Packers Plan Joint Practice With Cardinals, Setting Up LaFleur Brothers Showdown

As the National Football League prepares to officially open the new league year on March 11, the Green Bay Packers are already laying the groundwork for the upcoming 2026 season. While fans are still waiting for the league to release the full schedule—expected sometime in May—teams across the NFL are actively planning their offseason programs, training camps, and preseason activities.

One potential highlight of the Packers’ offseason could involve a unique and highly anticipated joint practice later this summer. The proposed session would not only offer valuable preparation for both teams but could also create a memorable moment in coaching history.

Packers Target Joint Practice With Arizona Cardinals

According to a report from ESPN insider Rob Demovsky, the Packers are hoping to host the Arizona Cardinals for one of the four joint practices each NFL team is permitted during the preseason.

If approved by the league, the practice would take place ahead of the teams’ Week 3 preseason matchup. Joint practices have become increasingly popular across the NFL in recent years because they allow teams to compete against unfamiliar opponents in controlled environments while still focusing on development and evaluation.

However, this particular practice would carry an extra layer of intrigue.

It would mark the first time brothers Matt LaFleur and Mike LaFleur face each other as head coaches on opposite sidelines.

For fans and analysts alike, the scenario represents a rare and fascinating storyline within the NFL coaching community.

A Special Moment for the LaFleur Family

The potential meeting between Matt and Mike LaFleur is significant not just because of their family connection but also because of their unlikely journeys to the top of the NFL coaching ranks.

Matt LaFleur, who has been the Packers’ head coach since 2019, recently reflected on how surreal it feels to see both brothers leading NFL franchises.

Earlier this year, he admitted that if someone had predicted such a scenario during their early football days, he would have struggled to believe it.

Both brothers began their football careers far from the bright lights of the NFL. Matt’s father coached at Central Michigan University, and Matt himself started his college career as a walk-on at Western Michigan University before eventually playing Division II football.

Mike LaFleur’s path was similarly humble. He played Division III football at Elmhurst University, far removed from the typical pipeline that produces NFL coaches and players.

Because of those beginnings, both brothers say they have a deep appreciation for players who compete simply out of love for the game.

That shared mindset has influenced their coaching philosophies and helped shape the way they build relationships with players.

Matt LaFleur Enters Eighth Season With Packers

Matt LaFleur, now 46, is preparing to enter his eighth season as head coach of the Packers after recently signing a contract extension with the organization.

During his tenure, Green Bay has been one of the more consistent teams in the NFL. Under LaFleur’s leadership, the Packers have made the playoffs six times in seven seasons and have only missed the postseason once.

The team has also been competitive within the NFC, frequently contending for division titles in the NFC North.

However, recent playoff exits have left the team looking to take the next step. In each of the last two seasons, the Packers were eliminated during the NFL Wild Card Round, preventing them from advancing deeper into the postseason.

Heading into 2026, LaFleur and the Packers will be aiming not only to return to the playoffs but to make a more substantial championship run.

Mike LaFleur Begins First NFL Head Coaching Job

Meanwhile, Mike LaFleur is stepping into an entirely new challenge.

The 38-year-old was recently hired as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, marking his first opportunity to lead an NFL team.

Before landing the job in Arizona, Mike LaFleur spent the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. His offensive schemes and quarterback development helped boost his reputation around the league.

Prior to his stint in Los Angeles, he served two seasons as offensive coordinator for the New York Jets.

Now, he takes over a Cardinals team looking to rebuild and return to playoff contention in the NFC.

A joint practice against his brother’s Packers would provide an early—and memorable—moment in his head coaching journey.

Packers and Cardinals Unlikely to Meet in Regular Season

While the idea of the LaFleur brothers facing off on the field is intriguing, it is unlikely to happen during the regular season in 2026.

Although the NFL has not yet released the official schedule, the Packers already know the teams they will face this year.

As always, Green Bay will play its NFC North rivals twice: the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings.

The Packers are also scheduled to play all four teams from the NFC South.

Green Bay will host the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field, while traveling to face the New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road.

In addition, the Packers will travel to California for a matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.

Packers’ AFC Opponents in 2026

Green Bay’s interconference matchups will come against teams from the AFC East and other designated opponents.

The Packers will host the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins at Lambeau Field.

On the road, they will face the New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Houston Texans.

Because the Cardinals are not included in this list of scheduled opponents, the only realistic chance for the two teams to meet during the 2026 season would be in the playoffs—an outcome that remains uncertain given Arizona’s recent struggles.

Cardinals Looking to End Playoff Drought

The Cardinals enter the 2026 season with a very different set of goals compared to the Packers.

Arizona has not reached the postseason in four years, with its most recent playoff appearance coming in 2021. That season ended in disappointment when the Cardinals were eliminated in the Wild Card round.

Over the past 11 seasons, the franchise has made the playoffs just three times, highlighting the inconsistency that the organization is hoping to correct under new leadership.

Mike LaFleur’s hiring signals a fresh start and a renewed commitment to building a competitive roster.

Why Joint Practices Are Valuable for NFL Teams

Joint practices have become an increasingly important part of NFL preseason preparation.

Unlike preseason games—which often feature limited playing time for starters—joint practices allow coaching staffs to simulate game situations while controlling the intensity and duration of each drill.

Teams can test their offensive and defensive systems against unfamiliar opponents, evaluate young players, and build chemistry before the regular season begins.

For the Packers and Cardinals, the potential practice would provide valuable preparation ahead of their preseason matchup.

For the LaFleur brothers, it would also offer a unique personal milestone.

A Rare NFL Family Storyline

If the league approves the joint practice, it will create one of the more memorable storylines of the NFL offseason.

Coaching families are common in football, but seeing two brothers lead opposing teams—especially for the first time as head coaches—is still relatively rare.

For Matt and Mike LaFleur, the moment would symbolize just how far both have come from their modest beginnings in college football.

And for fans of the Packers, Cardinals, and the NFL as a whole, it would provide a fascinating preview of two coaching minds shaped by the same roots but now leading different franchises toward their own goals in the 2026 season.