Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur had a mission for tight end Tucker Kraft this offseason.
LaFleur told reporters during the NFL Annual Meeting that he hoped Kraft would reel in some of his physicality, seeking contact after the catch, and violence at the point of attack in 2025.
Ahead of the Packers’ offseason program getting underway, Kraft acknowledged that all the way from West Palm Beach, he has heard LaFleur’s message loud and clear.
“I don’t ignore it. I listen to what I need to hear,” Kraft told the Packers’ official website. “He might tell me to play a little bit more under control. For me, that just means slow down a little bit.”
Physicality is a key component of Kraft’s game, and what makes him such a pivotal weapon for quarterback Jordan Love and the offense–especially in the open field and after the catch. Last season, Pro Football Focus points out that Kraft posted a league-high 9.1 yards after the catch per reception, many of them earned by violent collisions and stiff arms.
Green Bay Packers’ Tucker Kraft Has Big Plans for 2025 Season
In hopes of extending his own longevity and the offense’s consistency, Kraft says he’s looking to make a key change in his game ahead of the 2025 campaign.
“There’s instances where I’m on the front side of plays and I’m too aggressive,” Kraft admitted. “But (LaFleur) is never gonna question my heart and my physicality. He just wants me to just chill out a little bit mainly just for me, so I can play the game longer.”
Kraft caught 50 passes for 707 yards and seven touchdowns in his second NFL season, in 2024, and hopes that by adapting his game he’ll be able to make an even bigger impact on the offense and outcomes of games moving forward.
“I really want to take that upon myself this year to lead with my playstyle,” Kraft says. “Like I may have done last year, but also with more words, not just headbutts. Going into our two-tight end packages with Luke this year, we’re gonna have to find ways to spread that wealth around because the tight end room, we’re gonna be relied on heavily this year.”
