Best of the Bus: Matt LaFleur On Packers, Jordan Love, Vrabel stories, Ben Johnson Beef

Summary

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Bussin' With The Boys: Best of the Bus – Matt LaFleur on Packers Culture, Jordan Love, Vrabel Stories, Ben Johnson Beef (April 25, 2026)

Main Theme / Purpose

In this engaging episode, NFL head coach Matt LaFleur joins hosts Will Compton and Chris Thompson for a candid conversation at Tight End University, just ahead of the NFL Draft in Green Bay. The discussion covers LaFleur’s coaching journey, his evolution as Packers head coach, relationships in the football world, iconic locker room moments, philosophy on leadership, and a few much-hyped “beefs” in the NFL. The episode is energetic and unfiltered, full of storytelling, football insights, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Relationships in Football (03:05 – 05:54)

• NFL as a Relationship Industry: Will and Chris riff about how time in Washington shaped their careers and connections, highlighting the coaching “nucleus” from those days.
• LaFleur’s Take: Even the most brilliant football minds sometimes need the right players—he emphasizes how crucial talent is for a football staff to resonate in the league (“You gotta have great players in order to have success…for whatever reason, it didn’t come together.” – LaFleur, 06:11).

2. Green Bay’s Unique Football Culture (08:06 – 09:42)

• Small-Town Focus: LaFleur outlines how fewer distractions in Green Bay mean more focus and efficiency for coaches, players, and their families.

  “If you can't get the most out of somebody here, I don't think you can do it anywhere.” – Matt LaFleur (08:30)

• Efficient Scheduling: Praised by his players for “getting done at like 3 o’clock,” LaFleur says he values time and expedites work, pushing players to continue prepping on their own time.

3. Coaching Influences and Styles (10:04 – 11:20)

• LaFleur credits a “who’s who” of NFL minds for shaping his approach—Mike and Kyle Shanahan for detail and adaptation, Sean McVay for accountability, Dan Quinn for culture, and Mike Vrabel for demanding the most from his best.

  “I think you take something from everybody. Vrabel was good too. I mean, he’s going to put the most on the best players on the team.” – Matt LaFleur (11:13)

4. Classic Locker Room & Sideline Stories (11:20 – 13:11)

• Vrabel & Compton Face-off: The famous nose-to-nose moment between Will Compton and Vrabel over teammate Quinton Spain, with LaFleur trying to de-escalate:

  “I stepped in the middle. I'm like, guys, guys, guys. And I got a ‘shut the f*** up, Matt.’ And I said, ‘Yes, sir.’ And I just went back to the board.” – LaFleur (12:20)

• Lessons in Team Dynamics: Even tumultuous times forged strong bonds and produced on-field results.

5. Offensive Philosophy & Adaptation (13:37 – 15:52)

• Evolving Systems: LaFleur stresses evolution—core principles stay, but systems change based on personnel, always seeing the game “through the eyes of the quarterback.”
• Transition Tale: Will recounts first OTA struggles with LaFleur's system, then falling in love with it as it played to their athletic strengths.

6. On Teaching & Developing Players (16:15 – 18:09)

• Coaching the Game Within the Game: LaFleur describes making his system digestible, especially for new QBs or late arrivals.
• Malik Willis’ Debut: Showcases the importance of customization and realistic expectations for each player’s learning curve.

7. Game Planning: Preparation, Chess Matches, and “First 15” (18:34 – 20:53)

• First 15 Grows to 25: He now preps 25 key plays for games, helping focus players.
• OC vs. DC: Admits it can be a chess match, but raw talent trumps all – “if I got a guy that's better than your guy, there's a good chance no matter what I call that play is going to work.” (20:40)

8. Handling Adversity: Getting Fired, Having Tough Conversations (43:19 – 46:44)

• Firing Friends: Candid about the pain of letting close coaches go—Joe Barry’s departure was especially hard.
• Conflict With Players: LaFleur shares a tense moment thinking he was about to get his "ass kicked" by a disgruntled player in a cinderblock room:

  “I thought he was going to whip my ass and there was nobody around, so I was just like, oh well…this is the end.” (45:20)

• The Value of Truth: Emphasizes honesty and reducing emotion in hard football and life conversations.

9. Growth & Self-Evaluation as Head Coach (61:21 – 62:30)

• Evolving Over Time: LaFleur admits he’s not the same coach he was in year one—a process of constant self-evaluation and listening to “truth tellers” on his staff.

  “Sometimes you don’t want to hear the truth…but you just sometimes gotta accept it.” (61:59)

10. Draft Stories & Decisions (64:01 – 66:38)

• Green Bay hosting the draft brought extra media, but football decisions stay football decisions.
• On Evaluations: Sometimes he’s been “proven wrong” on draft-day doubts—his story about wanting a speed receiver over Cooper Kupp, only to witness Kupp’s greatness.

  “I was like, God damn, I'm glad we got Cooper Kupp.” – Matt LaFleur (66:36)

11. “Beef” with Ben Johnson? (73:11 – 74:00)

• The much-hyped idea of LaFleur having beef with the Lions’ Ben Johnson is dispelled; he calls it “interesting,” says he doesn’t know Johnson and isn’t buying into drama.

12. Light-Hearted & Memorable Moments

• Super Bowl Sacrifice? The infamous Vrabel “I’d cut off my d**k for a Super Bowl” quote is revisited.

  “Would you cut your d**k off for a Super Bowl?”
  “I don’t think I can go that far, guys. Sorry.” – Matt LaFleur (71:27)

• Fireman Carry Story: LaFleur shares carrying his wife away from gunfire after the Bucks’ NBA title win.
• Locker Room Skits: Fondly recalls Will Compton’s spot-on Mike Vrabel impression during Titans team meetings (56:03).

13. Leadership Philosophy & What It Takes to Win (71:47 – 72:51)

• Reaching the Super Bowl “takes playing your best in the moment, everybody clicking on all cylinders.” Playoff margins are razor-thin; humility, preparation, and total team alignment are key.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “If you can't get the most out of somebody here [Green Bay], I don't think you can do it anywhere.”
  — Matt LaFleur (08:30)
• “You take something from everybody. Vrabel was good too...he’s going to demand the most out of the best.”
  — Matt LaFleur (11:13)
• “Shut the f*** up, Matt.” / “Yes, sir.”
  — (Vrabel and LaFleur, locker room story, 12:20)
• “The only thing in life you can never get back is time.”
  — Matt LaFleur (09:09)
• “Sometimes, you know, you just gotta go with the truth.”
  — Matt LaFleur (49:09)
• “Would you cut your d**k off for a Super Bowl?”
  — Will Compton (71:15)
• “I don’t think I can go that far, guys. Sorry.”
  — Matt LaFleur (71:27)
• “Sometimes you don’t want to hear the truth…but you just sometimes gotta accept it.”
  — Matt LaFleur (61:59)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 02:37 — Matt LaFleur’s intro
• 06:03–07:09 — Impact of talent and the “power of the player”
• 08:06–09:42 — Green Bay’s special atmosphere and LaFleur’s schedule philosophy
• 10:04–11:20 — Coaching influences
• 11:20–13:11 — Titans locker room blowup (Vrabel story)
• 13:37–16:15 — Offensive system evolution
• 18:34–20:53 — First 25 play philosophy; play-calling chess match
• 43:19–46:44 — Toughest conversations and firing friends
• 61:21–62:30 — Self-evaluation and growth as a coach
• 64:01–66:38 — Draft process stories
• 71:11–71:29 — Would you cut it off for a Super Bowl?
• 73:11–74:00 — Ben Johnson “beef” discussion

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Flow & Tone

The episode is fun, energetic, and highly conversational, blending wise football insights with playful roasts and war stories. The hosts and Matt LaFleur move seamlessly from serious behind-the-scenes NFL business to banter and self-deprecation. Will Compton’s irreverence plays well off LaFleur’s dry wit, while Chris Thompson threads in great questions and personal perspective.

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In Summary

This “Best of the Bus” delivers a comprehensive look at Matt LaFleur’s philosophy, personality, and reputation as one of the NFL’s most adaptable and respected head coaches. It’s a must-listen for fans of the Packers, NFL coaching intrigue, or anyone who wants an authentic feel for the relationships and challenges that define modern pro football.

Transcript

[Will Compton]

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[Chris Thompson]

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[Will Compton]

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[Matt LaFleur]

Your bill, ladies.

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I got it.

I got it.

[Chris Thompson]

No, I got it.

[Will Compton]

Seriously.

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I assist.

[Matt LaFleur]

I assisted first.

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Oh, don't be silly.

[Matt LaFleur]

You don't be silly.

[Chris Thompson]

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[Matt LaFleur]

credit card prefer to pay because they earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Okay.

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Rock, paper, scissors for it.

[Will Compton]

Rock, paper, scissors.

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Shoot. No.

[Chris Thompson]

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[Matt LaFleur]

Visit Wells Fargo.com ActiveCash Terms Apply we're starting

[Chris Thompson]

this. This interview is brought to us by the one and only Bud Light. Easy to drink, easy to enjoy, Bud Light is always brewing four simple ingredients for a clean, crisp taste. Stock up now on Bud Light and head to www.budlight.com locator to find a store near you. Bud Light is the official beer sponsor of the NFL the NFL Draft, where we are currently at Tight end University, the UFC and Shane G 2025 tour, and their partners include the Boys, Peyton Manning, George Kittle, Baker Mayfield, Emmett Smith, Shane Gills, Post Malone and Dustin Poirier. We have a very special guest.

[Will Compton]

Give him a round of applause.

[Chris Thompson]

Just Matt LaFleur. Coach Matt LaFleur.

[Matt LaFleur]

Thank you guys. Hey, will, you can't memorize that.

[Chris Thompson]

I probably can, but when it's just sitting there, it's like, might as well.

[Matt LaFleur]

You read well.

[Chris Thompson]

Thank you.

[Matt LaFleur]

He recently got your education in Nebraska. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

What's the end stand for?

[Chris Thompson]

Knowledge.

[Will Compton]

That's right. That's why we get it done.

[Matt LaFleur]

You know, they say Northern Michigan University really stands for knowledge. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

There you go.

[Chris Thompson]

Everybody. Everybody just trying to copy the Oscars.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Copycat league.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, it's a copy copycat league. It was funny when you were. When we were talking about having my hand and everything when I was in Oakland or Vegas, my linebacker coach, like every game I'm like dapping somebody up from the other team like on the side during pre game warm ups. And he's always like, I feel like you could just be the mayor. I feel like, you know somebody everywhere we go to.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

And we'd have a nice little laugh about it. But I did feel like once I got to the back end, like it was. I was more just having the greatest time I possibly could.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. I mean, you, you were afforded the availability to be playing at the highest level you can in the. In the sport you love the most while also not caring. And I think that is.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. No, he cared. He cared. He cared so much. This guy had the greatest pun sets I've ever seen.

[Chris Thompson]

That's my label.

[Will Compton]

Needs to hear that.

[Chris Thompson]

Brave has always coached me different. Like, you know, there's some different things fundamentally that if I was all this.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

If I was a special team.

[Matt LaFleur]

He just lacked a little length.

[Chris Thompson]

Yes. And Brave was. It was always about the punch and for my length in my arms, like I needed the guy to be in a little tighter so I could finesse him a little bit. Because if I'm just trying to release. Most guys are going to run with me downfield. So I need them to kind of be in my body versus shocking them because usually I got. I got the T Rex when they're like use length. So you got a T Rex.

[Matt LaFleur]

Not a great quality in a player. Not a great something that we always look at that arm length.

[Chris Thompson]

Ray wouldn't even let me on punt return. I've talked about it before, but I, I couldn't even like be on punt return because he just talked about my

[Matt LaFleur]

arm length is return. Is it that athleticism or.

[Chris Thompson]

No, bro. That's like. It's like, you know, getting them at the line of scrimmage. We do those one on one.

[Matt LaFleur]

I'm with you.

[Chris Thompson]

Remember, we do those one on ones in front of the.

[Will Compton]

Getting murdered by Keith Carter.

[Chris Thompson]

But I'm saying at training camp when Brave would shut it down and you do the one on ones like in front of everybody. Do you do that with Green Bay?

[Matt LaFleur]

No.

[Chris Thompson]

It's not something you do with Green Bay?

[Matt LaFleur]

No.

[Chris Thompson]

I always feel like you got the blood flow going, like you got to

[Will Compton]

kind of the stress of having the team watch you do a one on one. I don't think you could replicate that in any other scenario other than that.

[Matt LaFleur]

A little bit more this year.

[Chris Thompson]

I think it's good for competitive juices.

[Will Compton]

Okay.

[Matt LaFleur]

That's good to know.

[Chris Thompson]

I do like. And if you're a young guy and

[Will Compton]

you're, you know you're about to be called up.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Usually the. The like.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. Some of the vets, but yeah, you might come up. Yeah. Respond.

[Chris Thompson]

Because usually you do one on ones, but you're always broken up where it stations. But when it's like the head coach calls it up and you're. He's calling out different guys, you're sitting there in line being like, yo, is he about to call my number? And you just got that little bit of anxiety.

[Will Compton]

A little bit. It's a lot of. Yeah, it is a lot. But I think the. The reason why you had the relationships with everybody is your time with the Redskins, and that's where you come into

[Chris Thompson]

play, because that's where the nucleus of the entire league is right now.

[Will Compton]

It's incredible. So everywhere he was there, he was there.

[Matt LaFleur]

We got fired.

[Will Compton]

That is. How did it not work out there with that many brains?

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, I think it just goes to show you the power of the player. I mean, this is a. Oh, you

[Will Compton]

hit with the mic below. No, the power of the player.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. You know, you got to have great players in order to have success in this league. And not to say that we didn't. I just. It. For whatever reason, it didn't come together. You know, we had the one good year in 2012 where we won our division and lost to Seattle in the playoffs. Robert towards acl. And the next year was a complete disaster. I think we went 3 and 13.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. That was 3 and 13.

[Matt LaFleur]

We remember we got just smashed by the Kansas City Chiefs.

[Chris Thompson]

Oh, yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

And there was a. That's when I knew it was all over.

[Chris Thompson]

That's what I gave. Who is it, Coach?

[Will Compton]

You knew your years were done after that.

[Matt LaFleur]

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

And you didn't. You didn't get retained by the group.

[Matt LaFleur]

I did not Got you.

[Chris Thompson]

Because a few of them did.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yes.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, sorry.

[Matt LaFleur]

Sean did.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

Sean Raheem there's a couple guys.

[Chris Thompson]

That's right. That's right.

[Matt LaFleur]

But not many.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. Not many survivors.

[Matt LaFleur]

No. That's kind of the way of our, you know, it's the way of our profession.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. How does like, does that ever eat at you? A little bit like knowing that this. The NFL stands for not for long and you're just.

[Matt LaFleur]

No, I. I do think it over. I just think that if. If you're smart about it just ups your urgency level. You know, you gotta. You gotta be urgent in everything we do and you can't take it for granted. Even when you. You feel like you have a good team. Like, to me, that's when you have to push even more. So you can't let anybody kind of get complacent or rest. And so. Yeah, but that's. But it's the beauty of our league too. Just the competitiveness. I don't think hell is.

[Will Compton]

That was right above your head too.

[Matt LaFleur]

What do we got up there guys or something? What kind of place are we renting here?

[Will Compton]

You know, Josh Jacob stayed here when he first got here.

[Matt LaFleur]

I know. That's what Al.

[Chris Thompson]

He texted when he saw a video of ours. Plus last night, like, this is spot I run out every time. Wis, Wisconsin.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, I mean, shoot. It's nice and convenient. Lambos across the street. Crazy.

[Will Compton]

That's it is.

[Matt LaFleur]

It's a. Interesting setup here. For sure.

[Will Compton]

Dude.

[Chris Thompson]

It's a cool town. It's like knowing that you just kind of like drive in this small town, then out of nowhere, Lambo Field just pops up. It's kind of the center of it all. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

It's like this town revolves around the fall and then preparing for the fall, like every. All the other seasons is like, I can't wait for August to get here.

[Chris Thompson]

It's got to be nice for a head coach knowing that there's not as many distractions.

[Matt LaFleur]

There's zero distractions. So, like, if you can't get the most out of somebody here, I don't think you can do it anywhere. I love it personally, because we don't have a lot of issues with our players and our guys can focus on football. I know even for me and I think our coaches, you could say the. The same thing for. I mean, you focus on your job and your family.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Josh was telling us about your schedule. You got a love schedule. Wednesday is getting done at like 3 o'. Clock.

[Matt LaFleur]

Is it that early?

[Will Compton]

That's what he says.

[Chris Thompson]

Put it like this. He was giving you a lot of praise. He said if there's one thing he understands, the efficiency.

[Will Compton]

The efficiency.

[Chris Thompson]

We are efficient.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, the one that's the only thing in life you can never get back is time. Right. So I, I, I try to make it just expedited as best we can. And I don't want to drag the days out. I want our guys to get in, get their work in, and then get out. Go recovery, do what you got to do. But there is an expectation, I expect these guys, when they go home, that they're not just shutting it off, that if, however, you got to prepare to get yourself to get ready for the next day, that's the expectation. So you do put a lot of onus on the players.

[Will Compton]

If you were in a spot like LA or Las Vegas, do you think you'd make the days a little bit longer because of all the distractions?

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, probably.

[Will Compton]

What are they gonna do? Go to Buffalo Wild Wings, have a

[Chris Thompson]

couple of drinks, like maybe shout out, B dubs.

[Will Compton]

Shout out. We had it last night.

[Matt LaFleur]

So BDubs is open right now.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

Okay.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

You've been around a lot of amazing coaches. Which coach do you feel like you've gotten the most from as far as,

[Matt LaFleur]

like, your frameworks, protocols? Yeah, there's been too many good ones, you know, from, from Mike Shanahan, just the attention to detail. And I mean, that guy could. His focus was on another level to Kyle, just. He's never happy with anything. But I think that that makes you better at what you do. I mean, there's. You always feel that, that urgency, that pressure to. And you better think things through before you bring him an idea, otherwise you're probably going to get your face ripped off. To Sean. Sean was great with accountability. Dan Quinn just kind of like our culture and our environment, a lot was shaped from just being around him and making it a place where people enjoy going to work. And so I think you take something from everybody. Vrabel was good to. I mean, he's going to put the most on the best players on the team, and you guys know that. And he's going to demand the most out of, out of the best. And so I think you learn from, from everybody.

[Chris Thompson]

I want to get, I want to, I want you to tell the story of the locker room at halftime with Taylor in variable.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, this is against the jets, right?

[Matt LaFleur]

I think it was the jets game.

[Will Compton]

They tried to bench quitting Spain, and I was so mad because Spain was hurt or might have been hurt or thinking about being hurt. He had something going on, but there was no other guard. And I was obviously Spain, at least. At the very least, trusted me, and I could trust Spain to do the things I needed him to do. So Keith went to Vrabel and was like, we got to get Spain out of here. He's not playing well. Blah, blah, blah, blah. And then I went in, and I. I think I called Keith Carter tattletale, which, if looking back. Looking back, I would have used different verbiage. And I walk in, I was like, you're tattletail. There's no way to say tattletail in a cool way. And he's like, what you say? And I remember Mike Sullivan, like, pulled me out, and then. Yeah. VRA came in, and I was like, if Spade's not playing, I'm not Spain. I'm not playing. He's like, then you're not playing, V. He's like, then you're not playing. And then we got into it.

[Matt LaFleur]

But, yeah, you guys were nose to nose. And I remember I stepped in the middle. I'm like, guys, guys, guys. And I got a. Shut the up, Matt. And I said, yes, sir. And I just went back to the board, got out of there.

[Will Compton]

I just got.

[Matt LaFleur]

I mean, that was. I mean, look at me compared to the size of these two gu. Guys, Are you kidding?

[Chris Thompson]

Guys, guys, guys. Shut the up, man.

[Will Compton]

Thing is, is they end up putting Ben in a guard, and I don't think I've ever, like, passed off games better in my entire life with somebody like, Ben was incredible at guard.

[Matt LaFleur]

God, I can't even remember the detail of that or why. Why you guys were going nose and nose, but I do remember we won the game in overtime.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

Or right before overtime.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

We were getting our ass kicked in that game. We won at the. The. The end of the game.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. I started off that game with, like, a penalty. I think the first series, like, got mowed over one time. It was, like, a bad start to the game, and then we started to catch a little groove.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

But it was. It was just turbulent times, obviously. I don't, like, he. I didn't. Like. I wasn't a fan of Keith, and there was just, like, a bunch of other things. You like Keith?

[Matt LaFleur]

I do.

[Will Compton]

I love that for you guys, man.

[Matt LaFleur]

I don't.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. I don't want to sit here and just, like, be, like, demonstrative about Keith, because I'm sure he. He does have good qualities off the field. No doubt about it. But your time in Tennessee, like, are you running the same offense as you did in Tennessee?

[Matt LaFleur]

No, I'd say it's I mean, you're ever evolving, right?

[Will Compton]

Yeah, but you're still in like the quattro.

[Matt LaFleur]

And absolutely, the core principles stay the same. A lot of the techniques and fundamentals that we coach are very similar. I think the philosophy around, you know, your offensive game plan of trying to marry up plays, trying to have the passing game be an extension of the run game and vice versa. I think all that has stayed the same. But certainly you got to adapt to your personnel number one. And I always try to try to see the game through the eyes of the quarterback and try to figure out what he does well along with the other ten men around him. So that's how you, you, you try to implement your system.

[Will Compton]

Do you remember that First OTAs in 2018, how much of a show it was?

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, I remember we got our ass kicked. We had a bad practice and it was doomsday around the building. And I was like, oh my God, I hope we never lose a game.

[Will Compton]

We went, yeah. Just speaking from an offensive line perspective, we were running like only gap scheme and only inside zone. So there was no like running off the ball techniques. You guys came in and started implementing these techniques that I've never done before, a lot of guys had never done before. So I remember the first day like, oh, hey, we're gonna run 19 Wanda. I'm going towards the outside shoulder of the defensive end and Brian Arapo just goes right inside immediately because I sprint and he goes right inside immediately, gets a tfl. I'm thinking to myself, this, we're gonna, this is terrible. I hate this. And it ended up being, by the end of OTAs, I was like, this is the greatest offensive scheme ever.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, good. I'm glad you came around.

[Will Compton]

No, yeah, dude. Because it really became like my obviously

[Matt LaFleur]

I like even place to your strengths because you're super athletic.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And then once, like once a lot

[Matt LaFleur]

more athletic than the guy sitting next to you.

[Chris Thompson]

Damn. Just unnecessary.

[Matt LaFleur]

I'm just saying, you do look great.

[Chris Thompson]

You look good.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, I know. You look great in that 51 in

[Will Compton]

the green and gold does go hard.

[Chris Thompson]

Thank you. Hurry up and get some positivity.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, but that I, I, I love that offense. I love it. The Wanda, all of it.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

The sprinting off the ball, the cutoffs, like it became my favorite thing.

[Matt LaFleur]

But everything has to tie in together. The backs path with the O line, the quarterback. Everybody has a responsibility. You know, we're going to demand that the wide receivers block. And I think that's one thing that I'm really proud of with our group is they're going to go battle, they're going to fight their ass off on every play. And I don't think you see that, you know, from every team around the league.

[Chris Thompson]

Can you. When you talk to. When we were talking to Josh last night, he also brought up a conversation he had with Malik Willis. But it seems like a constant when you talk to your players is, you know, how to teach the game. How did that start to develop for you in. When you are like delivering the ins and outs of a play? Because I feel like every player talks about how well you coach the game and teach like the game within the game to where the guys understand it. Because Malik Willis, like, what was that early in the season? Week three or four, he just showed up. You guys pulling off an upset.

[Will Compton]

Well, you guys got him.

[Matt LaFleur]

We start. He started week two versus Indy. And he had been here, I think, 19 days.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

To that point before he started a game. And now it was a. We. We didn't try to put too much on his plate. I mean, you can't when a guy's been here for three weeks. And so we leaned on our run game heavily and we had a great. The first half was. We were. We were killing it, rushing the football. We had over 200 yards rushing in the first half, but kind of slowed down after that quite a bit. But he made some big time plays late in the game that allowed us to win that game. And then the next week he. It was the Malik Willis revenge tour going down to Tennessee. And you know, I bet so much

[Will Compton]

money in the Titans that game.

[Matt LaFleur]

Did you?

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I did.

[Matt LaFleur]

Because I felt pretty confident going into that game.

[Will Compton]

Did you really?

[Matt LaFleur]

I did see Malik.

[Will Compton]

Like, I had the chance to play with Malik for a little bit.

[Matt LaFleur]

Sure.

[Will Compton]

And the thing that I noticed was like, he just wasn't grasping the playbook. And so he would do the wrong cans or, you know, he wouldn't understand. Like, when the safeties move, that's when you have to go the opposite way. All these different.

[Matt LaFleur]

What year was that, though?

[Will Compton]

For me, this is his rookie year.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

But it was.

[Matt LaFleur]

Give the guy some grace, man.

[Will Compton]

But you just go off of what you know. Right. So I was like, oh, if this kid's coming in, he busted. I mean, they ran the ball a lot against Indy this game. They have a whole. They have all this film on him now or at least one week of film. Like, this is where it ends. And I thought the Titans would get going at some point and they never got going.

[Matt LaFleur]

That Pick six by J or certainly helped our cause. I remember the first play of the game, you know, just knowing that we ran the ball 40 some odd times versus Indy, that everybody was going to be geared up for a run. So we faked a little toss and hit Jay Reed out the back, the backside for like a 30 yard game. It was great how you draw it up.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, it's a smile. Yeah, he's talking about it.

[Will Compton]

How is that the first 15? Like how much, how often do coaches overthink the first 15 plays of the game?

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, I know for myself that first 15 has really grown. So it's really like a first 25 now. You never just rip it off. But I, what it does is so for myself, I do this on Friday evening. Friday is actually a long day for me to kind of like really think about the plays that I absolutely want to get called and then I get them to our players on Saturday and I think it gives them an idea of okay, I better be on point with these 25 plays that have a pretty good chance at some point in the game these plays are going to get called. So it really, it takes the game plan and kind of shrinks it a little bit. And I think it, what we felt it's been beneficial for our players with that process.

[Will Compton]

Are you looking at these 25 and is in your mind, are these in order? Like in a perfect world where you're playing them, you're calling the perfect game. The guys are doing exactly what you want them to do. Is that 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, all the way down 25, like in order in your.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, I don't think it rarely goes like that, to be honest with you, because the first 15 or 25 or however many somebody does, those are really just non situational plays. Those are normal ball. That's first down, first and 10, that's second and medium to second and short. It's never really third down calls, it's not the red zone, it's not backed up. So you got a whole separate area for those types of plays. But yeah, I would say if you're, if you're just ripping them off the top, you're, you're staying on schedule and you're, you're doing pretty well.

[Will Compton]

How much is, how much is it a chess match during a game when you're calling like how like essentially the game to me is like the OC versus the dc, right? And then you have all your pawns on the chessboard playing like how much is it you're seeing what they're doing, you're reacting. They're reacting to you. And it's like a back and forth.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, I think there's a lot of that. But at the same time, it's, you know, if I got a guy that's better than your guy, there's a good chance no matter what I call that play is going to work.

[Will Compton]

That's a fair point.

[Chris Thompson]

And you know, you know, he's got the, you know, he's thinking it's the chess match the entire time. Like, you look at his. His bald fade he's got going on, he knows he's going to be checking the score.

[Matt LaFleur]

Let me see your bald fade. Okay.

[Chris Thompson]

Little something. I need to get some product.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, little hat head.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, little hat head.

[Matt LaFleur]

You showered today?

[Chris Thompson]

Last night.

[Matt LaFleur]

Okay.

[Chris Thompson]

Last night. Long time yesterday.

[Will Compton]

There's been a lot of conversations about this bus, about showering lately. There's a.

[Chris Thompson]

Are you somebody who has to shower every time you travel at the end of the day?

[Matt LaFleur]

More than likely. Yes.

[Chris Thompson]

He says more than likely.

[Will Compton]

More than likely.

[Matt LaFleur]

Good answer, coach.

[Chris Thompson]

More than. He says more than likely. So last week we were at. We were in Michigan.

[Matt LaFleur]

Where were you at in Michigan?

[Chris Thompson]

Ann Arbor.

[Matt LaFleur]

Oh, okay.

[Chris Thompson]

We're at the college for spring ball.

[Will Compton]

That's right. Watching the boys.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, we had a workout.

[Matt LaFleur]

Did he do any one on ones?

[Will Compton]

He kind of bowed out.

[Matt LaFleur]

No.

[Will Compton]

You kind of bowed out.

[Matt LaFleur]

I may or may not have seen a one on one rep at the University of Oregon.

[Will Compton]

Can you break that down? If you're a coach scouting that, there

[Chris Thompson]

is nothing to break down those.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, I mean, other than his ankles. He definitely got his ankles, bro.

[Unidentified Female Voice (Commercials/Ads)]

Knees.

[Matt LaFleur]

Knees and ankles.

[Will Compton]

See, the problem for me was just like you at the very least make a reaction. Like, guess even if you guess wrong.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, we talked about this. He told me he knew he was gonna take away the inside.

[Will Compton]

This conversation.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

When we were setting up the interview. Yeah. It's like, hey, I saw that one on one rep. We were laughing about it. He's like, why don't you just guess to the inside? I was like, I'm telling you, bro. That's what I was telling the boys right before. I'm like, the cameras are going to be on. I'm talking to JP saying there the cameras are going to be on. This kid's going to want to cross my face. He's gonna want to.

[Matt LaFleur]

That's where the big play is, right?

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

Come on, man. The body just didn't react.

[Will Compton]

Didn't react.

[Matt LaFleur]

It did not fold it.

[Will Compton]

The freeze Frame of him, like almost underneath, grabbing him just a little bit

[Chris Thompson]

and already reacting verbally.

[Will Compton]

It's so tough.

[Matt LaFleur]

But, dude, that made me laugh though. You. You did.

[Chris Thompson]

I'm glad I gave you some entertainment.

[Will Compton]

It was a lot.

[Matt LaFleur]

It was very entertaining.

[Will Compton]

When we were sitting in the locker room before, did that one on one, I really thought, like, will's gonna get him. Will's gonna. I. I started to believe it when he was putting the pads.

[Matt LaFleur]

I'm sure he was black.

[Chris Thompson]

I was thinking, I'm dropping quotes. I'm sniffing the smelling salts.

[Will Compton]

We had we like six smelling salts in a, in a bottle of water. Bottle water. We're just like pumping it.

[Chris Thompson]

I'm doing it too.

[Will Compton]

I want to be a part of the vibe. He's yelling at some security guard made

[Chris Thompson]

your heart turn black.

[Will Compton]

And the guy's like, what the is going on?

[Chris Thompson]

We find the women and children of bed.

[Will Compton]

He runs out. I'm like, this dude's about to show that he's still got it.

[Matt LaFleur]

That was a very humbling moment, huh?

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. Yeah. I thought I was going to take the young buck. And I was like, man, I was telling Coach Landing. I was like, I'd hate to end your running back's career right here. Like, he can't get beat by this 35 year old, right?

[Will Compton]

Missouri on Missouri too.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

God, it's tough to know when it's over. When you look at yourself in the mirror and be like, once upon a time, I could do X, Y and Z, but now I can't.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

What was that like for you?

[Chris Thompson]

Omaha Beef, Right?

[Matt LaFleur]

Okay, here we go. Everybody loves

[Will Compton]

billions outlaws like that.

[Chris Thompson]

You, you were going, he tagged my athleticism. Let's talk about when yours ended.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, I'm like the line From Rudy, I'm 5 foot nothing, 100 nothing. So I just, I didn't have the same opportunities. I don't think.

[Will Compton]

All right, so you're blaming. You're blaming it on measurables.

[Matt LaFleur]

I'm just saying.

[Chris Thompson]

You're blaming God. You're blaming God.

[Matt LaFleur]

I'm blaming my mom. My mom's five foot two.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. That's the type of guy, like, you're in Target and some guy comes up to you as man, if I was your high, I'd be. I'd be a pro NBA player.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. You know, he says it to everybody at practice.

[Will Compton]

He's probably thinking to himself, man, if I was, you know, when I was

[Matt LaFleur]

getting recruited in college, everybody would tell me that if you were 6:2, everybody in the country would be recruiting You. And I'm like, well, I'm not. So you.

[Chris Thompson]

Were you a beast in high school? Like, were you like that?

[Will Compton]

You know, he was a student of the game.

[Matt LaFleur]

I was. I would say I was a good high school player. I. I mean, I was good enough to play in Division 2 football. I walked on at Western Michigan and realized that it was going to be a lot of years sitting there before and if that day would ever come, to. To get on the field. I actually was playing receiver at Western. We had. When I was leaving. Greg Jennings was coming in, so I would have probably.

[Chris Thompson]

What was the experience? Like you said, people bring up the Omaha Beef. Like you were.

[Matt LaFleur]

I was on Dan Patrick yesterday and brought it up.

[Will Compton]

Oh, did he really?

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

That's funny. I just hit the wiki. How long did you beef? Like, what is.

[Chris Thompson]

How long did you play there?

[Matt LaFleur]

I mean, honestly, it was. So I was a grad assistant at Central Michigan, and I can't believe they actually let me leave. Like, in today's world, that never would have happened, but I got a phone call saying, hey, you want to come play for the summer for this indoor football team in Omaha? And I was like, all right, I'll check.

[Chris Thompson]

Receiver.

[Matt LaFleur]

No, I was quarterback.

[Chris Thompson]

Okay.

[Matt LaFleur]

So you obviously haven't done your research on me, Will.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, that's all right. We get to learn. Curiosity.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, it's a good pod. So I played quarterback at. When I transferred from Western to Saginaw Valley. I ended up playing quarterback for three years there. But. So I. I go to Omaha and, you know, I, I really. I wasn't even the starter there. I just had gone into a couple games and did. Did pretty well. And that's. I only played a couple games there, though. So it was called. The next year, the Billings Outlaws called and I. I went out there and this was insane. So I went to a team who the. The. The court. The starting quarterback was also the play caller. Well, he tore his ACL so he couldn't play, and he had played in a game against me the year before, and I did pretty well in it and wanted me to come out. The team I went to was undefeated. And I get there and I throw four picks and I thought I was going to get my ass kicked. After the game, everybody's looking at me. I'd been there, like, for two days, and I thought these guys were going to fuck me up. So it was a pretty intense deal. And the next week, ironically enough, we went and played in Omaha and ended up winning like the NIFL Player of the Week.

[Will Compton]

No shit. Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

LaFleur revenge games, man.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. I mean, so.

[Chris Thompson]

But why were the.

[Matt LaFleur]

Why was there for four weeks? And I was like, I got to get out of here. It was just kind of a renegade league. There was. These were. There were some talented guys in that league, but there was a lot of reasons. They didn't play in probably the biggest of stages.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. I mean, in Nashville is this. This team called the Nashville Cats. And they're just at Lipscomb right now training.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And I see, like, these offensive linemen that have, like, gray in their hair. I'm thinking, what are y' all chasing?

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Like, you're.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, I did it. I did it for two summers and I was like, all right, I'm. I'm full time coach.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Why were. Why is everybody taking it so serious to where they wanted to whoop your ass when you were just there two days? Like, how much are you guys getting paid?

[Matt LaFleur]

Oh, like, I think I got 500 bucks. It was like 250. Plus a 250.

[Chris Thompson]

You know, he's not getting rehab.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Incentives.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Another quarterback, he just tore his acl and he just hasn't torn ACL with his.

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[Chris Thompson]

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[Will Compton]

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[Matt LaFleur]

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[Will Compton]

You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you joy overpaying. No judgments.

[Matt LaFleur]

But that's weird.

[Will Compton]

Okay, one judgment anyway.

[Matt LaFleur]

Give it a [e-mail] switch.

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[Will Compton]

See full [e-mail] I admit it, I'm a control freak.

[Matt LaFleur]

Luckily, the folks at WIX get it. That's why they created WIX Harmony. It's an AI website builder for people just like me. It lets you create any type of website super fast, but stay in control of every detail. You can even choose whether to use AI or click and edit things yourself until your website actually feels like you. Try it for [e-mail] Harmony. That's wix.com Harmony. You know, I was just hanging on to the dream.

[Will Compton]

Hanging on to the dream. Yeah, you obviously just hearing your.

[Chris Thompson]

You.

[Will Compton]

You grew up your entire life loving football.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, my dad was a coach and at Central Michigan University. And so I've been around the game my whole life. And my grandfather, my mom's dad was a high school coach, so just grew up around football and just loved it.

[Will Compton]

Was all about it.

[Matt LaFleur]

All about it.

[Will Compton]

God. And so when you're at like the Billings Outlaws and you're like kind of bouncing around, you're a saginaw. You get fired from Washington. And then you had a point where you were at the Falcons, right. Quarterback, coach, and then you went to Notre Dame for a year.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, so we get fired from Washington and I'll. I mean, you talk about the loneliest time of your life when you have no idea what you're going to do next. And I've got two young kids and my wife and. But I had. I worked for Brian Kelly at Central Michigan University and was lucky and fortunate enough to go there. So I spent the 14 season at Notre Dame. And then Kyle, in the meantime, was going to go with Dan Quinn to Atlanta. And he called me up and he was leaving Cleveland and that debacle that he had there, my brother was actually working for him and he called me up and he's like, hey, I want you to come to Atlanta. I was like, dude, I got a great job. I was like, my brother's out of a job because you guys are leaving Cleveland. I said, I'm not taking that job if. If he can't get a job. And he goes, I'm going to get you both. So what a cool opportunity for me to go work with my brother in Atlanta. And the first year was a little rough because Kyle's pretty hard on his coaches in a good way because I think it prepares you and it brings out the best in you. But he was. He was hard on my brother, and I was probably twice as hard on my brother. So there was some. Some rough moments in there in 2015.

[Chris Thompson]

What are those? You gotta have some stories with, like, whether it's a text after a game or a group chat, like these coaches that you. You've grown and they're all in their own head coaching roles or the coordinator roles, like after a game, when you get One on Shanahan, McVeigh, your brother, there has to be some type of communication, right?

[Matt LaFleur]

There is, I would say maybe just like, my brother's a guy that I'm gonna talk to after every game, win or lose. But there's some games when. Like, when you lose a game, it's pretty miserable feeling, as you guys both know. Because what people don't, I don't think really can understand is how much time and effort and energy go into a three hour window. And like, all your work is on display. And no matter how you prepared that week, whether you had the best week of preparation or the worst, all they care about is the outcome. So I think, like, it's emotional, right. When you lose a game, you're. You're pissed off because you put so much time into it. And so there's some games when we lose, I don't want to talk to anybody and I don't shut it off.

[Chris Thompson]

Throwing you a little. Just a nice little condescending jab. No, like having fun. Like.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

You thought, like, he just. He goes in, he goes into LA, beats McVeigh, and he just shoots McVeigh a message.

[Matt LaFleur]

No, no. They know.

[Chris Thompson]

They're on the bus afterwards. Hey, y. You thought.

[Will Compton]

Great to see you.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. Hey, you said this in the press this week, right? How'd that work out?

[Will Compton]

Maybe next time, give me the bulletin board material.

[Matt LaFleur]

There's none of that.

[Chris Thompson]

Never had an exchange like that with. With anybody close to.

[Matt LaFleur]

No. I mean, you might have some of those conversations amongst your staff, but not

[Chris Thompson]

none with the competitive.

[Matt LaFleur]

I don't think so. It's kind of.

[Will Compton]

What's it like?

[Matt LaFleur]

Kind of bush league.

[Chris Thompson]

What's it like for you if I was a head coach and I beat you? I feel like I throw you something.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Like maybe shoots you the eyes emoji.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Hey, not bad, huh?

[Will Compton]

That's why

[Matt LaFleur]

that. That's what almost led to the. From what I heard, the Harbaugh Schwartz. Remember that interaction?

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, the. The handshake and the slap on the back.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, that's right, Jim. Right.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. Remember when Schwartz ran him down?

[Chris Thompson]

Have you had a. An aggressive exchange Post game with the

[Matt LaFleur]

coach, I wouldn't say aggressive, but there's been some, I would say contentious moments

[Will Compton]

where, you know, you want to say names.

[Matt LaFleur]

No, Yeah, I was gonna say, oh, yeah. He goes, that was fans. Yeah, that was a bad deal. The pre game with a fan was a bad deal. Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

What, what happened there? I mean, that was a pretty. That was going around the Internet.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, I would imagine it was.

[Chris Thompson]

Coach Lafers is getting after this fan.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, so this guy was walking, you know, like, usually there's some healthy banners, sometimes with some of those guys that are holding the flag, getting ready for the national anthem. And I mean, this guy's like throat slashing our players. And I could see a bunch of our players getting worked up and I'm like, what the. This guy's in our space. It's different when it's coming from the stands. Right. And guy, you expect that people are going to talk. You're in enemy territory, you know, they're going to talk trash to you. You don't even hear that noise. It's just noise. But when you're in our space on our field and you're doing this in front of our guys and riling them up, I got a problem with that. So I, I said something. He said something back, and I was like, is this really happening right now as we're walking towards each other? So it was just one of those,

[Will Compton]

are you thinking at any point I might have to swing?

[Matt LaFleur]

I didn't know what was going to happen, to be honest with you, but I got to give the officials a lot of credit. One of the officials came in and just, just kind of side checked the guy pretty, pretty good. I was pretty impressed. But it's. It should never happen. It should never happen. And like, you know, you always reflect on what you could have done differently. I probably should have just ignored it, but, you know, heat of the battle.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, yeah. But if you're talking about you spend a whole week preparing, getting the guys ready, you're looking through your top 25 plays you're bringing to the guys on Saturday, you're giving a speech now you're setting up. Everyone's anxiety's through the roof. The peak anxiety is always the national anthem. You're wondering, am I, is this the day I finally get got? Your confidence is high, low, all these different things. And then you got some, some guy who has the luxury of holding our nation's flag for the national anthem, and he's doing a bunch of. I'm sure, like, logically, it's like you handled it fine. Shut up. Like, obviously, you take all those things.

[Chris Thompson]

Tattletail.

[Will Compton]

How crazy is that? Were you there for that? Did you hear that part? The tattleto thing?

[Matt LaFleur]

We just talked about it.

[Will Compton]

I know, but I'm saying, were you in the room when that happened?

[Matt LaFleur]

I can't remember that specific part.

[Will Compton]

No. No.

[Chris Thompson]

Having a moment.

[Will Compton]

Oh, no, no.

[Chris Thompson]

Hey, he said that. I was like, oh, we got. We got to get.

[Will Compton]

We didn't start the podcast.

[Chris Thompson]

Have I told the tattletale story?

[Will Compton]

No, no. CD is p. I was sorry I jumped to. Were you in the room when that happened? I was reflecting back on the beginning.

[Matt LaFleur]

I think I was focused on trying to, like, just get a first down at that point. And then I saw the.

[Will Compton]

The commotion. Yeah, the commotion. From a coaching standpoint, you talk about that, the week and the process it takes. I feel like every year, every couple of years, there's always one game where the coaches come in the next week and they're like, I knew this was going to happen because our lack of preparation the week before, like, you lose a game and it's like you could tell the boys weren't focused up. How do you work through the process when you see maybe your team isn't as focused as you'd like them to be going into a week?

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, you try to get in front of that. If you feel it some type of way in the moment, I'm gonna. I'm gonna say it like, hey, man, we better lock in or we're about to get our ass beat. So you try to stay in front of it. But I've also experienced when I don't think we've had the cleanest of practices, where we've gone out and had a kick ass game and vice versa, where we've had great practices and we go out there and lay an egg. So, you know, you try to take it for what is it what it is and just hope our guys are balling on. On Sundays.

[Chris Thompson]

We're trying to get some. Some pregame speeches out of Josh last night, but he was saying you play to your strengths. Well, like you. You have your words, you have your things that you hit on before the game, but then you kind of let the players say whatever they need to say because we're trying to be like, how's this speech game? How's his motivational speeches? He did say you spit fire after you guys win games.

[Matt LaFleur]

All right?

[Chris Thompson]

He said you always got some nice bars when you come in the locker room and you say whatever you say but he was giving you some flowers.

[Matt LaFleur]

Okay.

[Chris Thompson]

We were looking for some funny moments, but we couldn't.

[Matt LaFleur]

I think I'm more. A little bit more serious, probably. And, I mean, you guys been around me. Would you say so?

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. But you as a head coach, haven't been around it. Some. Some guys go. Some guys, like, flip a different switch when they go from coordinator, position coach.

[Matt LaFleur]

And then one day, I feel like I'm the same.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I feel like the NFL, too. I've never really been around coaches that, like, get the boys hyped up. It's more like, you know, this is a job. This is your process. Like, these are the keys to victory. Onward.

[Chris Thompson]

Jon Gruden will get your piss hot.

[Will Compton]

Really?

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Because, Rabel, the coolest thing.

[Chris Thompson]

You'll get your piss out.

[Will Compton]

Really?

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

See, I had a high school head coach, Charlie Ragel, who would literally make you run through a wall with a speech. But after that, it was kind of just like, go play the game and play well. Yeah, that's what we do here.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

All right. I guess that's what we're doing. What was it like for you? Calling place for the first time. The first time. Having a sheet in your hand. The game is yours. It's your chessboard.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, the first time. I want to say the first time I ever called plays was in the stadium here. Yeah. Sean had me. It was back in. In. It would have been 2017 with the Rams. It was a preseason game. He's like, all right, you're calling it today. I was like, all right. And it was. It was a fun experience. That. That's in the National Football League. I'd called plays, you know, at Ashland University back in the day, but. But in the National Football League, I think it was right here. And then I want to say that our year together in 2018, then we open up the preseason here.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

As well.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

So it's kind of ironic how it all comes full circle. Yeah. But that first year in 2018 of really especially you get into the regular season, I realized quickly it can be a lonely world, especially when shit ain't going right. Do you remember the Baltimore Raven game when we got absolutely trashed?

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Gave 11 sacks.

[Matt LaFleur]

Just something like that.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. It was 11 sacks. Okay. We gave up.

[Matt LaFleur]

We had, like, 120 yards or. I don't even know. That might be generous of total offense. And the whole stadium is booing your offense every time you go out on the field. And it's lonely, man. It's. It's a. I'm like, hey, is anybody got any suggestions? And it's straight crickets on the headset.

[Will Compton]

You know, it's tough for those guys here in the oc. Anybody got suggestions?

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, well, I'm just saying nothing's working. So does somebody else have a better idea? And that. That kind of happens naturally in games. It's. It's funny, you know, when things are really rolling, everybody has an idea, but when things aren't going good, it's crickets.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. So, like, I'm not putting my ass on the line right now.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. When games, games like the Ravens games aren't going well, at what point do you just say, hey, let's pack it in, we're going to run the ball and get out of here.

[Matt LaFleur]

I just don't have that mentality, really. I mean, don't get me wrong, there's been games especially I know here where you're like, you know, the game is over, like, and you just don't want to get anybody hurt, so you do kind of resort to that. But, you know, I also think that there's sometimes if you're getting your butt whipped and you want to get some momentum to try to get something going maybe for the next week, so maybe the guys give the boys a little confidence.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, yeah. Give a little juice. This. In football, it's such a relationships driven business, but also at the end of the day, it is just a business. With your journey in coaching, what have been a couple conversations that have been the hardest to have, Whether you've gotten fired and been caught off guard about it from somebody that you didn't think it would come from, or maybe you're leaving a situation and you're going into that, you're going into that, the coach's office to tell him or you've even let somebody go as a head coach. Like, what have been a couple of your hardest moments or conversations with somebody or even again, you might be on the receiving end. But I would love to know because we have a head coach on and I'm always curious because you know how it is, like when you get cut and you might be blindsided.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, I don't know. I don't know. I never played in the national.

[Chris Thompson]

It's like getting fired.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, right.

[Chris Thompson]

Like everybody gets fired. So. And sometimes it comes out of nowhere or sometimes you're having a conversation with somebody whether you're getting benched and it comes out of nowhere and you feel a little slighted and bitter because of the relationship you feel like you have. But. And it's hard to compartmentalize and separate the business from the relationship at times. But I would love to know as a head coach and knowing that you've been in a lot of different spots and with friends too.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. And that, that's, that's the danger is when you go through something together, especially something hard together, you. You form a bond with somebody and then at some point that comes to an end for all players and for, for me, when I have to let go of coaches that guys that have poured everything into it and for whatever reason it doesn't work out and that it's always the danger of, of hiring people that are close to you as well. I mean, I mean this well known. I let Joe Barry go, who's a very dear friend of mine, and that, that was like one of the toughest conversations I've ever had with somebody. So how do you even prepare for that?

[Chris Thompson]

Like, it's like you're.

[Matt LaFleur]

You can't.

[Chris Thompson]

Sitting here. He could give you any.

[Matt LaFleur]

You can't prepare for it. You just, you just. That's why you just got to tell people the truth and whatever happens, happens, but at least your truth, how you see it. And that, that's why I just think you got to be honest with people. And it happens with players when you have, especially veteran players, you might maybe aren't performing to the level that you feel like they should be performing, forming at and you're going to make a change and set them down. And I mean those are, those are tough conversations, but conversations that you absolutely have to have that you can't avoid.

[Chris Thompson]

Has any conversation went sideways? You don't have to say names, but have you. Is there an example sideways? Yeah, we're a conversation.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, there's been a few. Really? Oh yeah, dude.

[Will Compton]

Standing up, getting in your face a little bit.

[Matt LaFleur]

Oh, yeah. I've had a player, a couple years back, it was just him and I and this is before we had. We renovated our offense offices and we're in a different spot of the stadium now, but I mean, we're in this cinder block room. I thought he was going to whip my ass and there was nobody around, so I was just like, oh, well here, here it goes, guys. This is, this is the end.

[Will Compton]

This is it. This is it.

[Chris Thompson]

It's like.

[Matt LaFleur]

And you just, you try to de escalate the situation, but sometimes there's no getting through. And it was one of those situations, so. But I'm still here today, so I live to tell about it.

[Will Compton]

He put it. Did he put his Hands on you or just get up?

[Matt LaFleur]

No, it was. I. I thought it might go down, but it didn't.

[Chris Thompson]

Does it get there? Because he's like, you blindsided. Yeah. Like, hey, we're gonna move on over, letting you go. And he's just like, no, you're not. Yeah, show me.

[Matt LaFleur]

Show me why. Definitely. I would say everyone's a little bit different, but, yeah, there's you. Just the one thing I've learned, the more you can take emotion out of any conflict, and you can use this in your personal lives as well. Like, I know with my wife, the more I can take the emotion out of it, usually the better the conversation goes.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, that is good advice. But sometimes they want the emotion. They like, hey, what are you feeling?

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, so maybe you want the emotion.

[Will Compton]

Maybe you do. Yeah. Something you want to talk about?

[Chris Thompson]

I guess I'm feeling shame.

[Will Compton]

Why?

[Chris Thompson]

I'm just trying to think of the words, the seven words of feelings. Seven emotions that you can feel.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Where the therapist tries to dial you in. You know, they're like, oh, confusion. That's not a feeling.

[Will Compton]

That's a thought. I hate that.

[Matt LaFleur]

That's deep.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

Getting cut's not fun. How many times were you cut?

[Chris Thompson]

Squad? Titans, Raiders. 3.

[Will Compton]

That's not bad, I think, because you were almost on every team. I feel like it was more.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. Well, it's like he was almost a

[Matt LaFleur]

Green Bay Packer, bro.

[Will Compton]

Was he actually almost Screen baby. His name ever get brought up in a meeting room?

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, we talked about him, man.

[Chris Thompson]

It was LaFleur's first year.

[Matt LaFleur]

I had. I had no. I had no struggle.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, he had no.

[Chris Thompson]

He couldn't swing the bat, but he wanted to. I don't know how much it happened, but I think you're one of, like, he's. You were saying, this is when I ended up going to the Saints in Oakland that year. But he wanted to go into a meeting, I think, pitch a few veterans. It was like myself, I think Chris Thompson, if I can remember correctly.

[Matt LaFleur]

And it's amazing what people do remember, though, right?

[Chris Thompson]

Well, because I wanted to.

[Matt LaFleur]

And sometimes they remember a little bit different than you remember, but you don't remember that way. Wow. I mean, that was a long time ago.

[Chris Thompson]

Text messages.

[Will Compton]

That's Matt's way of saying, no, he does not remember it that way.

[Chris Thompson]

Well, he can even say, like. I mean, he already said, like, it wasn't close. Like, even when I was going and worked out with the Saints and ended up signing with the Saints because KO Was here. Like, it was a setup that was. It would have been lovely for the

[Matt LaFleur]

boy, and it would have been great. I would have. Because I know he's. He's about the right stuff.

[Chris Thompson]

I appreciate that.

[Will Compton]

That's. That's. It seems like the. The Will Compton, like, every coach you talk to that's been Come across, Will Compton is like, that is the guy.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, I mean, because otherwise he wouldn't have lasted as long as he lasted if you wouldn't have been about the right stuff.

[Will Compton]

But it also.

[Chris Thompson]

No, he's right.

[Matt LaFleur]

But that's like something I told you earlier. Sometimes, you know, you just got to go with the truth. Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Yes. Yeah. That's something I'm proud of. It doesn't feel like a backhanded compliment.

[Will Compton]

Okay.

[Matt LaFleur]

You should be proud of it.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

Played a long time in this league. Was it almost 10?

[Chris Thompson]

Almost 10. Almost 10.

[Will Compton]

Some argue 8.

[Chris Thompson]

Variable argues 8. Because he doesn't give me the practice squad or he says the first year was a practice squad year. I was like, bro, the last game of the season. This was in 13.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

When we were at New York as London Fletcher's last game. I got the back of London Fletcher for his final game of all time. But that's when I got to. I was on the active roster for one game, recorded one stat, got one tackle on kickoff. So I am in the books for that rookie year. Now, if you go by the credited and everything else, like, yeah, I mean,

[Matt LaFleur]

I got to give it to practice squad. To me, that counts. I'm counting it.

[Will Compton]

Count it.

[Chris Thompson]

He's eating up all the time with Jordan Reed. It was brutal.

[Will Compton]

So wait, does it actually, in the. In the real world does that. You got the credited season, though, right?

[Chris Thompson]

So since I'm vested, they count your practice squad year.

[Matt LaFleur]

Okay, I bet.

[Will Compton]

You know, I. I don't want to. Will and I got into a whole thing. I was making a joke one time about eight things got a little fiery, and he's like, basically did all the things he just said to you, but in a very demonstrative way. Understandably. I was trying to poke the bear a little bit.

[Matt LaFleur]

Sure.

[Will Compton]

But right then and there, I was like, I don't know if. So does it actually count? It does.

[Chris Thompson]

So the moment you get vested, like, it was four years. Yeah. Once you get four years, then they go back and count one practice squad year. So say I had two practice squad years. Like, Lorenzo Alexander was somebody. He played, like, 14 years, and he started off two practice squad years. They only give you.

[Matt LaFleur]

They only give Credit for one.

[Chris Thompson]

They only give you credit for one.

[Will Compton]

Have you ever been in a situation like, kind of like Will was in, where coaches are kind of be like, I need to get this guy three games to get him a credit season. Have you ever had a relationship with your guy where you're like, all right, we'll get him dialed or we'll give him a shot. We'll see if we can make it work for three weeks.

[Matt LaFleur]

Not. Not too many.

[Will Compton]

No, no. But it's come across once in a while.

[Chris Thompson]

That's how it was with Passaccia.

[Matt LaFleur]

But we'll never, you know, we. We're always going to do what's best for the team. So. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

As you should. From a world.

[Matt LaFleur]

I mean, I love everybody.

[Chris Thompson]

No, I know. Yeah. It's like, even when the. We were trying to get year 10 that's happened, it was like I was telling, all right, hey, you just give me three weeks. But what. How I was going to finish this thing off, how I wasn't close to becoming a Packer. Like, even when the Saints came in the hotel room and they gave me the contract to sign and had me mold over for that night. Because I remember being on the phone with you, too. Called my wife, called you guys. I Low key. I was like, kind of struggling if I even wanted to do it. But I remember calling.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, we had some conversations.

[Chris Thompson]

I swear to God, I will get on a plane right now and go to Green Bay and play for you guys if. If I can get it off, if we can get an offer on the table or if you can do anything. Like seeing.

[Matt LaFleur]

I think I was straight up with you.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, you were. You're like, man, it's not gonna happen. You need to. You need to go ahead and take that. Like, there's just not a whole lot that I'm able to do. But Yeah, I was one, too. I was trying hard to get number 51.

[Matt LaFleur]

What could have been.

[Will Compton]

Did he hit you with that conversation, like, immediately? Like, when he called you, did you know I was coming?

[Chris Thompson]

Or was.

[Will Compton]

Or was he?

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, like, we were in communication.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Throughout training camp. Like, hey, you and Shade.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Okay. So there was a. You didn't blindside him with the conversation? That was just.

[Chris Thompson]

No, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, he. We were. I think we got on the phone and we were again, are you in shape? And stuff like that. He might have wanted to pitch a few veterans in a meeting that was coming up. And then I would check in either through him or KO and be like, hey, what's the what's the skinny? Kobe, man. I don't even go out to the workouts. And then when the Saints thing happened, I was like, are you.

[Will Compton]

So.

[Chris Thompson]

Are you sure nothing can shape up with the Green Bay Packers? He's like, nah, man,

[Matt LaFleur]

I would have been fun.

[Chris Thompson]

I kind of selfishly want you, but, yeah, it's not working out. It would have been fun.

[Will Compton]

Talk to me about your process of getting this job, because we. I don't know how much you want to talk about what we're talking about. Before the podcast started, 2018, you're with the Titans, and then all of a sudden, it's like, you're. You're with the Packers. And it was like. I remember myself thinking, like, damn, I was bummed out that you were gone. I ended up being happy because Art's my.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, Art. Yeah. Brave's made a great decision in promoting Art.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. It was one of those deals where I got a call after the season, if you remember. Right. We had a playing game to make the playoffs, unfortunately, against the Colts, and it. It didn't go our way. But I got a call that I was going to interview for this job, and I knew I was the last interview, and I was like, all right, well, shoot, I got nothing to lose, and I'm pretty. I'm pretty hard on myself anyways. And I went through the interview process. Matter of fact, the packers flew up to Nashville. I had the interview at a hotel in Nashville, and I called my wife right after, and she's like, well, how'd it go? And I was like, I think it went pretty well. And she. She says that's the moment she thought, like, oh, no, here we go. The next day, I get a phone call from Aaron Rodgers, and I'm like, that's interesting. And I was actually thinking that it would be lead to the second round of interviews, being that I'd never really been up here. But they called me later that afternoon and offered me the job. And it was. It was a pretty unbelievable moment in my life, one that I'll never forget.

[Will Compton]

What was that conversation like with Aaron Rodgers? Like, did it. Did you have his number saved in your phone, or did it just come up, like a random number?

[Chris Thompson]

No, I had.

[Matt LaFleur]

I had. They had given me a heads up that Aaron was probably going to be calling me at some point. He called me, we talked for, like, I don't know, 40 minutes or whatever, and it was. It was a great conversation. Obviously, it went well enough where I think. I'm sure he reported back and said, that we had a great conversation and the rest is history.

[Chris Thompson]

How is that process, like the conversation with the Titans, like when you're interviewing or looking to take on a different job?

[Matt LaFleur]

Oh, it was pretty easy. I'm saying, hey, guys, I'm. I'm leaving to be the head coach for the Green Bay Packers. I think everybody understood that. So. Yeah, it was. It was. It was a very easy conversation. And I'm sure there were some people in that building that were glad that I was leaving too.

[Chris Thompson]

Makes it easier.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. God, I wish we could dive into that more.

[Chris Thompson]

What the.

[Will Compton]

Just the coaches like that. That inside ball of the Titans and all that stuff that went down.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, it's like. It's like the bureaucracy is everywhere. Right. Like everybody. There's going to be haters on the inside. Little. I always loved how Fred would say it's loser talk. You get. Guys get into their clicks, losers start talking about the negative, yada, yada, yada. I feel like that's like.

[Matt LaFleur]

You know what my favorite time with the Titans was was? That was when Will Compton did Mike Frable in the team meeting. How elite that was.

[Will Compton]

It was so spot on.

[Matt LaFleur]

It was unbelievable.

[Will Compton]

And it couldn't have come at a perfect time because.

[Matt LaFleur]

And I want to know who recorded that.

[Will Compton]

Darren Bates.

[Matt LaFleur]

Oh, I think it was Batesy.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

I think it was DB Arakpo.

[Matt LaFleur]

Usually that is kind of. You don't, you don't. You don't film those, those types of meetings.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, but I think we knew going into it, I think Rack or DB or somebody was saying how they were going to get it recorded. Yeah, because I was nervous. Like.

[Matt LaFleur]

You were nervous for that.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, because Wesley Woodyer was kind of be like, I don't know if you should do it. Like, guys could get like, cut over stuff like this. Like, he. I guess he had an experience maybe in Denver to where somebody might have did something for the rookie.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, I didn't think it was. I didn't think it was disrespectful in any way.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, yeah. No, I didn't think so.

[Will Compton]

When, when you see, when you're about

[Chris Thompson]

to do it, it's like you have the, the culture building that Vrabel was doing. He did a great job of like separating the, you know, being a players guy but also a coach and making sure things ran strict and smooth to where, you know, he was tight. Like, he was a hard ass at times, especially in training camps for sure. That's kind of where the nerves are coming from. Like, man, I hope you know, he takes this, this.

[Matt LaFleur]

I actually find it when we have a rookie skit, if they don't clown on me a little bit, I'm usually disappointed.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, yeah. You're thinking, what have I been doing to not make these guys feel comfortable enough to joke on me?

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. So I think you go into it with that mindset. You can't be sensitive. Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

It's a good. It was a good time, though. We had some good laughs.

[Matt LaFleur]

That was awesome.

[Will Compton]

But understanding your nerves for sure, too, because, like 2018, Mike Rabel was a different cat. Like, and we were all kind of just trying to figure him out. And after practice and practices were hard. He was hard on us. Those team meetings. Buttholes are tight.

[Chris Thompson]

Every single camp practice, that was the one year. And I've talked about it before, but that was the one year where a lot of the times I was not looking forward to driving into work. Like, I would wake up and not have the mentality I had. I was just watching before that. But not have the this Mother's Day

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[Matt LaFleur]

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[Will Compton]

Mm, yeah, but I'm not itching to

[Matt LaFleur]

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[Will Compton]

If they were mild, they'd have to

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[Chris Thompson]

I'd be, like, dreading going into work, really dreading going into whatever the team meeting, whatever he was going to do in the team meeting. And if you lost, it just felt like the world was crumbling.

[Matt LaFleur]

And usually just in a lot of our experiences in the National Football League, you flip that script because you got to get on in the next week. Yeah, you. Yeah, you try to give the lessons and you try to learn from it, and then you're on to the next opponent. But, yeah, I do remember those lingering a little bit.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, there were. There were those. That was the. That was one year that those moments were seeping in, because I remember I come and sit next to the locker, and Derek Morgan was next to my man. I hate this sometimes, bro. Just be laughing, kind of like bonding over the. Embracing the suck.

[Matt LaFleur]

I remember a few team meetings where I was. I said the same thing.

[Will Compton]

Nervous, hoping, you know, all the team keys, everything. Because 18 was kind of a show. 19 is when, like, he showed, like, being a little more easier when we lose. It wasn't so tough. I think 2020 was his best.

[Chris Thompson]

So, yeah, 2020 was a totally different Mike Braver. It was way too different.

[Will Compton]

Or you could just tell he was kind of, like, finding his footing as a head coach, understanding the process.

[Matt LaFleur]

And I will say it takes some time. Yeah, it definitely takes some time. I would say, if you asked, we don't have too many guys that were here in 2019 when I got hired, but we got Kenny Clark, Elton Jenkins. I would bet if you ask those guys, they would tell you, I'm a lot different then than I am now.

[Will Compton]

Do you go through a process after your first season as a head coach and, like, evaluate how you handled 100%?

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, you're always. I think that's. That's part of it. If you want to be the best you can be is, you know, sometimes you got to look at yourself in the mirror and say, oh, man, I did not handle that situation well, and be real about it. So I think you're constantly evaluating, constantly evolving in order to be your best.

[Chris Thompson]

How does the evaluation look, though? Because it's like, you can look in the mirror and be like, I could have handled that better. But sometimes you don't know what your blind spots are unless you're asking people close to you. It's like, man, I need you to be transparent.

[Matt LaFleur]

You, you got to have truth tellers and sometimes you don't want to hear the truth. And I've got a couple guys on my staff that will, you know, guy like Daryl Franklin who will sometimes tell me the, that I don't want to hear and sometimes I might get pissed off about it, but he keeps coming back to me and he's resilient in that regard. Joe McKellop's another guy. Like, you got to have guys around you that will, will feed you the hard truth and, you know, you just sometimes you got to accept it.

[Chris Thompson]

With. Since being a head coach, what do you feel like spin your looking back, like, what do you feel like's been your biggest challenge?

[Matt LaFleur]

Biggest challenge?

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

I mean, there's been too many biggest challenges. I mean, we've navigated through some.

[Chris Thompson]

What's one that's. Yeah, that's true. What's one that. Yeah, I guess those tough times. I was going to ask what's one that's been surprising that you're like, oh, this is a challenge I wasn't even thinking about or had the forethought for it.

[Matt LaFleur]

I mean, there's, there's, I feel like there's stuff that comes up almost every, well, it comes up every so often where you just get caught off guard, you know, where whether it's guys are upset about, you know, playing time or production, whatever it may be, that you're like, wow, that, that came out of left field, that you have to handle in the moment. But to sit here and pinpoint and say just one, I think it's tough to do because whether it's coaches, players, you're just dealing with so many people. I think that's what separates our game from most these other sports is when you think about it, you've got, especially off season, you got a 90 man roster. We've got like, I don't even know how many coaches we have now. It's like 25 coaches. And you're, you're dealing with, you know, train athletic training, staff, strength staff, your scouting department. You're just dealing with a lot of people that naturally happens and stuff comes up that you can't possibly prepare for

[Will Compton]

with, with the draft being in Green Bay. What is different about this draft for you guys compared to other drafts?

[Matt LaFleur]

Because I, I would say all this media stuff that we're doing. Yeah, this is a fun one, right yeah, sure.

[Chris Thompson]

This your favorite one?

[Matt LaFleur]

Absolutely.

[Will Compton]

Is there.

[Matt LaFleur]

Keep telling yourself that.

[Will Compton]

Well, there was some media. There was some media saying that, like, you know, people talk about the draft and how, you know, this is not the strongest draft in the world and a lot of these guys in the 20s are trying to maybe trade out of it and stuff like that. Do you. Is there ever, like a pressure from the NFL for the team that if the draft, since the draft is in Green Bay, it's like, hey, we need to make sure you guys have a first round draft pick. Is there ever that?

[Matt LaFleur]

No, I don't. I don't believe so. I. I don't think we'd operate that way anyway. We're always going to do what's best for the packers and whether you get a first round pick or not. But I think there's a ton of good players in this draft and who really knows? I mean, I'll tell you.

[Will Compton]

Isn't that weird?

[Matt LaFleur]

I'll tell you. In two or three years, yeah, there's some guys that are going to come in this league and have instant success. But you guys know, you've been through it. I'm sure you're a lot different player your rookie year, as you were three years into it. So, you know, you got to give these guys an opportunity to go out there and perform.

[Chris Thompson]

What's your best war room story?

[Matt LaFleur]

War room story?

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. Day of the draft.

[Matt LaFleur]

Oh, man, you're trying to put me on the spot.

[Chris Thompson]

Will, I feel like you got something that probably just jump out at you in your mind.

[Matt LaFleur]

I mean, there's just remember.

[Chris Thompson]

And you'll always remember. Like, man, that moment kind of changed X, Y and Z. Or this guy was right here when I was saying something different. Or I was right here when they

[Matt LaFleur]

were saying, yeah, I would say there's some moments where, hey, we're going to draft this guy. And you're like, no, I don't want that guy. And there's some back and forth and hopefully you can come to a consensus conclusion on it. And. But ultimately, I'll tell you this. I can tell you that we've drafted players that I haven't been really excited about. That two years down the line, I was ecstatic about. And I'd be like, man, can you drop names?

[Chris Thompson]

Because to me, that's a compliment. It's like, you're fired up now. It's like, yo, I was wrong.

[Matt LaFleur]

I just, I. I don't want to do that.

[Chris Thompson]

Damn. I'd like. I feel like I was drafting.

[Matt LaFleur]

You're like, I'm not give you a name. And I'll never forget this. So we were in LA and we drafted Cooper cup and I thought we needed a speed receiver. And it didn't take long before I realized I was like, God damn, I'm glad we got Cooper cup because he was a baller, so. And I know that makes me look like an idiot because how couldn't you see that Cooper cup was going to be what he. What he's.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, but kid coming a white kid out of Eastern Washington, like, you know, I know.

[Chris Thompson]

You know, the floor was saying that too. Like, hey, like he's playing like we need.

[Will Compton]

Whatever that is.

[Chris Thompson]

We need football speed.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Not a white guy. Where did he go?

[Will Compton]

Eastern Michigan. Eastern.

[Matt LaFleur]

Eastern.

[Chris Thompson]

Eastern Washington.

[Matt LaFleur]

We went, we went and worked him out. Michael Ruse went and he's been. I mean, he's been balling ever since he came in the league his first year and was balling and he, he would, he would have crossed you over just like that kid at Oregon did on that choice.

[Chris Thompson]

Came with some heat today. Son of a man with like.

[Will Compton]

You talk about Cooper cup, like, he's known as a go worker. Who are some of the best workers you've been around? Like, from player standpoint, best workers, like the best workers. You're like this guy, no matter what he's going to be, he's just a grinder.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, it's easiest if I talk about some of the guys from our team right now, like a guy like Tucker Kraft coming in and just to watch him work on a daily basis. I mean, he's here even when the players don't need to be here in the off season, and he's in there every day just grinding away.

[Chris Thompson]

And he had a hell of a year, too.

[Matt LaFleur]

He did. And I think he's going to get better and better and better because of what you mentioned, just his work ethic and how he approaches the game. I love his mindset. But there's, there's, there's. I mean, you guys. I mean, I would say you guys were great workers, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you agree?

[Will Compton]

Yeah, I, like, I think I was a hard worker.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

So both you guys, watching you guys work, it was impressive.

[Chris Thompson]

Thank you.

[Will Compton]

It was nice get insulted. But then all of a sudden he

[Chris Thompson]

knows what he's doing, comes back around.

[Will Compton]

Comes back around.

[Chris Thompson]

He's treating me like a lady. He's like being mean to me and wants me to get a little closer. He's like, hey, you do a good job, too.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, it's Dan Lennox, the game.

[Chris Thompson]

He's playing hard. Yeah, yeah, he's playing chess right now.

[Will Compton]

You got anything else? Do you want to do the Bud Light question?

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, we can do the Bud Light question.

[Will Compton]

Go ahead.

[Chris Thompson]

Our Bud Light question brought to us by Bud Light. You, Coach Lafer, you know, people would do anything for a Bud Light. What would you do anything for?

[Matt LaFleur]

You want funny or serious?

[Chris Thompson]

If you have one of the. One of each, then we'll go.

[Matt LaFleur]

What would I do anything for? I would definitely. I know you guys said this earlier, but, you know, I would definitely do anything for my family.

[Will Compton]

So I forgot to get the insurance policy. I forgot to get the insurance. No family.

[Matt LaFleur]

No family. Why?

[Chris Thompson]

Because it likes taking away family.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. You would do anything for your family. You want to. I'll tell you what I did for. For my family one time. So Milwaukee Bucks, right? They win the NBA championship. And my wife and I were. We were celebrating at the arena and having champagne and with a bunch of people from the Bucks, and I was thinking, after the game. So we were staying in Milwaukee, I'll just get an Uber and go back to the hotel or whatever. And I didn't realize they kind of like what they've done here for the draft, where they just close off a bunch of streets. So it was really hard to get an Uber. You couldn't get anything close to the arena, so we had to take a walk. And we're walking down by all these bars in Milwaukee, cross water street, and we're walking along, and all of a sudden we hear, pop, pop, pop, pop. And there was gunfire going off. And I. I immediately. Initial reaction, you just start taking off. And I look behind me and my wife in heels, and I'm like, let's go. She's like, I can't run. I'm in heels. So I literally, fireman carrier, put her up on my shoulders, run across the street, around a corner about two, three blocks to get her out of harm's way.

[Will Compton]

So Superman out here. That's a nice move.

[Matt LaFleur]

That's. That's adrenaline. That was a lot of adrenaline right there.

[Will Compton]

I thought you were gonna keep on running based on the way the story

[Matt LaFleur]

was going, right up to some police officers and may have. May or may not have name dropped and said, hey, can you help me get back to my hotel? And they got us there, so. But in the process of that, as I was scooping her up, there was a railing that separated the sidewalk from the bars. May have skimmed her eye across that railing a little bit. And as I'm as. I'm running with her, she's telling me to. To drop, to set her down. I'm like, hell, no. We're. We're getting out of here. So. But yeah, outside of that, I mean, I would do anything for a Super bowl ring.

[Will Compton]

You know what we have to ask you now.

[Matt LaFleur]

I know, I know. It's coming.

[Will Compton]

So. Mike Rabel.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yes.

[Will Compton]

Said he would cut off his penis for a Super Bowl. Talked about how long he was married, kids, the whole thing. He had. He won three as a player. He made sure to mention that. And then he would do it for a Super Bowl. As a coach. Would you cut your dick off for a Super Bowl?

[Matt LaFleur]

I don't think I can go that far, guys. Sorry.

[Will Compton]

It's fair. That's fair and logical.

[Chris Thompson]

Like, I thought for sure, you're ready to say yeah. You're like, I would do anything for a Super bowl and I would do it. You know, it's coming.

[Matt LaFleur]

Except for that.

[Will Compton]

Yeah. Yeah. I do know what's coming, and the answer is no.

[Chris Thompson]

What do you think it's going to take for you guys to get over the hump?

[Matt LaFleur]

Ah, you know, that's a great question. That's something that I've obviously been thinking about for six years now in my time, because we've gotten close.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah.

[Matt LaFleur]

I just think, like, when you get to the NFL playoffs, it is Sean. Sean McVay and I talk about this all the time. It's March Madness. So it takes you playing your best in the moment and you got to make the plays. And certainly there's always things as you can do as a coach that could be better. But you need everybody clicking on all cylinders because we've been right there. Shoot. We hosted an NFC championship game in Lambeau. Unfortunately, it was the year that. It was the COVID year, and you don't get to take advantage of that home field crowd. So I just think we need everybody to perform in those tough moments because, I mean, when you get to that stage, I mean, it's. The margins are razor thin, so you have to be at your best. That's what it takes.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. In the health. Health of your players.

[Matt LaFleur]

Oh, yeah. And we were healthy the majority of that season. Yeah.

[Will Compton]

And I mean, not to mention your division is just scary good.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. It's a pretty, pretty competitive division right now.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah. Vikings, Lions, Bears.

[Will Compton]

Now it's like a Wizard of Oz story, man. Lions, Tigers and Bears.

[Chris Thompson]

Do you have beef with Coach Johnson?

[Matt LaFleur]

I was waiting for this. I don't know. Ben Johnson.

[Chris Thompson]

So do you have beef?

[Matt LaFleur]

Do I have beef? I don't know. Ben Johnson, I. I respect him as a football coach. I think he did a nice job.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, but do we. Not feeling. All feeling the same thing right now?

[Chris Thompson]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Will Compton]

But if you don't know him. Why, why, why is it tight in here?

[Matt LaFleur]

It's not tight. I'm. I'm not tight.

[Chris Thompson]

Who's.

[Will Compton]

I guess my fault.

[Matt LaFleur]

I thought it was interesting.

[Chris Thompson]

What was interesting?

[Matt LaFleur]

The. I thought the, the press conference was interesting, but I don't have beef with them. I don't. I don't get it all into that stuff. I thought.

[Chris Thompson]

But you'll. You'll harness it.

[Will Compton]

He'll get the eye emojis after a win. You'll send.

[Matt LaFleur]

I don't have his number, so that won't happen.

[Chris Thompson]

You got a Jim Harbaugh after a game.

[Matt LaFleur]

No, I would never do that.

[Chris Thompson]

Do you have the strength to do that?

[Matt LaFleur]

I don't know. Probably not. Apparently not. Apparently not.

[Chris Thompson]

No. No, I'd never do that.

[Matt LaFleur]

You think I. Am I not. Not strong enough for you? Will?

[Chris Thompson]

I know you're not. And you tore your peg.

[Matt LaFleur]

I did a year ago. It's. It's a lot better now.

[Chris Thompson]

Can you.

[Matt LaFleur]

A year ago I flew back on draft day after getting surgery.

[Will Compton]

No.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

How'd you tear your pack?

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. Bench pressing.

[Chris Thompson]

How much was on the rack?

[Will Compton]

315.

[Chris Thompson]

Be honest, man.

[Matt LaFleur]

Huh? How much you think, Will?

[Chris Thompson]

135.

[Matt LaFleur]

No, it was not 135.

[Chris Thompson]

185.

[Matt LaFleur]

A little more.

[Will Compton]

200.

[Matt LaFleur]

205.

[Chris Thompson]

205.

[Will Compton]

Okay.

[Chris Thompson]

It was 195.

[Will Compton]

No doubt, no doubt.

[Chris Thompson]

You know, you know, you know he hit 195 and then put the two and a half on just to get 200.

[Will Compton]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

He had the camera set up up

[Matt LaFleur]

just to prove, in all seriousness, it was 185.

[Chris Thompson]

It was 185.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. And I was just repping it out. Last set, last rep. And you just, you know, sometimes you just try to, like, throw it up there. Well, I got a little careless with my form and sure enough.

[Chris Thompson]

Are you by yourself?

[Matt LaFleur]

No, I was getting. I was in the. In our weight room and our strength coach was right there. Thank God, because one side went up and the other side went. It went right on my chest.

[Will Compton]

Did you have shoulder pain or chest pain?

[Matt LaFleur]

No.

[Will Compton]

Ever feel tight or just.

[Matt LaFleur]

No, just happened.

[Will Compton]

That's terrifying.

[Chris Thompson]

You know, I'll never do it again.

[Matt LaFleur]

Well, I will never barbell bench ever again in my life. I will dumbbell bench. Never barbell So I would tell you. How old are you now?

[Chris Thompson]

35.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, I would. If I was you. I would never barbell that.

[Chris Thompson]

I don't have a barbell in the garage. Well, I mean, you're right, though. It's like we. We bench press more so for ego than anything else.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah.

[Chris Thompson]

That sucks, though. Did you just, like, cave in, like.

[Matt LaFleur]

Oh, yeah, you could. I had a big. I mean, it was. I had to go. I tore both tendons, and, you know,

[Chris Thompson]

me, dude went in.

[Matt LaFleur]

Oh, yeah. You could feel it. You could. I could feel it like, when it

[Will Compton]

happened in the moment.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah. So I went to Dr. Cardasco in New York and had surgery, and, yeah, it was. Was not a good time.

[Chris Thompson]

Such a pain in the ass.

[Matt LaFleur]

But he did a great job. If you ever tear your pack, go see Dr. Cardasco. That's the guy. He's the. He's the guy.

[Chris Thompson]

That's the guy to go to.

[Matt LaFleur]

Coach.

[Chris Thompson]

We appreciate you, man.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, thanks for coming. That was a busy day, so thank you for making the time to come out here.

[Chris Thompson]

We'll talk more after the podcast. No, but you're the best, and good luck this season.

[Matt LaFleur]

I appreciate it, guys. Thank you.

[Chris Thompson]

Hope you get whoever you want.

[Matt LaFleur]

So do I.

[Chris Thompson]

Hey, who do you hope you get? This isn't coming out till next Tuesday.

[Matt LaFleur]

Yeah, I don't know.

[Chris Thompson]

Who do you hope you get?

[Matt LaFleur]

A really good player.

[Chris Thompson]

What position?

[Will Compton]

What if we do this? What if we do this? You call a shot right now, and if it doesn't hit, we don't put in the podcast. But if it hits, it's like.

[Chris Thompson]

Oh, man.

[Will Compton]

Called his.

[Matt LaFleur]

I really. I really.

[Will Compton]

Yeah, he.

[Matt LaFleur]

He would. Yeah. I don't know. I just. There's a lot of good players, like I said, so whoever we get, we're going to embrace and we're going to coach them.

[Will Compton]

I love that. Hell of a coach. Can't wait to see you guys win it all. Big hugs, T. Kisses. Please subscribe Rate 5 stars. Matt La Fleur. Packers. Go, pack. Go.

[Matt LaFleur]

Thank you. All right, guys.

[Will Compton]

I'm U.S. transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. We all seem to be in a rush these days, from work to driving our kids around.

[Chris Thompson]

But when you're behind the wheel, please do not speed.

[Will Compton]

A few minutes saved by going faster is never worth the risk. So follow the speed limit, enjoy the drive, maybe bring some snacks for the kids. And know that along the way, you're getting quality time with your family. Paid for by nhtsa.

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[Will Compton]

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