Packers HC Delivers Harsh Reality Check to ‘NFL Family’ Comeback Player at Camp

At Green Bay Packers training camp, tradition matters — but entitlement doesn’t.

This week, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur delivered a powerful, no-nonsense message to the team, one aimed squarely at a returning player hoping to make a name for himself again — Anders Carlson, the kicker with NFL bloodlines and a rocky past.

Carlson, brother of Pro Bowl kicker Daniel Carlson, was once touted as Green Bay’s long-term answer at kicker. But after a shaky 2023 season and eventual release, his return this summer was meant to be redemptive. Instead, it’s been riddled with distractions, inconsistency, and a vibe that didn’t sit well with coaches.

And LaFleur wasn’t having it.

“I don’t care how many stars you had in college. I don’t care who your dad is,” LaFleur barked in front of the team.
“In Green Bay, hype means nothing — hard work does. You earn your jersey, your snaps, your respect — right here, every single day.”

The message cut through the camp noise like a cold wind off Lake Michigan. This wasn’t just about Carlson — it was about every player who thought their résumé might carry them. In Titletown, reputation doesn’t win jobs. Performance does.

Carlson’s 2023 campaign saw him play all 17 games, but his inconsistency left coaches unsettled. Now, battling in a tight competition, every miss — every slip — could cost him his career.

LaFleur’s words echo the Packers’ culture: legacy is earned, not inherited.

For Carlson and others like him, the clock is ticking — and the cut line looms.