LaFleur clashes with Lions fan over sideline altercation
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur found himself in an unexpected pregame incident before Thursday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Cameras captured LaFleur in a heated exchange with a Lions fan involved in the pregame ceremony.
The fan, wearing a Brian Branch jersey, reportedly taunted Packers players and directed provocative gestures toward them, escalating the tension.
Speaking to reporters after the Packers’ 34-31 loss, LaFleur shared his perspective on the situation, describing the fan as “arrogant” and “unsportsmanlike.”
“Yeah, I’ve never been a part of something like that,” LaFleur said.
“He was talking junk to our players, giving them the throat slash sign, and you’re trying to de-escalate it, and then he gets in my face. I thought it was pretty unsportsmanlike. I’ve never seen that. I’ve been on many fields, and usually, they police that much better. I thought it was an arrogant fan who wanted to get in on part of the action. I would like to see security, or something, step in there and get him out of there. Because he shouldn’t be doing that.”
The fan, part of the group holding the American flag during the national anthem, reportedly continued his taunts toward the Packers’ sideline, prompting LaFleur to intervene. Packers staff and players eventually stepped in to separate the coach and the fan, preventing the situation from escalating further.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: stadium security. How does a fan get that close to the opposing sideline during pregame? LaFleur had the same question. “Usually they police that a lot better,” he said, clearly frustrated.
LaFleur added, “To have someone come that close and act inappropriately—I just don’t think it’s acceptable. Security should’ve stepped in immediately.”
It’s kind of wild if you think about it. NFL games are supposed to be Fort Knox-level secure, and yet here’s a guy jawing at players and confronting a head coach just minutes before kickoff. Shouldn’t someone in a bright yellow jacket have stepped in way before Matt LaFleur felt the need to?
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Image: © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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