After Sunday's game, Mike LaFleur flashed a smile rarely seen when he called MetLife Stadium home.
The Rams offensive coordinator celebrated his successful return to cross country by quietly celebrating with his family in the back of the stadium after a 19-9 win over the Jets.
LaFleur was fired as the Jets' offensive coordinator after the 2022 season, reportedly at the behest of owner Woody Johnson, but ultimately ended up being traded to the Rams immediately. Although he doesn't call plays for the Rams, he is part of the winning culture that Sean has established. McVeigh.
Jets stars Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall are rookies in their second of two seasons as coach LaFleur was working to develop quarterback Zach Wilson, and both are forwards on the field. Earn points to catch up with the coach.
“My rookie year was special when I look back on it, but I may have taken it for granted,” Wilson said. “I love him. How he's helping that offense and looking at their plan to run the ball today and the way they executed, I'm happy for him. I really appreciate him, so I hope that continues throughout the playoffs.”
Wilson and Hall remain in regular contact with LaFleur.
During the two years LaFleur was demanding plays from head coach Robert Saleh's staff, the Jets were near the bottom of the NFL, averaging 17.8 points per game.
Since Saleh replaced LaFleur, the Jets have averaged 17.5 points under both Nathaniel Hackett and Hackett's demoted mid-season replacement Todd Downing, despite replacing Wilson with Aaron Rodgers. I am doing it.
However, it's not always the numbers that matter. Wilson clarified that he may have “taken for granted” some of the relationships he developed early in his career.
The Rams had only 242 yards of offense against the Jets, but had a clear advantage on the sideline.
“When you look around, you don't see too many familiar faces.” [2022]”This is what happens when you don't win games,” Wilson said. “It's just those relationships, the way we can talk to each other and how certain things are.”
Like many offensive-minded head coaches around the league, McVay demands plays from the Rams, but LaFleur plays a key role in the game plan.
McVay's coaching tree, a branch of the rich Shanahan coaching tree, is becoming the go-to for general managers looking to hire.
Hall had the best season of his three-year career under LaFleur.
“We have a group chat with Garrett and we always joke around,” Hall said. “He texts us every once in a while and asks how we're doing. We've only been together for a year, but he's given us the confidence and trust to have the ball in his hands, our careers. It's great to be able to maintain a relationship with a player who was one of our most important players.”
