Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur became the most successful first-year coach in team history, but his record-breaking season wasn’t enough to win AP Coach of the Year.
LaFleur received only three votes and finished third in the award voting, trailing winner John Harbaugh (27 votes) and runner-up Kyle Shanahan (14 votes).
LaFleur’s case was strong, but not strong enough for voters.
The Packers improved by seven wins, clinched the NFC North title for the first time since 2016 and earned a first-round bye in the NFC playoffs. LaFleur became the first coach in team history to win the division and make the playoffs in his first season, and the Packers’ seven-win improvement was the biggest in team history.
LaFleur’s 13 regular-season wins were the third-most by a first-year coach in NFL history. His 14 total wins, including playoffs, were five more than any first-year coach in Packers history.
Most years, that resume would have been enough. Not in 2019.
Harbaugh’s team led the NFL with 14 wins and earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Ravens won 12 straight games, finished first in the NFL in scoring and had a scoring differential of +249. Quarterback Lamar Jackson won NFL MVP.
Shanahan’s team won 13 games and secured the top seed in the NFC. The 49ers also blew out LaFleur’s Packers during the regular season and finished second in scoring and third in point differential.
LaFleur’s team won eight games by eight points or fewer and had the highest win percentage in games decided by the same margin. They finished ninth in scoring differential and had just two initial Pro Bowlers (Aaron Rodgers, David Bakhtiari) and only one All-Pro (Bakhtiari).
Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine received one vote for AP Assistant Coach of the Year.
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