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Matt LaFleur of the Packers Breaks His Silence About Aaron Jones’s Departure

The Green Bay Packers made a startling move ahead of the 2024 league year by releasing star running back Aaron Jones, catching even their head coach off guard.

When free agent negotiations commenced on March 11, the Packers swiftly revamped their backfield by reaching a four-year, $48 million deal with Josh Jacobs, the NFL’s rushing leader in 2022, while parting ways with Jones as their primary ball carrier.

This decision came as a surprise, especially considering that just six weeks prior, general manager Brian Gutekunst had expressed confidence in Jones remaining with the Packers for the upcoming season. The move unfolded so rapidly that the coaching staff, including head coach Matt LaFleur, was not consulted until after the running back situation had already been reshuffled.

LaFleur admitted his surprise at the turn of events during the annual NFL league meetings in Orlando, Florida, stating, “It kind of caught me off guard… There were some other things in play obviously with Aaron Jones, and I didn’t quite know how everything was going to go. It just happened really fast on that Monday.”

In an attempt to retain Jones, the Packers proposed a significant reduction in his salary for the 2024 season, considering his hefty cap number of around $17.57 million. This request came after Jones had previously agreed to a $5 million pay cut to support the team and remain with them for the 2023 season. However, this time, Jones declined the offer, prompting the team to make a swift change.

Despite the unexpected turn of events, Jones quickly found a new home close to home, signing a fully guaranteed one-year, $7 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings the day after his release. He explained that he had mentally prepared for the possibility of being released and chose the Vikings because he wanted to join a team where he felt valued.