Matt LaFleur speaks out about pregame confrontation with Lions fan

Green Bay Packers (9-4) head coach Matt LaFleur addressed the incident that took place ahead of Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Lions (12-1) in which he confronted a Lions fan on the field.

LaFleur called the fan “arrogant,” adding he’s never seen anything like it during his time coaching.

“You know, you’re trying to de-escalate it, and then he gets in my face,” LaFleur said, via WXYZ Detroit. “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 that wanted to get 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.”

Matt LaFleur confronts Lions fan on field during TNF broadcast

Just before kickoff, a Lions fan holding an American flag for the national anthem began talking trash to Packers players and giving them the throat-slash sign, LaFleur said. LaFleur confronted the fan, who got in his face resulting in a tense moment caught on the Amazon Prime Video broadcast. Other coaches, players and even officials came in to help de-escalate the situation.

Matt LaFleur was getting into it with a Lions fan before kickoff

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The Lions defeated the Packers, 34-31, on a 35-yard game-winning field goal from Jake Bates as time expired.

“All these games from here on out, like I told our team, they’re going to come down to situations like this,” LaFleur said. “I think we’re a really good football team. We’re going to get everybody’s best shot just like we’re going to give everybody our best shot.

“It’s just a few plays here and there that really separate these types of games.”