The Green Bay Packers won’t have to sell soon-to-be free agent tight end Austin Hooper on the idea of playing for coach Matt LaFleur or playing with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Hooper, in an interview with ESPN, discussed interest from the Packers and his fondness of both LaFleur, once an assistant coach in Atlanta, and Rodgers, a two-time NFL MVP.
“When he was a coach in Atlanta, I really liked Matt LaFleur as a person,” Hooper told ESPN’s Vaughn McClure. “I wasn’t a quarterback, so I couldn’t really see his coaching style as much. But he definitely helped me out as a younger player. For that, I’ll always be grateful. He’s a good guy; really likable person.”
LaFleur spent two years (2015-16) as the quarterbacks coach for the Falcons. Hooper was a rookie tight end in 2016 when the Falcons took the league by storm, scoring 540 regular-season points and eventually advancing to the Super Bowl with a win over Rodgers and the Packers in the NFC title game.
If he signs with the Packers, Hooper – a first-time Pro Bowler in 2019 – will become a primary target in the passing game for Rodgers, who hasn’t had a consistent threat at tight end in years.
All that sounds good to Hooper.
“One of the greatest to do it, for sure,” Hooper said. “Definitely a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback. I mean, I can’t say enough good things about the guy. Some of the things he does, I don’t think anyone else in the league can do. I’m not saying anything revolutionary here. I really like his style and how he carries himself. He’s just got a swagger about him where he’s cool, calm, and collected. He always has an answer for what’s happening.”
The Packers released Jimmy Graham on Thursday, clearing $8 million in cap space and opening the door for a run at Hooper, who is expected to be highly coveted by teams in free agency. It’s possible Hooper could earn a deal valued over $10 million per year, making him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL.
Last season, Hooper caught a career-high 75 passes, or almost double what Graham produced (38) over 16 games with the Packers.
The legal negotiating period begins on Monday. Hooper will have interest from the Packers and several other teams. It’s possible his relationship with LaFleur and respect for Rodgers could give Green Bay a slight edge in the race to sign him.
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