The Green Bay Packers have reached the playoffs in four out of Matt LaFleur’s first five seasons as head coach. Now in Week 16 of his sixth season, the team is on the verge of securing LaFleur’s fifth playoff appearance and second consecutive one with Jordan Love as the starting quarterback.
While this might not seem significant in comparison to teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won multiple Super Bowls recently and are chasing a third, it’s important to appreciate the context behind this potential playoff run for the Packers.
Founded in 1919, the Packers are a storied franchise with a rich history. They won three consecutive NFL Championships from 1929 to 1931 and claimed the first Super Bowl in January 1967, with Vince Lombardi at the helm. Lombardi, one of the most legendary figures in NFL history, also coached the team to victory in Super Bowl II in January 1968, his final season. It’s worth noting that the Super Bowl trophy itself is named in his honor.
Despite their long-standing success, the Packers have experienced difficult stretches in their history. Between 1968 and 1992, they only made the playoffs twice, until Brett Favre’s arrival in 1992. Favre revitalized the franchise, leading them to a Super Bowl XXXI victory and a Super Bowl XXXII appearance, along with 11 playoff appearances in his 16 seasons in Green Bay.
Favre’s successor, Aaron Rodgers, continued the legacy, guiding the Packers to the playoffs in all but four of his seasons as the starting quarterback, including a Super Bowl XLV win in his third year. Now, with Jordan Love at the helm, the Packers are poised to make the playoffs in his second season as the starter.
When you put it all together, the Packers have made the playoffs 23 times in the 32 full seasons since Favre, and they’re on the brink of making it 24 times in 33 seasons—a remarkable 73% success rate. However, the playoff spot isn’t guaranteed yet, as the Packers still need to secure it.
