager Brian Gutekunst decides a change is necessary after this season.
From a Packers perspective, that mention lands with more weight than a typical coaching-carousel rumor.
Green Bay already has a franchise quarterback in Love who can carry an offense when given time and a coherent plan. What the team has lacked is the consistent ability to close games and impose its will when the clock tightens.
Freeman’s Notre Dame program has been defined by energy, accountability, and a culture that travels well in high-profile settings.
Since taking over in South Bend in 2021, Freeman has compiled a strong winning record and kept the Fighting Irish relevant on the national stage year after year. He has never coached in the NFL, which would normally give Packers decision-makers pause.
Yet the same traits that make him attractive to college programs—recruiting presence, player development, and a demanding but relational style—are exactly what Green Bay could use after seasons of fourth-quarter fadeouts.
A coach who has thrived in one of college football’s brightest spotlights might bring a different edge to Lambeau than another coordinator recycled from the professional ranks.
The fit is not automatic. Freeman has repeatedly chosen to stay at Notre Dame when NFL interest has swirled, and the Packers have historically preferred candidates with some league experience. Still, the combination of Love’s talent and a roster that has shown it can dominate stretches of games creates an opening.
If LaFleur cannot solve the late-game problem that resurfaced in Week 1, Policy may look for someone who can reset the culture without tearing down the offensive foundation. Freeman represents the high-upside, high-risk version of that search: a proven winner at a premier program who has yet to prove he can translate that success to Sundays.
For Packers fans tired of watching leads disappear, the idea is at least worth considering.
A coach who has built a consistent winner in a pressure-cooker environment might be the kind of jolt Green Bay needs if this season follows the same frustrating pattern.
Whether Freeman would even take the call remains an open question, but the conversation itself signals how seriously the organization may eventually have to treat its fourth-quarter problem.
Be the first to comment