Matt LaFleur: Packers Josh Jacobs-Aaron Jones swap 'caught me off guard'

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was not expecting to have running back Josh Jacobs on the roster for the 2024 season. At the annual NFL meetings last week, LaFleur was asked about the Packers signing Jacobs and moving on from running back Aaron Jones.

“It kind of caught me off guard, to be honest with you,” LaFleur admitted, per the Wisconsin State Journal. “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.”

Jones played for the Packers for seven seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 2020. He had over 1,110 yards of scrimmage in four of his seven seasons in Green Bay but was expected to have a $17 million salary cap number had he remained with the Packers. The team asked Jones to take a pay cut and he declined.

“We asked him to take a pay cut, and as we went through that process, we kind of realized it wasn’t going to probably come to fruition,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said at the league meetings Obviously, we had to do what’s in the best interest of the football team — and that’s what we did.”

Josh Jacobs on why he joined Packers

Jacobs comes to the Packers after spending his last five seasons with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders. During his time with the Raiders, Jacobs was named to the Pro Bowl twice and the All-Pro First Team in 2022. Last month, Jacbos signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Packers.

“I just liked what they had going on over here,” Jacobs said after signing his contract. “Going to playoffs and actually competing for the Super Bowl and things like that, it’s something that I’ve always wanted to be a part of. I told them that playoff ball is a little different and I haven’t really experienced it.”

After leaving the Packers, Jones signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. And since the Vikings and Packers are division rivals, Jones is ready to take on his former team twice this fall.

“Just because they didn’t re-sign me is not fuel to the fire. My fire has already been lit, and it’s gonna stay lit,” Jones said. “I’m on a mission to be the best running back in the NFL. And I’m glad I get to prove that here, in Minnesota with a great organization. They’ve opened their doors to us, loving and kind, and we’ve had a great time here so far, so I’m ready to enjoy them.”