Mike LaFleur literally laughed at the NY Jets after his Week 16 revenge game

LaFleur literally got the last laugh.

Justin Fried

Mike LaFleur / Tyler Schank/GettyImages

The 2024 season feels like it's been designed to troll the NY Jets. Not only have the Jets fallen flat in one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history but they've been forced to see countless ex-players and coaches thrive in new environments.

From Sam Darnold to Geno Smith to Mekhi Becton to John Franklin-Myers to even Braden Mann, the 2024 season has been a banner year for former Jets. You can add Mike LaFleur to that list.

The former Jets offensive coordinator, now Los Angeles Rams OC, is helping lead one of the better offenses in the NFL alongside Sean McVay. LaFleur and the Rams got the last laugh — literally and figuratively — when they defeated the Jets by a score of 19-9 this past Sunday.

LaFleur was all smiles as he caught up with former coworkers after the game. According to The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt, LaFleur was even spotted laughing as he came off the field. His revenge game narrative arc had been completed.

Mike LaFleur laughed at the NY Jets after completing his revenge game narrative

The Jets originally hired LaFleur to be their offensive coordinator under Robert Saleh in 2021. LaFleur was a highly-touted offensive assistant who was one of Kyle Shanahan's right-hand men before the Jets were able to poach him.

Unfortunately, LaFleur's post-49ers career didn't take off as many expected. The Jets offense struggled during LaFleur's tenure, due to large part to historically inept quarterback play.

Still, the Jets managed to find some success with the likes of Joe Flacco, Josh Johnson, and Mike White — three fringe backup-caliber quarterbacks — under center. The Zach Wilson games were a challenge, however.

Despite support from Saleh and most of the organization, Jets owner Woody Johnson decided to fire LaFleur following the 2022 season. Reports have suggested Wilson had more than his fair share of influence on the decision.

That's a choice the Jets likely regret to this day. LaFleur was immediately snatched up by the Rams where he's gone on to serve a vital role in one of the most respected offensive coaching staffs in the NFL.

The Jets, meanwhile, hired Nathaniel Hackett as his replacement. Hackett's offense was an unmitigated disaster in 2023 and he was officially demoted just five games into the 2024 season.

Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson spoke highly of LaFleur after the game, even insisting that he probably took that 2022 season for granted. Many Jets fans probably feel the same way.

The Rams offense didn't necessarily light it up against the Jets on Sunday, but that wasn't the root of LaFleur's jovial demeanor anyway. LaFleur seems thrilled to be away from the mess of an organization that the Jets have become since his departure.

The Jets are headed toward another reset with a new regime — and possibly a new QB — in 2025. As for LaFleur, he's preparing for potential head coach interviews in the near future.

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Justin Fried

Justin Fried is an editor for FanSided who has over seven years of experience covering the NFL and various other sports. A diehard Jets fan since birth, Justin has served as the editor for The Jet Press since 2019, interviewing athletes such as Sauce Gardner, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Klecko, and many others. Justin has also worked closely with brands like Red Bull to help highlight the niche sectors of the sporting world. His four-part series on the sport of breaking remains one of his proudest pieces of work. In his spare time, Justin is an avid pro wrestling fan who is fortunate enough to have traveled to nearly 30 different countries.