Brotherly NFL Battle
LaFleur Brothers Prepare to Face Off in Packers-Cardinals Joint Practice
Key Points
Arizona’s official announcement specified the joint practice kickoff: Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 10:30 a.m. CT (8:30 a.m. AZ time) at Ray Nitschke Field before the teams play on Friday, Aug. 28.
At an introductory press conference, Matt LaFleur described the brothers-vs.-brothers setup as “pretty surreal,” adding background about their upbringing and what he called “a great appreciation for just guys that essentially are playing for the love of the game.”
The Cardinals typically don’t host joint practices in Arizona, with one explanation being that State Farm Stadium “is not big enough to accommodate two teams practicing,” and another being that the alternative—practicing outdoors in August heat—would be undesirable.
Green Bay’s LaFleur said the team avoided other joint-practice possibilities—such as the Steelers (in Pittsburgh) and Broncos (in Denver)—because those road arrangements can require staying “somewhere for a really long time,” especially for night games. “I’d never shut the door on anything, but it would just have to work out from a logistical standpoint,” he said.
Arizona enters the month with a very specific timeline: it’s scheduled to open training camp July 22 and play the Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 6—while also marking the fifth straight year the Cardinals have built joint practices into their camp schedule.
The Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals will hold a joint practice on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, starting at 10:30 a.m. CT — two days before the teams meet in their preseason finale at Lambeau Field on Aug. 28, according to Packers Wire. The session carries an unusual storyline: it will be the first time brothers Matt LaFleur and Mike LaFleur face each other as opposing NFL head coaches.
Matt has led Green Bay since 2019 and is entering his eighth season. Mike was hired as Arizona's head coach on Feb. 1, 2026, replacing Jonathan Gannon — who then landed as the Packers' new defensive coordinator, per Sports Illustrated. That coaching shuffle ties the two franchises together in ways that go well beyond family.
Matt Calls Brothers-vs.-Brothers Setup 'Pretty Surreal'
Matt LaFleur described the matchup as "pretty surreal" at a press conference, reflecting on the brothers' upbringing and what he called "a great appreciation for just guys that essentially are playing for the love of the game," according to Sports Illustrated. The two grew up in a coaching household under their father, Denny LaFleur, and have faced each other as coordinators before — but never as the men with final say on opposing sidelines.
Mike LaFleur, for his part, was blunt about why he wanted the Wisconsin trip. "If we could go to Canada, we would," he said, per AZ Central. "The next best thing is to go up to Wisconsin." He was referring to Arizona's brutal August heat in Glendale, where outdoor temperatures regularly top 110°F — making a multi-team outdoor practice essentially impossible.
Why the Cardinals Never Host Joint Practices in Arizona
The Cardinals have built joint practices into their camp schedule for five straight years — but never at home. State Farm Stadium's indoor facility cannot comfortably fit two full NFL rosters on a single field, per AZ Central. The outdoor alternative in August heat is a player safety hazard. So Arizona travels, and this year that means heading to Green Bay.
Arizona's 2026 camp opens July 22 in Tempe. The Cardinals will play the Hall of Fame Game against the Carolina Panthers on Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio — giving Mike LaFleur's roster unusually early preseason reps before the joint session with Green Bay on Aug. 26, according to Raising Zona.
Packers Picked Arizona Over Pittsburgh and Denver for a Simple Reason
Green Bay had other joint-practice options — including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos, both preseason opponents this year. Matt LaFleur passed on them. He explained that road joint practices can require staying "somewhere for a really long time," especially when night games are involved, per Yahoo Sports. The Packers play at Pittsburgh on Aug. 13 and at Denver on Aug. 21 — both road trips that already stretch the schedule.
"I'd never shut the door on anything, but it would just have to work out from a logistical standpoint," Matt LaFleur said. Hosting Arizona in Green Bay solves the problem cleanly. The Packers' 2026 training camp includes 12 open-to-the-public practices starting July 29, plus a Family Night session at Lambeau on Aug. 7, according to Packers Wire.
Jonathan Gannon's 'Insider Knowledge' Sharpens the Stakes
The joint practice adds another layer through Gannon. He went 15-36 as Arizona's head coach over three seasons before being fired on Jan. 5, 2026. The Packers hired him on Feb. 2 as defensive coordinator, replacing Jeff Hafley, per Packers Wire. That means Gannon will spend Aug. 26 scheming against the very offense he spent three years building — now run by Mike LaFleur and new OC Nathaniel Hackett.
For players on the roster bubble, the timing could not be better. With starters likely to see limited action in the Aug. 28 finale, the joint practice functions as the real evaluation window. Green Bay's session is expected to draw roughly 80,000 visitors to the area during the full training camp window, generating an estimated $9 million in local economic impact, according to Yahoo Sports.
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